I am a horrible feeder

[the_innovator]

I am having some trouble feeding. Wherever I feed, I use my normal forehand grip which is the Western. Could the grip be the reason that even when I'm focusing, my feeding is not perfect?

I was thinking maybe a continental grip would be better when feeding from the service line, and do you see need to switch grips from my normal Western forehand grip when feeding from the baseline? I know many use a semi-western or eastern from the baseline, but the reason I don't want to use those grips is because it is not my natural grip and I fear it will get mixed up with my Western grip.

The hilarious part was I asked one of my regular hitting partners what he thought about my game play, and his answer was something to this effect: "Your entire play was nice except your feeds."

Thanks for your responses

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Can you volley? I mean forehand volley? Which grip do you use for volleys? Western or Continental? Continental! OK, use the same continental grip when you feed from the service line T. Since you are feeding out of the air, you are volleying the ball!

When you feed from the baseline: It's better to use your normal forehand grip:

-- bounce the ball on the ground with your non-racket hand, and play it with normal forehand motion. Do not hit it too hard, and do not feed the first ball to the backhand. Feed it nicely to the forehand of your opponent, and do not hit the lines with your feeds.

Generally, by feeding we mean when we use a ball basket and feed from the service line T.

 

[the_innovator]

Can you volley? I mean forehand volley? Which grip do you use for volleys? Western or Continental? Continental! OK, use the same continental grip when you feed from the service line T. Since you are feeding out of the air, you are volleying the ball!

When you feed from the baseline: It's better to use your normal forehand grip:

-- bounce the ball on the ground with your non-racket hand, and play it with normal forehand motion. Do not hit it too hard, and do not feed the first ball to the backhand. Feed it nicely to the forehand of your opponent, and do not hit the lines with your feeds.

Generally, by feeding we mean when we use a ball basket and feed from the service line T.

Sometimes even when I'm at the service line I bounce the ball before hitting it, but I will try the continental grip and feeding it out of the air more.

I guess the problems with some of my feeds are I do hit too hard and they hit the lines, and also at times I hit it short.

The feeding I'm speaking of is when you are going to start a rally during a hitting session.

 

[AngeloDS]

You either
a) Take it lower or higher. Changing the contact point.
b) Switch grips.

You can't hit it where you normally hit it, so it'll screw you up either way. I just change my grip to a continental usually, due to comfort. I'd rather save my arm, than demolish it.

When I worked with girls varsity I use the semi-western forehand grip to add topspin so they get use to it. I had to drastically change my contact point. It was real low, about 2-3" above my ankles where I was hitting it (out of the air).

You need to learn control as well. You have to know how hard you're hitting, as well as how fast your swing is. You have to keep doing it until you get control.

 

[supersmash]

I feed by the throat of the racquet. Yes, I'm weird like that.

 

[dancraig]

Lay your wrist back and contact the ball well out in front, not to your side. Good feeding, like many things, is not as easy as it looks. It's a skill one must master in order to teach well. You'll get it. Good luck.

 

[tommyho]

change your grip for feeding.
look at the the pros, none use full western to feed.
use a continental or eastern.
ur volleys probably will improve to, as u get used to the grip.

 

[LafayetteHitter]

Feeds are exactly that. Keep it simple and remember that they are just feeds. I hit with some guys that try to hit winners off of feeds, very annoying. Maybe go an practice hitting some feeds by just using cones for targets

 

[the_innovator]

Lay your wrist back and contact the ball well out in front, not to your side. Good feeding, like many things, is not as easy as it looks. It's a skill one must master in order to teach well. You'll get it. Good luck.

It seems you've found my problem, dancraig. I don't think I contact the ball out in front enough.

I do use the continental grip for vollies and my vollies are solid but not yet to the point of Henman's , and I don't think I really need that at the moment because I'm becoming more of an all-around player from mainly sticking to the baseline in the past. Anyone can use the extra practice, but like I said, my vollies are one of the consistent suits of my game. I just never thought about using the continental grip as my main feeding grip.

 

[the_innovator]

Feeds are exactly that. Keep it simple and remember that they are just feeds. I hit with some guys that try to hit winners off of feeds, very annoying. Maybe go an practice hitting some feeds by just using cones for targets

Yea, this is good advice. It seems my best feeds happen when I keep it simple and remember they are just feeds.

 

[dancraig]

I hope I helped a little. When I first started teaching, back in the 80's, the pro I was working under gave me a little feeding lesson. Making contact out in front was key.