How to hit short sitters ? Hot to hit winners from short, weak balls?

[FiReFTW]

Why would you shorten it ? To have more control ?

If you shorten it you get less racquet speed potential, so less likely for the ball to go out since it has less speed, however if you have the right racquet angle, swinpath, grip looseness and enough spin you don't really need to do this, as you can swing as fast as possible and its not possible to miss.

 

[yanni]

Yeah with the path and the racket head angle it worked out great. I just have to avoid overhitting it.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Why would you shorten it ? To have more control ?

Partially. More control, prepared earlier, and there really isn't a need for a full swing on an approach.

 

[FiReFTW]

Partially. More control, prepared earlier, and there really isn't a need for a full swing on an approach.

More spin, more pace, harder ball for opponent.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

More spin, more pace, harder ball for opponent.

What?

 

[FiReFTW]

What?

Full swing vs compact swing, compact swing has less racquet speed hence the ball is slower, thats why when you look at wta or atp they take a full takeback on most short sitters.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Full swing vs compact swing, compact swing has less racquet speed hence the ball is slower, thats why when you look at wta or atp they take a full takeback on most short sitters.

Go for it if it works for you. I don't need a full backswing to hit an effective and consistent approach shot.

 

[Tennisist]

On the next court to where I usually play, we have an experienced couch working with a very young player. I've watched them several times already practicing this particular scenario. He hand-feeds her sitters -- to fall around the baseline. He varies the position randomly. She has to dash from the baseline to reach them. I must say they are working on smacking the hell out of these balls. The target is always the same: one of the two corners. There is no dilly-dallying there. She hits it full strength, with top-spin and straight into the corner. It comes off her racquet faster than my rallying ball from the baseline.

Is this the recommended technique?

 

[FiReFTW]

On the next court to where I usually play, we have an experienced couch working with a very young player. I've watched them several times already practicing this particular scenario. He hand-feeds her sitters -- to fall around the baseline. He varies the position randomly. She has to dash from the baseline to reach them. I must say they are working on smacking the hell out of these balls. The target is always the same: one of the two corners. There is no dilly-dallying there. She hits it full strength, with top-spin and straight into the corner. It comes off her racquet faster than my rallying ball from the baseline.

Is this the recommended technique?

Depends how high ur goal is.

And also how fast u can hit while maintaining technique and control.

My coach always say i should swing fast on all balls but change how much spin or drive of aim or whatever.

But swinging fast means a loose arm. Most people confuse swinging fast with swinging hard where they get tight and arm it and lose all control.

 

[time_fly]

I see there are a lot of tips already but I also used to have a lot of trouble with these short, no pace, high balls. These three things fixed it:

1. Don’t run through the ball. Assuming you have time, stop and get balanced before you swing.

2. The shorter the ball, the shorter the swing. Power comes from the legs and body, swing is compact.

3. The shorter and higher the ball, the less you want topspin. For short sitters hit flat through the ball and follow through with the racquet straight towards the target. Just be sure to hit out towards the target and not down. But don’t try to come over the ball or finish high.