1. Hit low over the netWhat is the key
1.in general
2.in case of midhigh incoming midcourt ball if i would like to answer it with short skidding backhand slice?
Thank you for your answer
Toth
If i understand correctly more high to low backspin causes shorter, more skidding slice - this is the shot i am looking for!1. Hit low over the net
2. More backspin (for same no-arc low trajectory - more skid and lower the bounce
For your case, either let the ball drop to netcord level/lower, than hit it with moderate drive and some backspin; or take it high, but prepare even higher - you want to bring it lower over the net and with generous backspin to kill the bounce. Latter one is harder to execute.
In any case don’t hit too high ball, too low, neither extremely choppy
Not sure #2 is true. I remember reading a Tennis Magazine article stating that a slice shot jumps up at a steeper angle than a topspin shot. Of course, a topspin shot eventually bounces to a higher point.2. More backspin (for same no-arc low trajectory - more skid and lower the bounce
My problem is with a flat shot that i would like to hit a short ball. Flat slice tends to go rather deeper.Not sure #2 is true. I remember reading a Tennis Magazine article stating that a slice shot jumps up at a steeper angle than a topspin shot. Of course, a topspin shot eventually bounces to a higher point.
I believe a flat shot, given the same trajectory, stays lower.
That depends on the trajectory. If slice shot floats high, loses all speed, than drops and bounces - that’s one story. If slice shot comes from high contact downward, it will bounce before loosing speed, and the more trajectory gets “level” due to backspin, the more skid. Skid needs decent ball speed remaining + sharp incoming angle.Not sure #2 is true. I remember reading a Tennis Magazine article stating that a slice shot jumps up at a steeper angle than a topspin shot. Of course, a topspin shot eventually bounces to a higher point.
I believe a flat shot, given the same trajectory, stays lower.
I believe the physics behind the TM story was the backspin would make the ball bite into the court and then the change to topspin makes it pop up. I don’t think slice shots continue to have backspin after hitting court. The spin reverses unless you are playing on a surface with a very low coefficient of friction. The lesser change of spin from none to topspin of a flat shot keeps it lower all else being equal. Have no figures to back it up, just remembering a story from 40 years ago.That depends on the trajectory. If slice shot floats high, loses all speed, than drops and bounces - that’s one story. If slice shot comes from high contact downward, it will bounce before loosing speed, and the more trajectory gets “level” due to backspin, the more skid. Skid needs decent ball speed remaining + sharp incoming angle.
That’s correct, but in the meantime with slice you get much more sharp incoming angle and less vertical speed component, in certain cases. With that ball compresses much less and the contact becomes less substance to change the bounce. Altogether results in low bounce.I believe the physics behind the TM story was the backspin would make the ball bite into the court and then the change to topspin makes it pop up. I don’t think slice shots continue to have backspin after hitting court. The spin reverses unless you are playing on a surface with a very low coefficient of friction. The lesser change of spin from none to topspin of a flat shot keeps it lower all else being equal. Have no figures to back it up, just remembering a story from 40 years ago.
lots of backspin but you have to really hit it hard. Harder than you think. Its the racquet face angle really. If you tee off on the shot and have the wrong angle it will probably clear the fence. But if you get it right ball goes through the court and stays low.What is the key
1.in general
2.in case of midhigh incoming midcourt ball if i would like to answer it with short skidding backhand slice?
Thank you for your answer
Toth
What is the key
1.in general
2.in case of midhigh incoming midcourt ball if i would like to answer it with short skidding backhand slice?
Thank you for your answer
Toth
Add a sidespin component.
Could you recommend a video which tells the technique of this shot?
Could you estimate your percentage from the midcourt?Underspin shots with higher ball speed and higher spin rates will bounce lowest. The heavier the spin the slower the ball falls, and the more ball speed the more the spin has effect on the ball so it falls slower, and so it will bounce lower. But you also have a very small margin for error with this shot, and you have to have good timing to swing at it so quickly and still get the ball into the court. You're probably talking about something like the 5th underspin ball I hit in this video. Underspin shots start at 0:53.
As a 4.5 player, if I tried to hit that shot every time, I'd miss three or four out of five. I never try to hit it that way but if it does end up low and skiddy, then I take it as a lucky and fortunate shot, and then pretend like I can do that whenever I want. Some but not all pros can hit this shot. Berretini hits a very penetrating one, but you never see Nadal try to hit one as severe as Berretini can hit them.
This is what i do against player who dont have a forehand weapon.From mid court don't worry about skid. Gently slice into whichever corner is far for your opponent. Then cover the net CC
Could you estimate your percentage from the midcourt?
This is what i do against player who dont have a forehand weapon.
But i would like to be even more effektiv and i think a suprise short skiddy slice would help a lot.
Again i usually play on clay.
I would think the short skiddy slice is less risky than the dropshot, isn't?How often would it be a surprise though? If you do it a couple of times, they'll know you can do it and it won't be a surprise any more. Once you get to a certain skill level, unless you can hit that shot with overwhelming speed, spin, and/or placement, your opponent will eventually get a read on it and effectively hit it back.
My opinion is that it's much better to work on the core fundamentals of your game rather than to try and learn these shots that you really only see on television. In your situation, I'd concentrate on three different things. Being above to hit a moderate underspin approach shot down the line. Being able to hit a moderate underspin approach shot deeper cross court. And being able to hit a drop shot from the same takeback. Then, make sure your volley and overhead are reliable. Not glamorous or flashy, but utterly effective.
I would think the short skiddy slice is less risky than the dropshot, isn't?
And easier to disguise for sure.
Both are difficoult and risky shot for me though.
Thank you very much, this dropshot-low skidding slice comparison is a very important comparison for me!Your question was about a mid-court ball, so you're only about 20 feet away from the net. A dropshot from that distance is **way** easier than trying to hit a skidding, low bouncing slice.
But more than that, in the situation where you move forward to a mid-court ball on your backhand, you want to make your opponent uncertain WHERE you are going to hit the ball. That's **way** more important than HOW you hit the ball, until you get to a high 4.5 level or somewhere around a UTR 9-10. A moderate underspin shot, hit to within 4-6 feet of your intended target, and can be hit either down the line, crosscourt into the corner, or as a drop shot, that you can make 90+% of the time, is going to be way more effective than a super-skiddy shot that you might miss often or otherwise can't aim as precisely as a more moderate shot. If you try to hit that kind of spin as you are moving forward, it's much more difficult to regain balance and get into the proper position to play the next shot unless you have the finely honed footwork of a high level player who has been at that level for a long time.
Thank you very much, this dropshot-low skidding slice comparison is a very important comparison for me!
One note yet:with my crosscourt slice i would rather step back than approach the net, even from the midcourt, even if it goes to the opponents weaker wing.
Don't drop far back. If you slice to BH you often get a shorter slice back.
I think it depends: if i can cover the net decent, i have confidence to approach, but if i leave a big open court to pass me at the net, i would rather stay back.Why would you want to move backwards? That's usually a losing move because you can't backpedal as fast as you can run forward and so any average groundstroke is likely to catch you out of position. If you had hit a good shot and forced your opponent to give you a weak midcourt ball, by hitting it and backing up, you've just turned your advantage to your disadvantage. If it's your opponent's weaker wing, then it's even more unlikely they'll be able to hit a DTL pass off your crosscourt approach. The only reason you wouldn't want to approach is if you don't have confidence in your volleys or overhead, in which case you need to work on your volley and overhead.
I think it depends: if i can cover the net decent, i have confidence to approach, but if i leave a big open court to pass me at the net, i would rather stay back.