I've given up and gone SW

[ryushen21]

Until very recently I had been playing with an Eastern/Extreme Eastern grip because I loved being able to drive the ball through the court hitting very flat. However, hitting long was always a risk/issue. My grip has slowly been going SW but I would correct myself because when I hit SW I lose the depth of my shots despite hitting a heavier ball that lands in.

Are the depth issues just simply that I need to increase swing speed and drive harder since there is an increased upward motion on the ball for spin which cheats depth away? Or is the decrease in depth just a result of the new swing technique that I have to live with?

I've also been stringing full poly at 60. Would now be the time to consider a drop of 2-4 lbs. in tension in order to get a little more pop or would this only be a patch job fix to the problem?

 

[tennis_pr0]

You can easily hit flat with a SW grip, just as you can easily generate loads of topspin with a eastern grip. Why not try going back to eastern and just adding some more topspin with that grip. Topspin/flat balls are just a manifestation of swing path, grip has little to do with it. I use an eastern forehand grip and I can easily put as much topspin as someone with a western grip when I want to.

 

[rosenstar]

Are the depth issues just simply that I need to increase swing speed and drive harder since there is an increased upward motion on the ball for spin which cheats depth away? Or is the decrease in depth just a result of the new swing technique that I have to live with?

Something you need to practice and perfect. You can easily drive the ball flat through the court with a SW grip, but it requires different footwork and a different kinetic chain from the legs to the racquet:

Assuming you hit with an open stance, you want to load your weight on the inside of your right knee, have both elbows up and turn your torso so it's perpendicular to the net. Uncoiling from this position is where all your power comes from. After much practice you'll develop a feel for the ball, and how to control depth.

Be careful not to just whip up the back of the ball. Doing this will result in a short ball with lots of topspin, which will not penetrate the court.

Check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3vnlPtt2GE

I've also been stringing full poly at 60. Would now be the time to consider a drop of 2-4 lbs. in tension in order to get a little more pop or would this only be a patch job fix to the problem?

The strings aren't much of an issue IMO. Personally, if I want to hit a flatter ball, I like my strings looser, so I can "catch" the ball on my strings and "throw" it back. All personal preference though. Some players like the hard feel of a tighter string bed. Play around with it until you find something you like.

 

[ryushen21]

You can easily hit flat with a SW grip, just as you can easily generate loads of topspin with a eastern grip. Why not try going back to eastern and just adding some more topspin with that grip. Topspin/flat balls are just a manifestation of swing path, grip has little to do with it. I use an eastern forehand grip and I can easily put as much topspin as someone with a western grip when I want to.

What happened when I was going back to eastern was that my shots were inconsistent. I'd get in a rhythm and then I would need to add more topspin and got no court penetration or I would mishit them or end up catching the ball in the wrong part of my swing and hit it long.

Using the SW grip, my shots are much more consistent which is why am more inclined to stick with it as opposed to the eastern I was using.

Something you need to practice and perfect. You can easily drive the ball flat through the court with a SW grip, but it requires different footwork and a different kinetic chain from the legs to the racquet:

Assuming you hit with an open stance, you want to load your weight on the inside of your right knee, have both elbows up and turn your torso so it's perpendicular to the net. Uncoiling from this position is where all your power comes from. After much practice you'll develop a feel for the ball, and how to control depth.

Be careful not to just whip up the back of the ball. Doing this will result in a short ball with lots of topspin, which will not penetrate the court.

Check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3vnlPtt2GE



The strings aren't much of an issue IMO. Personally, if I want to hit a flatter ball, I like my strings looser, so I can "catch" the ball on my strings and "throw" it back. All personal preference though. Some players like the hard feel of a tighter string bed. Play around with it until you find something you like.

Thanks for the insights. I'll definitely have to be more aware of my footwork.

 

[LeeD]

SW closes the racketface, so ball has more spin and goes lower. Aim higher and swing faster.

 

[pyrokid]

I'd go a pretty significant amount looser on the strings, you'll get a lot more controllable pace.

