hitting wall warning

[grizzly4life]

thought i'd post this..

i had no one to hit with on vacation last summer. so i hit against the wall every day.... when i came back, my forehand was completely screwed up...

here's what i think the problem was... i was sort of scooping the ball very close to my body with little topspin...

i think the problem is that your best topspin shots (whether moderate or heavy) don't come back very well from the wall... so you try to keep the wall rally going by hitting higher floating type shots.... it's not too much fun having to start the rally every 7 seconds.

if you want to hit against the wall, i'd recommend hitting from fairly close and don't worry about the rally continuing too long... still hit with topspin.


agree/disagree?? feedback appreciated!!

 

[maverick1]

thought i'd post this..

i had no one to hit with on vacation last summer. so i hit against the wall every day.... when i came back, my forehand was completely screwed up...

here's what i think the problem was... i was sort of scooping the ball very close to my body with little topspin...

i think the problem is that your best topspin shots (whether moderate or heavy) don't come back very well from the wall... so you try to keep the wall rally going by hitting higher floating type shots.... it's not too much fun having to start the rally every 7 seconds.

if you want to hit against the wall, i'd recommend hitting from fairly close and don't worry about the rally continuing too long... still hit with topspin.


agree/disagree?? feedback appreciated!!

Yeah, my experience agrees with yours. I have never been a fan of wall practice because the ball doesn't come back in a natural way. It comes back too quickly, and often too low. It makes you play an unnatural style just to keep the rally going.

Like you I have found that if I don't worry about maintaining rallies, you can get a couple of decent shots each rally. It is less fun that way, but better than not playing at all.

 

[Tennismastery]

As long as you are working on proper form and technique, a wall can be great. However, as you mentioned, you can develop bad habits as a result of the ball returning low and faster than in a typical rally. Players tend to get wristy in trying to hit 'catch up' to the ball and they develop all kinds of bad habits.

 

[grizzly4life]

glad you guys agree!

just don't stand way back and wail high/flat shots that come back nicely.... worst thing was that it ruined my technique

 

[arnz]

I guess it depends...for me hitting against the wall was a great way to practice my stroke mechanics. You have to back it up with hitting on the courts though so you can adjust spins and vary depth. I think wall practice has helped me improve a lot

 

[ubel]

My forehand is fine after countless hours hitting against a wall. Sounds like you're not moving your feet and not hitting the ball at an appropriate height over the net. Because of this, you'll often be hitting the ball as it's falling and not near the apex of its bounce. This will force you to scoop it in an effort to get it high enough and though it may hit over the lined-net on the wall, the trajectory of the shot will drastically increase the probability if you hitting it long when you're on a real court.

You should be hitting the ball maybe 1-2 feet over the marked net-line on the wall, focusing mainly on these:

• early preparation for the shot -- good footwork that will get you to within an arm's-length away from the ball when it's at the apex of its bounce, as well as getting into a semi-closed/closed stance
• smooth execution -- medium paced shot (with obvious low to high motion) where you unwind your shoulder/torso and time the stroke so that you make contact with the ball in front of you
• placement over the net -- you'll know you're hitting it about the right height when you don't have to move much (see footwork) to get to the right position, and the ball's returning bounce doesn't feel uncomfortably high/low.

Hitting with a person is much better because, as you said, the ball becomes very bland when you're hitting against a wall due to the lack of spin/power. Even so, I don't think you can make near the amount of leaps and bounds in your strokes when you're first escaping tap-the-ball-back play as you can if you hit properly against a wall.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

I agree with ubel, above. Of course, it is not a good as practicing with a really good partner, but it is often better than a not-so-good partner.

 

[Tamu]

I never had a wall to play against

 

[raiden031]

at least the wall doesn't yell at you and complain about how you suck all the time!

 

[VGP]

First off, when hitting against a wall, don't hit so hard.

Plus, I add a lot of visualization as I hit against a wall. I second practicing with a lot of "net clearance."

 

[Robbie_1988]

If you find that hitting with the wall makes your groundstrokes suffer, then just practice reflex volleys with the wall. It's never hurt my volleys but only improved my reaction time.

 

[jackson vile]

thought i'd post this..

i had no one to hit with on vacation last summer. so i hit against the wall every day.... when i came back, my forehand was completely screwed up...

here's what i think the problem was... i was sort of scooping the ball very close to my body with little topspin...

i think the problem is that your best topspin shots (whether moderate or heavy) don't come back very well from the wall... so you try to keep the wall rally going by hitting higher floating type shots.... it's not too much fun having to start the rally every 7 seconds.

if you want to hit against the wall, i'd recommend hitting from fairly close and don't worry about the rally continuing too long... still hit with topspin.


agree/disagree?? feedback appreciated!!

This is why I always recomend the wall to to beginer to intermediate, and tell advanced to use it the least as possbile if not at all.


