How to hit sharp angle ground strokes?

[1171]

I do not hit with a lot of power on ground strokes.

But once in awhile, I would hit sharp angle shots that drive my opponent off the side line and I would finish it off with another cross-court.

I want to be able to hit sharp angle shots consistently. Need comments on techniques. Where to hit the ball? hit on the outer edge? more top spin? camp inside the baseline most of the time?

 

[TennsDog]

It basically comes down to doing the same thing for cross court, only more so. You want to make contact a little earier (assuming cross court and not inside out angle) to get around the ball and pull it sharply. More topspin will be necessary to dip it inside the lines. You also need to hit it lower to the net.

 

[Ash_Smith]

I wouldn't necessarily say lower to the net but certainly aim shorter up the court to increase the angle and aim to hit up and around the outside of the ball - check the Wimby final and watch Fed hit cross court backhand passes on Roddick all day. He rips around the outside of the ball to make it dip on a short angle cross court. Aim to do the same, hit up and around the outside of the ball, if you still struggle - see a coach.

 

[Phil Daddario]

Crosscourt means hitting on the outside of the ball. The more you hit on the outside, the sharper crosscourt is is, meaning the sharper angle.

And you WILL need more topspin to work with the less distance. Normal "windshield-wiping" motions that normally only produce short balls around the service line or less can be adapted for angled shots.

Someone correct me if windshield wiping is not often used here, I do it but could be wrong.

You'll also want to be a little further into the court than for normal balls where you're often camping outside the baseline.

 

[TennsDog]

Depending on how high you hit for rally shots, you would need to aim lower over the net. If you hit 5 feet over the net for normal shots, you need to be under about 3 for a good angled shot. If you hit much higher, it will either go wide, or at the very least give your opponent more time to get to it. A short angled shot is typically used for a winner, which is hit lower to the net anyway.

 

[kevhen]

Yeah I would say like hit 6 inches over the net for sharp angled shots, unless you hit with heavy or slow topspin where you might be able to clear by 2-3 feet and still have the ball drop in and stay on a sharp-angled course.

 

[Kobble]

Hit with much more spin, and practice. If you don't practice it you will not be confident enough to use it in matches.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I make sure I am using a SW grip, that my wrist is laid back on the takeback ("patting the dog"), and that I am getting under the ball with the racket head before impact. Also that my knees are well bent and that I am accelerating through the ball.

You need good topspin, that's it.

 

[FiveO]

1-Stroke production: K.I.S.S.- Keep it simple in approach and execution.
It's not a different shot. Its a groundstroke hit to a different target. I never liked the cue "hit the outside of the ball". I used it in the past, but never cared for it. I know its intent, but "Hitting the outside of the ball" can connote active wrist action or a change in the angle between racquet and forearm at contact, ostensibly describing a substantive change in mechanics. A different shot.

Contact is made earlier on any x-court than when playing a shot dtl or to center hash. And since a short angle is more x-court than a x-court hit deep to the corner, contact is made sooner still. The new target is the outside corner of the service box. Rotate the entire stroke toward the short x-court. Rotate the prep, set-up, low to high, accelerating linear path thru the hitting zone with the racquet face square, to the target, and follow thru toward the new target. Contact will occur sooner but its the same groundie you aim elsewhere. Since the target is a shorter distance, net clearance does need to be lowER than your baseline to baseline groundies. Spin/pace adjustments may be required/desired, but only do so within your normal stroke production.

Work on direction first. Experiment with clearance, topspin and pace. Find what combinations of lowered net clearance/spin/pace accomplish the task. Find what works for you. Then practice.

Practice THE NEW TARGET! Not a new stroke.


2-SA (Situational Awareness) when to play the shot*:

Reserve the shot for when making contact very near or outside your sideline. (Simply stated: Attempting to play a "short angle" from nearer the center of the baseline takes away your 'angle' and hands your opponent a short ball off which he can attack you.)

Play the shot when on offense. When you can set-up and your contact is at or above net height, near or inside the baseline. (Don't let the ball drop below net height. Try to identify the bounce point of each ball earlier. On short balls try to cut the corner of your court off with your footwork, moving forward on a diagonal path, to contact the ball higher and earlier.)

*Exception: Your defensive, way out of court, gassed or otherwise placed in an "all or nothing" situation. Go for it.

Good luck.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I do not hit with a lot of power on ground strokes.

But once in awhile, I would hit sharp angle shots that drive my opponent off the side line and I would finish it off with another cross-court.

I want to be able to hit sharp angle shots consistently. Need comments on techniques. Where to hit the ball? hit on the outer edge? more top spin? camp inside the baseline most of the time?

Use cones! Place a cone at the angle you want. Then find out the combination of swing speed and spin you need to nail it.

On short balls, dont be afraid to use some wrist to help you achieve the desired angle. Got to practice them.

But I must say you are one smart player. Great job in figuring out what it takes to win. You will win many matches simply by taking pace off the ball and going for placement.

I loved the comment Federer said after winning Wimbledon for his serve. He said (not in exact words) "I just take some pace off my serves and go for placement". If he thinks this is good we should also. I am seeing more and more players taking some pace off the ball and hitting more balls in and being able to move the ball around. It works!