You really have to change up the level of racquet head speed you get. You'll adapt to it soon enough, but you have to make a conscious effort to swing out more. It takes a surprising amount of extra headspeed to get the same pace as before but with spin.
I think you'll like this a lot, it basically means the progression of your game toward harder to return groundies. You already have the extra weight on the ball, you just need depth now. You could go for higher net clearance too if you wanted.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

60 lbs with full poly is pretty boardy--- I would drop down a little just for the sake of your arm, whether you hit long or not is up to your technique.

 

[ryushen21]

I'd go a pretty significant amount looser on the strings, you'll get a lot more controllable pace.

You really have to change up the level of racquet head speed you get. You'll adapt to it soon enough, but you have to make a conscious effort to swing out more. It takes a surprising amount of extra headspeed to get the same pace as before but with spin.
I think you'll like this a lot, it basically means the progression of your game toward harder to return groundies. You already have the extra weight on the ball, you just need depth now. You could go for higher net clearance too if you wanted.

When you say a significant amount looser, how much do you mean?

I realized yesterday that my RHS will have to come up a lot but I couldn't argue with the consistency that I was getting. My opponent, who I have played before even commented that my forehand was heavier and more difficult to return.

60 lbs with full poly is pretty boardy--- I would drop down a little just for the sake of your arm, whether you hit long or not is up to your technique.

It's never really felt all that boardy to me. I use a soft poly in a relatively soft frame. I've never had any arm/elbow issues stringing at 60.

 

[pyrokid]

When you say a significant amount looser, how much do you mean?

I realized yesterday that my RHS will have to come up a lot but I couldn't argue with the consistency that I was getting. My opponent, who I have played before even commented that my forehand was heavier and more difficult to return

Well, the tension'll depend a lot on personal preference. But I like to go really low, 40-35 range. Because on tight 18x20s, you don't lose much, if any, control. I love the feel too. More feedback, IMO, and it gives you SO much more spin potential.

And whenever I play against a flat hitter, the first thing I notice if the lack of racquet head speed compared to most people I play. They always look so relaxed, like they never try and actually hit the ball. But they're a lot easier to play too if they're about the same skill level as I am.
Basically, remember to keep your arm loose and whip it through the shot more. You'll get it soon enough, I think you have enough of a grasp on the basics kinetics of swing to get it down quickly.

 

[only4theweak187]

verdasco uses a nice full semi western choked up on the grip a bit and drives with hard pace while still packing some nice spin for safe.

Wonderful forehand to learn from for people who like to drive and hit with flatter pace

 

[thebuffman]

60 lbs with full poly is pretty boardy--- I would drop down a little just for the sake of your arm, whether you hit long or not is up to your technique.

not necessarily. it depends on racquet stiffness and swingweight. i use to have a sensitive arm until i beefed up my racquet. now i play with poly >= 60# and love it.

 

[ryushen21]

Well, the tension'll depend a lot on personal preference. But I like to go really low, 40-35 range. Because on tight 18x20s, you don't lose much, if any, control. I love the feel too. More feedback, IMO, and it gives you SO much more spin potential.

And whenever I play against a flat hitter, the first thing I notice if the lack of racquet head speed compared to most people I play. They always look so relaxed, like they never try and actually hit the ball. But they're a lot easier to play too if they're about the same skill level as I am.
Basically, remember to keep your arm loose and whip it through the shot more. You'll get it soon enough, I think you have enough of a grasp on the basics kinetics of swing to get it down quickly.

:shock: I don't think that could ever string that low. I may go as low as 55 but that would be it.

I noticed that I am little stiffer on my setup and take back but very loose through my swing and follow through.

not necessarily. it depends on racquet stiffness and swingweight. i use to have a sensitive arm until i beefed up my racquet. now i play with poly >= 60# and love it.

I just saw the specs on your frames, Very nice. I loved the PB10 except for the string pattern.

My frames are in at about 365g, 345SW and 8pts. HL.

 

[ryushen21]

Any other input??