I am switching from an eastern to a semi-western forehand grip. Want/need more topspin is the reason for change. I now have to aim much higher with the semi-western grip versus the eastern grip and I have incorporated the windshield wiper follow through. Thus far and getting use to aiming much higher, I can hit fair with my semi-western forehand when I strike a ball that is located between my waist and shoulders. My problems is how to effectively strike a low ball that is below my waist or lower with a semi-western grip. Those low balls are giving me a fit as I seem just to pop it up for the front net guy to kill! Also figure I am limited on racquet head speed on the low balls.
Hitting a low ball with a forehand semi-western grip
- Thread starter 10usDad
- Start date
VaBeachTennis
Semi-Pro
This may be a silly question, but are you bending your knees enough on those low balls? Also if you are "popping those balls up", it seems like you may possibly be opening your racquet face to compensate for the SW grip. More knowledgeable people may chime in with better advice.
Last edited:
Wes_Loves_Dunlop
Professional
make sure you get a good knee bend and you have to brush up on the ball more than you normally would do.
i agree with the knee bend. you need to get down low enough to put some lift on the ball. very important. if you are popping them up, you may be doing one or both of the following.
1. you may be coming up to sharply behind the ball and just brushing it. this is what i call "ALL SPIN AND NO TIN" meaning that you spun the ball but put no drive on it.
2. letting the ball get too close to you (in and out from the net) before you hit it. if you catch it further out in front of you it will likely fix problem 1 as well, as catching the ball further out front helps add drive to the ball.
the low ball you describe should be very easy and actually a desirable ball to hit using a sw or fw forehand.
again. get low, its so important.
1. you may be coming up to sharply behind the ball and just brushing it. this is what i call "ALL SPIN AND NO TIN" meaning that you spun the ball but put no drive on it.
2. letting the ball get too close to you (in and out from the net) before you hit it. if you catch it further out in front of you it will likely fix problem 1 as well, as catching the ball further out front helps add drive to the ball.
the low ball you describe should be very easy and actually a desirable ball to hit using a sw or fw forehand.
again. get low, its so important.
Watch what's going on at the French Open. This is a slow clay court where the ball jumps up, giving high balls to hit. Did you see Soderling's FH agaisnt Nadal? That's how to hit a high forehand shot.
Next is Wimbledon, on grass court, the ball will bounce low. Watch how they tackle that. What I'm seeing is they are almost leaning back on their right heel, and they are swinging up on the low balls when the ball is almost behind them. It looks like they are off balance. But they seem to do it a lot.
If you want to topspin drive a shot, you need to get under the ball. Sometimes, the ball is too low, and you cannot hit topspin. If you are moving forward, you really cannot hit too hard if the ball is low because you need to clear the net but keep the ball in the court. Per above comments, you need to get low to have a chance, but also note that you cannot windshield wipe when moving forward into the court. Instead, you need to use more of a closed stance with an over-the-shoulder followthrough to hit through the ball if you want pace (and to not fall over your own feet)
If you are defensive, you can whip the forehand from low to high, using the pace from the opponents shot.
If you are defensive, you can whip the forehand from low to high, using the pace from the opponents shot.
masterxfob
Semi-Pro
if it's a really low bouncing shot, i'll slice it back. if i can get under it, i'll use heavy topspin. either way, i can't swing as much as i'd like, so i try to place them close to the corners. i use a lot of wrist when going topspin cross court, i guess somewhat like a ww fh.
Your first suggestion of using the side spin is a good one but takes lots of practice to do. I don't understand your second sentence talking about an "oval" ball.
I understand the original poster's concern. And I don't think people telling him to make sure he is getting under the ball or make sure to bend the knees is going to help. I'm sure he's already making sure he's doing that. He is talking about the inherent weakness in the SW forehand at hitting a very low ball, something that eastern and continental FH are better at.
I'm in the same boat and it is the primary reason I am experimenting with using different FH grips depending on the situation; something I've never done before in my life. I now play mostly social doubles tennis and the balls are often barely going over the net and staying low. With my SW forehand I often hit these balls into the net or I shank them too. I go back to the eastern FH and I have more success and if I can't hit a regular top spin my flat or slice forehand is also better with the eastern but then I lose that that great combination of power and spin and consistency from the baseline unless I go back to SW.
I don't personally use a semi western, more of a western grip to hit my forehands, but I find that when hitting a low balls, If i tryed using my normal stroke that I tend to overhit the low balls, to correct this I restrain myself from using the windshield wiper motion and sort of keep my arm straight as I hit the through ball from low to high, and keep the knees bent to get a nice brushing action over the ball to clear the net.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I do 2 things. I either do an extreme WW where I lift the ball and sidespin it. Or I push it flat to an open corner on the court. To be honest, sometimes a flat pushed shot will kill about anybody if it is placed properly. I hit with a guy who sends me low spinners, and I push them flat and make him run to get the ball. It allows me to reset and sometimes take over the point.
You can also choose to block a low incoming ball, with little backswing and slow, short forward swing.
But most good players swing almost faster on shin high forehands, choosing to really brush the ball with a combination of side and topspin, making the shape of the ball go oval (like a topspin slice serve), so the ball whistles as it crosses the net and is extremely hard to volley from all that spin.
That oval ball comes from extreme spin, and is seen most often in 5.5 and above tennis levels, and especially from fit, big, strong players.
But most good players swing almost faster on shin high forehands, choosing to really brush the ball with a combination of side and topspin, making the shape of the ball go oval (like a topspin slice serve), so the ball whistles as it crosses the net and is extremely hard to volley from all that spin.
That oval ball comes from extreme spin, and is seen most often in 5.5 and above tennis levels, and especially from fit, big, strong players.
Bud
Bionic Poster
It's too bad the member was banned. This is great advice.
Experiment with changing the angle of approach on the ball. It just takes practice. It's like hitting a really low ball with a topspin 1HBH... it just takes practice... not an easy shot.
Similar threads
