Help: high bounce forehands with new racquet

[kingp1ng]

A little about me. 24 yrs old. Average rec level. Used the Liquidmetal Radical MP (18x20) ever since I was like 15. Semi-western grip.

I wanted more plow through on my shots and disliked the thin, boardy feel of the Radical against stronger players. Demo'd a bunch of frames and bought the Pure Drive Tour since the groundstrokes were beastly.

Sadly I found out that I cannot hit a good high bounce forehand with the PDT. I can't flatten my stroke and often my timing is way off, due to the the higher swingweight. Lots of balls either drop into the net or float off target. Thus I can't be as aggressive and take balls off a high bounce. Today I switched back to my LM Radical MP, and I was able to hit flat-high forehands and jumping forehands.

My question: Does anyone have any advice for my unusual situation? I wonder if it's due to the different string pattern? Am I a fool for using a PDT without mastering the swingweight? Or does the PDT have that different of a launch angle?

 

[Doc Hollidae]

A little about me. 24 yrs old. Average rec level. Used the Liquidmetal Radical MP (18x20) ever since I was like 15. Semi-western grip.

I wanted more plow through on my shots and disliked the thin, boardy feel of the Radical against stronger players. Demo'd a bunch of frames and bought the Pure Drive Tour since the groundstrokes were beastly.

Sadly I found out that I cannot hit a good high bounce forehand with the PDT. I can't flatten my stroke and often my timing is way off, due to the the higher swingweight. Lots of balls either drop into the net or float off target. Thus I can't be as aggressive and take balls off a high bounce. Today I switched back to my LM Radical MP, and I was able to hit flat-high forehands and jumping forehands.

My question: Does anyone have any advice for my unusual situation? I wonder if it's due to the different string pattern? Am I a fool for using a PDT without mastering the swingweight? Or does the PDT have that different of a launch angle?

The LM Radical MP and the PDT have very little in common. One is a control stick the other is a power stick. The LM Radical has a dense pattern, so yes the launch angle will be lower. The PDT also has a higher SW or at least will play heavier due to the thicker beam.

I've played with both rackets in the past and the LM Radical will allow you to swing out and let's you create power. With the PDT, power comes with much less effort and balls you are used to swinging out on with the LM Radical, you will soon find yourself trying to just keep the ball in and taming the power for the PDT.

 

[RetroSpin]

What strings and tension?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

The LM Radical MP and the PDT have very little in common. One is a control stick the other is a power stick. The LM Radical has a dense pattern, so yes the launch angle will be lower. The PDT also has a higher SW or at least will play heavier due to the thicker beam.

I've played with both rackets in the past and the LM Radical will allow you to swing out and let's you create power. With the PDT, power comes with much less effort and balls you are used to swinging out on with the LM Radical, you will soon find yourself trying to just keep the ball in and taming the power for the PDT.

+1
I hit with the LM MP (and the old ti radical as well), and both are control racquets.
i toyed with power racquets like the Pure Drives... and while fun, i found that i was overcompensating by hitting alot more spin (which hurt my consistency of accuracy/depth), via a steeper swing plane + more closed face.
you could make it work but focus on hitting alot more spin on all groundstrokes.
ultimately went back to my radicals... because i play at least 50% doubles, and in singles often need to finish at net, so wanted the control of a dense low powered racquet.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

If the swing weight SW is too high, there is not much you can really do about it. Regular Pure Drive has significantly lower SW and should be more manageable for you.
I've played against good players who absolutely demolish high forehands with Pure Drives.

 

[LeeD]

My two LMRadMids seem to have SW around 328 or so, string with thick gauge poly. That's plenty to hit with anyone short of 5.5+.

 

[crux]

I have problem with high ball too, all my timing is off

 

[kingp1ng]

The LM Radical MP and the PDT have very little in common. One is a control stick the other is a power stick. The LM Radical has a dense pattern, so yes the launch angle will be lower. The PDT also has a higher SW or at least will play heavier due to the thicker beam.

I've played with both rackets in the past and the LM Radical will allow you to swing out and let's you create power. With the PDT, power comes with much less effort and balls you are used to swinging out on with the LM Radical, you will soon find yourself trying to just keep the ball in and taming the power for the PDT.

Thanks ya'll. I probably swing out way too much with the PDT. My PDT is actually slightly underspec at 11.5 oz strung. Didn't realize a +15 in swingweight could kill my accuracy for creative shots

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Thanks ya'll. I probably swing out way too much with the PDT. My PDT is actually slightly underspec at 11.5 oz strung. Didn't realize a +15 in swingweight could kill my accuracy for creative shots

I've found that even with weight, SW, and balance being all the same, the frame with the thicker beam will always play heavier/less maneuverable.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I have problem with high ball too, all my timing is off

Same here ... also the low ones and medium ones.

 

[Bender]

There's literally no reason why you shouldn't be able to crush high floaters off your FH side with a Pure Drive, and particularly so if it is the Pure Drive Tour.

Obviously I don't know what your level is, but it could be a technical issue or it could easily be poor shot selection. If you're not accommodating for the higher bounce, then you may be jamming yourself, which leads to errors or inability to hit them hard. This can be pronounced if you've made a switch to a racquet with higher SW.

OTOH, there is no reason to crush the high balls like winners Nadal style either...give yourself some space and take a huge topspin swipe to the ball and it will be almost as effective as smacking a flat winner. It certainly will be more consistent than the flat winner, even if not as flashy, that is for sure.

Same here ... also the low ones and medium ones.

and the spinny ones, but not the backspinny ones?

 

[ByeByePoly]

There's literally no reason why you shouldn't be able to crush high floaters off your FH side with a Pure Drive, and particularly so if it is the Pure Drive Tour.

Obviously I don't know what your level is, but it could be a technical issue or it could easily be poor shot selection. If you're not accommodating for the higher bounce, then you may be jamming yourself, which leads to errors or inability to hit them hard. This can be pronounced if you've made a switch to a racquet with higher SW.

OTOH, there is no reason to crush the high balls like winners Nadal style either...give yourself some space and take a huge topspin swipe to the ball and it will be almost as effective as smacking a flat winner. It certainly will be more consistent than the flat winner, even if not as flashy, that is for sure.


and the spinny ones, but not the backspinny ones?

No ... backspinny also a problem.

OP might just have a Baywatch shaking hair problem. (Inside joke from another post which has nothing to do with OP)

 

[SinjinCooper]

Assuming your stroke is on the money -- high takeback, across the body finish, one of the footwork patterns that has you hitting while airborne and landing on the front foot, typically -- it's just a matter of practice. More inherently powerful racquets give you less margin for error on the "too hard" end of the spectrum, but are still fine for hitting all types of strokes.

Until then, a forehand slice or drive volley (essentially a FH volley hit with a more aggressive, groundstroke-y weight shift) is almost always a perfectly good reply to a high ball to the FH, and is a very easy stroke to master.