It has it's uses but you had better know how to use it or you get exactly what happend to you, nothing and I mean nothing will ever replace a hitting partner

 

[ubel]

This is why I always recomend the wall to to beginer to intermediate, and tell advanced to use it the least as possbile if not at all.


It has it's uses but you had better know how to use it or you get exactly what happend to you, nothing and I mean nothing will ever replace a hitting partner

Unless your hitting partner sucks/has no patience You're right about knowing how to use it, but how else will you find out how to use it without first trying it? Want to learn how to half-volley better? Want to get a good aerobic workout? Want to force yourself to move AND hit better? Want a high-speed volley session with someone who doesn't miss? Hell, are you just tired of tapping it back and forth with your partner and want to learn how to hit COMPLETE strokes or groove those strokes you got a lesson on, but can't find anyone who has the patience to deal with tons of errors? Hit against a wall

 

[Ryoma]

Another problem with practising against the wall is, you are always hitting down the line. Pretty fatal if you get into a habit.

 

[Deleted member 13755]

And of course, you can never win the wall.

 

[maverick1]

And of course, you can never win the wall.

I don't know about that. It is easy enough to make the wall hit wide or long.
If you hit with enough topspin, you shuld be able to do it with shots that technically would have landed in the court

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

I am a total fan of a wall.

If you approach a wall to simulate a match, game, point rally, or the ball hit by an opponent from the opposite baseline, or with topspin, etc., then you are expecting too much from the wall and may subject yourself to disappointing results. The wall is good at simulating an opponent at the net hitting you a cooperative ball that steals time and tends to stay low, or gets to your feet quickly, etc.

Use the wall for what it is meant to be used for: consistency of stroke preparation, footwork, and fluid stroke development, stealing time, improving quickness of footwork and preparation, fielding low balls, flat balls, half volleys, etc.

Don't want to deal with low balls, then stand closer.

I even use it to practice overheads, by bouncing the ball in front of the wall, I use it for quick volley exchanges to improve my hand speed and reflexes, I use it to simply ground a single stroke, like a high bouncing backhand that I simulate by tossing the ball to my back hand high into the air and simply focus on a consistent low to high swing of a "dead ball".

I use it to practice chasing down lobs by hitting the ball high against the wall at close range and running after the "lob" it gives me.

The wall isn't a person standing on the other baseline. So, don't expect it to be.

Use your tennis imagination and your wall can be a good tool.

 

[treo]

The problem with most walls is that they are vertical. If you can find or make a wall with minor upwards angle, the rebound trajectory is much more like real play.

 

[maverick1]

The problem with most walls is that they are vertical. If you can find or make a wall with minor upwards angle, the rebound trajectory is much more like real play.

Actually, my neighborhood has one that is probably even better. It is concave. The low balls rebound slightly upward and the high ones come down.

But I have never used it because there are two other which are more accessible and I have never been that big a fan of wall practice.

However Supernatural Serve has made me rethink that. I will see.

 

[Swinging Simian]

Another problem with practising against the wall is, you are always hitting down the line. Pretty fatal if you get into a habit.

I have to agree with this one. I've been practicing against a wall for the past 2 weeks (hitting partner broke his wrist mountain biking). Last night played with a couple of guys and found myself going for the lines more than I should and couldn't snap myself out of it. Ended up getting slaughtered.

 

[alan-n]

Reasons listed above are why I only use the wall for practicing serve and volley repetitions. Focusing more on footwork than anything. The only drills I ever use the wall for.

Outside of that, walls are still good for basic stretch and warm up.

 

[BORISK]

What is the bottom line?

Q. Do we need a wall? If yes:
Q. How to work with a wall?

 

[ball_basher]

Everyday, I'd simply practicing against the wall. Very useful tool for me and it sure did improved my technique especially my serves. May sound a bit far-fetched but it worked for me.

Lists of number of shots I hit during wall practice:

Forehand: 100
Backhand: 100
Inside-outside forehand: 50
Short forehand: 50
Forehand volley: 100
Backhand volley: 100
Half-volley: 100
Slice: 50
Drop Shot: 50
Serves: 35(Flat) 35(Slice) 35(Kick)

You see, I'm doing this to ensure my consistency is still sharp. Of course, I play at my club and will be involve in competition next year. Unlike what others said about the downsides of wall practice, it hasn't affected my tennis at all. Cheers

 

[Tour 90]

The problem with walls is that the spin you apply comes back opposite. Topspin from you equals backspin from the wall. If the ball approaches the wall spinning forward it will have the same direction of spin coming off the wall which will make it slice. Ex: if you are facing north and you apply spin making the ball rotate northward, when it bounces back it will still be spinning northward meaning it will be spinning away from yourself. So all spins are reversed meaning if you hit with primarily topspin you will only be practicing against all slice.

 

[krprunitennis2]

If you find that hitting with the wall makes your groundstrokes suffer, then just practice reflex volleys with the wall. It's never hurt my volleys but only improved my reaction time.

