How can I stop pulling off my shots in a clinic on clay?

[EddieBrock]

It's been a few years since I've done a clinic and I'm having a lot of trouble with my groundstrokes. I'm not missing, but I feel like I'm pulling off the ball and hitting short and don't have clean contact. I asked the coach and he said my weight isn't going into the ball instead I'm pulling off it to the side on some shots.

What's tricky for me are the different styles, bad bounces, and the feeling of rushing. Especially when you do a drill where you hit and then move out of the way for your partner to hit the next shot like ping pong.

Should I focus on my footwork, holding the finish, or something else? I'm just a bit frustrated with how I'm playing.

 

[Rosstour]

Stupid question but are you wearing clay shoes?

 

[eah123]

I think you should listen to your coach and focus on weight transfer into the shot. This is slightly different for open, semi open and closed/neutral stance on both wings. Watch some YouTube videos in this topic if your not sure how.

 

[LeeD]

Raise backswing takeback so you flatten your forward stroke, instead of normal backswing against a higher than expected strike zone.

 

[nyta2]

What's tricky for me are the different styles, bad bounces, and the feeling of rushing. Especially when you do a drill where you hit and then move out of the way for your partner to hit the next shot like ping pong.

getting used to different styles (of ball spin/pace/height/etc...) is an issue for me too... does get better with practice... focusing on their racquet contact and actively making adjustmensts with me feet help, and will get better over time
bad bounces.. it's clay, expect it... if you're used to hitting on the rise like me (eg. on hard courts where the bounce is true), you'll need to stand back a bit, and give yourself more time.
hold the finish (just so you can see if you're doing the right thing)... let your back foot come forward (drag or step) after contact (or hop forward if you're in open stance)...

mistake i do is not planting my back leg, and pushing forward (instead, i'll hit off my front foot, or rotate sideways vs forward in open stance)

 

[Hit 'em clean]

When you said pulling off the ball, my first though was exactly what your coach mentioned... you're most likely going to the side and not fwd. In drills make sure you plant/setup/load behind the ball (feel almost like you're stopped) and then rotate/swing while moving fwd into the ball through contact. Sometimes it's as easy as just stepping fwd into the court after contact, but sometimes a lot of the failure to move into the ball can be caused by your setup to the ball.

If you're late setting up, too close, or unbalanced... any or all three of those things can inhibit you from going fwd into the ball. Setup earlier and behind the ball with a wide balanced base... make sure you give yourself space between you and the ball to swing the racquet. From there you'll be setup to move fwd into the ball and can quickly adjust to bad bounces. When I'm hitting my best it's because I'm moving at the ball... setting up early, creating space and I feel like I'm playing the ball (attacking)... if I'm not hitting well it's because I'm not setting up early enough, probably too close to the ball... and that results in feeling reactive/defensive... feels like the ball is playing me.

When you're feeling rushed setting up early is going to feel like it's way too early, but trust me it's not. Giving yourself enough space will feel like you might be too far away, but you probably won't be.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

1. Find your optimum contact point with the ball.
With practice swings find the height off the court that feels right for striking the ball.
Hold the ball against the net post and adjust your feet, arm and body position to
find your optimum in relation to the ball.

2. In actual practice, try and duplicate getting into that position every time. This is where
anticipation and foot work come into play- bend the knees to get down to a low ball,
as you near the ball, take small adjustment steps and move foreward or back so you
meet the ball, and stroke the ball, as much as possible, the same way every time.

3. As mentioned several times, above, your weight, your racket, your momentum,
needs to be moving forward, concentrating on the instant of striking the ball.
Practice this over an over. If you have access to a ball machine or one-on-one coach,
that would be ideal, but hitting against a wall can also be good for practice. Even when
playing a match, think of it as practice for getting into position.

 

[EddieBrock]

Stupid question but are you wearing clay shoes?

No. I play on clay pretty often but have never used clay court shoes

 

[EddieBrock]

So much great advice here. Thanks!

Can't wait to try out these tips next time. I just feel rushed and out of sorts at the clinic. Hopefully with these tips I'll be able to play my game next time

 

[Rosstour]

No. I play on clay pretty often but have never used clay court shoes

Well then that's the first place to start.