Hitting Flatter and Harder

SHRIEK

Rookie
I have a queston. Can Anyone help give tips on how to hit the ball flatter? thanks. I really appreciate it. I put a lot of topsin on the ball and I hit pretty hard while my balls are safe. but when they don't go deep enough, the ball will sit up a little more. I just need something that stays a little lower.:confused: Thanks again.:)
I actaully don't need help on hitting hard though... unless you can help me anyways. It would be appreciated
 
make sure you're spacing yourself away from the ball enough. if you're not, then you'll tend to jam the ball into your body too much. usually, people who get too close to the ball will tend to overspin the ball and not have enough depth.
 

WildVolley

Legend
We really don't have enough information to give you good advice. In theory the answer is simple: hit through the ball more and apply less vertical motion at impact.

Usually, this is best accomplished from coming less low to high on the ball. So make sure your racquet head is only slightly below the ball on the forward part of your swing. Make sure to get a good unit turn and extension through the ball.
 

limitup

Professional
it starts with how you grip the racquet handle. flat hitters would use the eastern grip.

That's not true. You can hit "flat" with any grip, including a western grip. You don't think Nadal can rip a flat winner?

And there's no such thing as flat really. The flattest looking forehand you've ever seen still had topspin, just less.
 

Mick

Legend
That's not true. You can hit "flat" with any grip, including a western grip. You don't think Nadal can rip a flat winner?

And there's no such thing as flat really. The flattest looking forehand you've ever seen still had topspin, just less.

you think nadal doesn't change his grip at all when he hits all of those shots -- western grip all the time ?

have you ever seen jimmy connors or chris evert hit the ball? they hit the ball absolutely flat.
 
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snvplayer

Hall of Fame
Type of grip obviously has effect on how much topspin one can put on the ball, but it is still relative.

Pros might change their grip a little bit to put more topspin on the ball or to flatten out, but they don't vary their grips to the extent where they go from western to eastern within one point.

Agassi is a good example, he used to SW but his shots were fairly flat.

On the other hand, Rafter also used SW, but his strokes weren't that flat...
 

Mick

Legend
i agree with what you are saying.
me, i am mostly a flat hitter but I do change my grip to semi-western to hit a topspin shot, not a drastic change in the grip .
 

Nellie

Hall of Fame
You can hit flat with any grip, as long as you adjust your swing path to be more veritcal and adjust the contact point. For example, if you hitting the ball far out in front of your body, the shot tends to be flat because that part of the swing is flat. You may notice, for example, that if you are a righty, it will be easier to hit flat to the duece side and easier to hit heavy topspin to the ad side.

It is true the many player adjust their grips slightly without realizing it. However, this is often to adjust to a high/low ball, as a more closed face helps to bring high balls down into the court and a more open face helps bring low balls over the net. I would not intentionally change grips and stroke pattern to get a different ball, because you will get a lot of inconsistency.
 
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mental midget

Hall of Fame
That's not true. You can hit "flat" with any grip, including a western grip. You don't think Nadal can rip a flat winner?

And there's no such thing as flat really. The flattest looking forehand you've ever seen still had topspin, just less.

Unless it doesn't. or has backspin.

??
 

MTChong

Professional
You can hit flat with any grip, as long as you adjust your swing path to be more veritcal and adjust the contact point. For example, if you hitting the ball far out in front of your body, the shot tends to be flat because that part of the swing is flat. You may notice, for example, that if you are a righty, it will be easier to hit flat to the duece side and easier to hit heavy topspin to the ad side.

It is true the many player adjust their grips slightly without realizing it. However, this is often to adjust to a high/low ball, as a more closed face helps to bring high balls down into the court and a more open face helps bring low balls over the net. I would not intentionally change grips and stroke pattern to get a different ball, because you will get a lot of inconsistency.

Did you mean horizontal?

I seem to exhibit the opposite of what you say; I can hit with massive topspin crosscourt (to the deuce side)
 

SHRIEK

Rookie
Did you mean horizontal?

I seem to exhibit the opposite of what you say; I can hit with massive topspin crosscourt (to the deuce side)

I think he did...
I like topspin. It's a lot more safe, I'm a perfectionist when I'm playing and hate making too much mistakes because I'm a mental case and break down so easily. Anyways as long as I don't have too much topspin
 

LuckyR

Legend
IMO hitting flatter will solve one problem, but add another. If I were you I would continue to hit with topspin, just hit the same ball deeper. You won't have to change your grip or overall stroke. Just hit it harder. True you will need better arm strength, especially in long matches to pull it off but that's why weights were invented...
 

Urban_Azin

New User
IMO hitting flatter will solve one problem, but add another. If I were you I would continue to hit with topspin, just hit the same ball deeper. You won't have to change your grip or overall stroke. Just hit it harder. True you will need better arm strength, especially in long matches to pull it off but that's why weights were invented...

I love hitting flat, top spin is boring. I love the low, fast paced ball...
If your not gonna help, don't post anything at all!:evil:
 
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