I agree. Against the wall, my friends and I pretend to be playing against a net player, we try to "pass" the wall, but the wall hits the ball and makes us run. Ends up as a great workout and it's pretty fun to "rally with" the wall.

To the post above, I don't really see this. Everytime I make a shot, it looks like the ball is rotating as if someone hit the ball to me with topspin. But then for my experience, if I hit it with topspin or slice, everything comes back as topspin.

 

[ionutzakis]

I hit a wall once until my wrist hurt like hell, couldn't play for a week after.

I did like it for 2HBH.

 

[dozu]

the key is to hit off 2 bounces. this mimics real play a little more than off 1 bounce.

however extensive wall hitting does screw up the depth perception at least.... it is OK to use to work on your basic form and footwork.. and depth perception can be gained by a little on-court practicing.

 

[raiden031]

The problem with walls is that the spin you apply comes back opposite. Topspin from you equals backspin from the wall. If the ball approaches the wall spinning forward it will have the same direction of spin coming off the wall which will make it slice. Ex: if you are facing north and you apply spin making the ball rotate northward, when it bounces back it will still be spinning northward meaning it will be spinning away from yourself. So all spins are reversed meaning if you hit with primarily topspin you will only be practicing against all slice.

Never in my life has a ball come off my racquet with topspin, hit the wall and then flew back with backspin. Have you actually hit against a wall? I always get topspin off the wall UNLESS I hit the ball into the floor first which then hits the wall and comes back high with extreme backspin. That is how I practice overheads. Because it sends me a high backspin floater that allows me to set up the overhead quite realistically.

I get great practice on my slices and volleys with the wall. For forehand and backhand drives it is perfect for working on your stroke mechanics and footwork. I agree with everyone that once you have developed these, the lack of depth will make the wall useless for you. My main goal when using the wall is to develop clean contact at the sweetspot and to improve my footwork. It has worked wonders.

 

[staedtler]

Actually I think Tour 90 is correct. When I ever I hit some heavy topspin against the wall, they come back with backspin. Just have to think about the physics. Or when I hit a heavy slice, the ball kicks back pretty good like a topspin.

 

[raiden031]

Actually I think Tour 90 is correct. When I ever I hit some heavy topspin against the wall, they come back with backspin. Just have to think about the physics. Or when I hit a heavy slice, the ball kicks back pretty good like a topspin.

I guess the laws of physics cease to exist at the wall I use.

 

[staedtler]

Yeah maybe your wall is crazy but thats cool. I think Tour 90 explained it pretty well. You should try doing a really killer drop shot against the wall, and after it hits the wall, see how once it hits the ground it kicks back up pretty quickly.

 

[Championship_Point]

The wall messed up my backhand, I could only push my BH after the wall for about a month.

 

[raiden031]

Yeah maybe your wall is crazy but thats cool. I think Tour 90 explained it pretty well. You should try doing a really killer drop shot against the wall, and after it hits the wall, see how once it hits the ground it kicks back up pretty quickly.

I agree that a slice shot will come back as top spin, but I find that all of my shots come back as top spin. I think its decided mainly by the angle that the ball hits the wall, not by the spin on the ball before it hits the wall. For instance if you get close to the wall and hit it at a sharp angle upwards you will get a backspin ball returned no matter how you hit it. Thats my theory and I'm sticking to it until I start receiving what you guys say I should be receiving.

 

[Sagittar]

i agree ofcourse .. walls don't return topspin shots at all

 

[raiden031]

The wall messed up my backhand, I could only push my BH after the wall for about a month.

The only comment I have is that you obviously were using poor technique with the wall. You probably had poor technique to begin with and reinforced this technique with the repetitions that a wall provides.

 

[Trinity TC]

the key is to hit off 2 bounces. this mimics real play a little more than off 1 bounce.

however extensive wall hitting does screw up the depth perception at least.... it is OK to use to work on your basic form and footwork.. and depth perception can be gained by a little on-court practicing.

I agree. That's what I used to do way back when I used the wall for getting the "feel" back into my game. Got really good at hitting the ball on the rise and learned the type of relaxed concentration needed to hit 500 consecutive balls without an error. Built up some pretty good calluses along the way too but had to relearn how to pick up the flight and the bounce of the ball if I overdid the wall thing.

Fortunately, got to the level where I could hit with people who had structured practice sessions (between bouts of drinking and hell raising ) and were capable of driving the ball for 500 to 1000 consecutive shots which eliminated the need for the wall. I did continue using the wall for overhead practice though. 25 minutes with the overhead wall drill was great for building up core strength and fitness. It's a killer but you'll be ready to hunt bear without a gun if you can do that 3-4 times a week.

 

[federermcenroeagassi]

depends on what surface the ball is on, but other than that, you're correct. however, when i play on the wall of my basement, the ball comes back at a normal bounce, so its actually pretty good practice. but at the outdoor wall at my club, the bounce is too low, like you mentioned