How do you flatten out shots?

[shawn1122]

I've been wondering, how are you supposed to flatten out your shots. For me, it seems to happen randomly. If i make contact a little higher than usual, then the ball goes pretty flat and fast. But, I want to be able to do it at will. Are you supposed to change your grip? Are you supposed to turn your wrist? How do you hit flat with a Semi-Semi-Western grip?

 

[limitup]

Easy - Flatter swing path. You'll never hit a truly flat shot though ...

 

[tnig469]

for me...i try to hit when the ball is farther out....or as ppl would like to call it...hit it early...like inside the baseline....and put my body in it...and with more eastern grips u can hit flatter balls....but with my full western i just hit farther out in front of me...

 

[GuyClinch]

My question.

Well I know how to flatten out my shots..at least in theory. But I want to know if it's possible to hit a ball that goes low over the net then dies with alot of topspin.

When I try to add more topspin to my shots it flys more lob like.. But I want to hit safer passing shots not just more loopy groundstrokes.

Pete

 

[Marat Safinator]

Open your racket face, and hit the ball like that.

 

[Rickson]

I've been wondering, how are you supposed to flatten out your shots. For me, it seems to happen randomly. If i make contact a little higher than usual, then the ball goes pretty flat and fast. But, I want to be able to do it at will. Are you supposed to change your grip? Are you supposed to turn your wrist? How do you hit flat with a Semi-Semi-Western grip?

Flat shots are the easiest with the sw grip. Just hit the ball with a slightly closed face and forget about the low to high motion. Your ball may have a slight forward spin, but for the most part, it'll be flat and fast. It's that loopy low to high motion that prevents flat shots, not the sw grip which is imo, the best grip for flat bombs.

 

[Rickson]

Open your racket face, and hit the ball like that.

I don't think he wants to hit loopy shots, I think he means flat and fast.

 

[Marat Safinator]

thats not loopy. To hit a hard flat shot, I open my racket face until its level and hit the ball like that. and it works perfectly fine.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I've been wondering, how are you supposed to flatten out your shots. For me, it seems to happen randomly. If i make contact a little higher than usual, then the ball goes pretty flat and fast. But, I want to be able to do it at will. Are you supposed to change your grip? Are you supposed to turn your wrist? How do you hit flat with a Semi-Semi-Western grip?

Swing through and extend!

 

[simi]

I've always hit flat. Have a hard time generating topspin, but that might be the racket. Shoulder high balls are the easiest to drive flat. I really love to pounce on them and lay into them.

After thinking about it a moment, and what I do. Take the racket back early, straight back, not high or low. Eastern grip, sometimes continental. Power straight through the ball, not swinging low to high (at least very much). Photos show my completed swing with my upper arm across my chin with my left wrist just behind my right ear (left handed) or at my neck.

Now, if I can only figure out topspin . . . I'd keep a lot more balls in the court.

 

[FH2FH]

I've been wondering, how are you supposed to flatten out your shots. For me, it seems to happen randomly...

A rhetorical question: How do you return a hard serve?

Usually you won't have time to make a loopy backswing and swing low to high. Not even pros can hit heavy topspin off a heater. So, hit a flat ball like you would return a fast serve. Take the racket STRAIGHT back like you would a return, further back for more power, and swing THROUGH the ball. The key is to swing horizontally, not from below the ball. Adjust your grip if you find it necessary.

Keep in mind the ball will travel faster (and further) since you won't be putting topspin on it. You may want to take a shorter backswing than usual to compensate for the extra length, ie, long balls. Higher balls are the best to hit flat for obvious reasons.

 

[chrisak47]

Its simple in my opinion...

Keep the racquet face open and use any grip except Western and Hawaiian...DO NOT GO FROM LOW TO HIGH...

That is very important. Go and get the ball at that higher spot and follow through STRAIGHT. So basicially, get the ball at shoulder/neck height and then hit it straight on and follow through. Remember to keep the racquet face open. If you can hit with topspin okay, just do the opposite...

 

[travlerajm]

Raise your backswing higher, so that the racquet head doesn't have time to dip as far below the ball when you start the swing.

 

[emcee]

Yeah try to take the ball around shoulder high and in front of you, and I think it happens naturally. And I use a full Western grip.

 

[andyroddick's mojo]

just remember to have a straight swing path. if your swing path goes up, of course you won't hit flat, so just try and keep a straight swing path.

 

[shawn1122]

Thanks everyone. This works perfect for me!! Now whenever my opponent hits a high loopy shot, I can step right in, take it at shoulder height and smack it flat down the line for a winner. Thanks again for the help!

Note: It's been almost a month since the thread was started, so it took me a while to make this work well for me