launch angle too high

[anubis]

Usually when I'm drilling or practicing with friends, I can keep the launch angle relatively low. But once a match begins, when I'm hitting my forehands, I struggle to keep the ball lower to the net. My typical net clearance during a match (doubles or singles) is probably around 5 feet or higher. I just can't seem to get the ball lower over the net.

In singles its not too horrible, as it gets the ball nice and deep. But then if I'm going for a short angle or approach shot, you want to keep the ball low over the net.

In doubles, though, its usually a bad thing. 4 or 5 feet above the net is easy for an astute net guy to put the ball away easily.

It's like I've forgotten how to hit the ball low over the net. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[sureshs]

Hit with a slightly more closed racket face

 

[LeeD]

You're half way there just knowing to keep the ball low and CC in doubles.
Singles, depth is one reason to hit higher over the net, but in doubles, depth to deep NML is not as needed, so a shorter ball that lands aggressively in mid NML or just shorter is plenty enough, meaning that low ball.
You can pronate more on forehands, supinate more on backhands, if that works for you, or you can just go OVER the netperson's reach with higher looping balls when the opponent stays back.
Me, I like to low slice, just like taking a mid height volley, to approach mid NML with calls for a low shot that is often hard to poach even if the netperson get's there. Just clearing the net by 2' is good enough, if the angles are there.
When you hit passing shots, you keep the ball LOW, so think of passing shots when you play doubles.

 

[anubis]

Hit with a slightly more closed racket face

The only way I can do that is if I switch to more of a western forehand grip. But when I do that, I lose pace. I can't seem to hit the ball hard enough, so the ball usually lands shorter. If I use my normal "semi western" grip, then I can hit with more pace, but not low over the net.

If only there was some way that I could keep my semi western grip and not hit with such an open racquet face?

 

[scotus]

I would stick to less extreme grips. Eastern is probably the best. SW is okay.

Try to keep the swing path more horizontal than vertical in order to hit through the ball rather than brush upward. As some coaches say, try to hit through 3 balls in a row. Do not wrap your arm around your body too early. Make sure you have a full forward swing before that. Also, make sure you're not hitting the ball late.

The best way to find out what you're doing wrong is film yourself. Then you'd probably not need our advice. You'll just know what to do.

 

[LeeD]

The only way I can do that is if I switch to more of a western forehand grip. But when I do that, I lose pace. I can't seem to hit the ball hard enough, so the ball usually lands shorter. If I use my normal "semi western" grip, then I can hit with more pace, but not low over the net.

If only there was some way that I could keep my semi western grip and not hit with such an open racquet face?

That was the problem we all saw when you posted your hitting videos against a ball machine. You had only ONE ball you hit, a deep, full swinging groundstroke, with no variety or then, no target. I'm sure you now have a sold target, so you still need PASSING SHOTS. In doubles, your baseline groundies are all passing shots, past the opposing netperson. Regular high deep groundies work only if they are placed into the alley, no where else. A high looping CC shot also works, if the opposing netperson cheats to the middle, and if his teammate stays back.

 

[GuyClinch]

Hate to state the obvious but either a lower swing path or closing your racquet face will result in a lower ball flight. You DO NOT need to change your grip to close your racquet face. Just think mentally of contacting more the top of the ball.. This is beginner stuff - but you should practice hitting the same ball high over the net - medium distance over the net (say 3 feet) and low over the net. Most tennis players can do this without thinking about anything mechanical..

 

[boramiNYC]

close the stance a bit. You can control racquet face angle by adjusting the stance and contact point.

 

[LeeD]

Yes, a more closed stance usually hit's the ball lower to the net.
Just like, if you hit CC, the ball goes lower, while if you hit DTL, the ball can go too high over the net.
Maybe also partly incorporate the reverse finish that a lot of pros are using nowadaze, copying Sampras and Nadal.

 

[Tennisanity]

Just change where your elbow finishes.

 

[5263]

The only way I can do that is if I switch to more of a western forehand grip. But when I do that, I lose pace. I can't seem to hit the ball hard enough, so the ball usually lands shorter. If I use my normal "semi western" grip, then I can hit with more pace, but not low over the net.

If only there was some way that I could keep my semi western grip and not hit with such an open racquet face?

what about adjusting your posture instead of your grip. A slight lean forward or into shots you want lower should help to close the racket face just enough. Sort of the same as how many will lean back just a bit to throw up a TS lob..

 

[LeeD]

what about adjusting your posture instead of your grip. A slight lean forward or into shots you want lower should help to close the racket face just enough. Sort of the same as how many will lean back just a bit to throw up a TS lob..

Yes, an athletic, aggressive stance put's your eyes forward, and you never lean back, keeping the ball low.

 

[LakeSnake]

Hate to state the obvious but either a lower swing path or closing your racquet face will result in a lower ball flight. You DO NOT need to change your grip to close your racquet face. Just think mentally of contacting more the top of the ball.. This is beginner stuff - but you should practice hitting the same ball high over the net - medium distance over the net (say 3 feet) and low over the net. Most tennis players can do this without thinking about anything mechanical..

Anubis, you hit with no topspin, swing as hard as you can, have a window of 5 feet, and the ball still stays in? Sounds weird to me.

 

[anubis]

I think my stance might be too wide. I tend to have my legs too far apart, longer than shoulder width and I get down too low. When I was watching a college match (UCLA), I noticed the players tend to have their feet no more than shoulder width apart on typical ground strokes. perhaps if I've got my feet too wide, that might be hurting me?

 

[LeeD]

Shoulder width is fine for hitting around, rally practice, and warming up.
Once a point starts, you need your feet much wider than just shoulder width, even if you're built like Kawai Leonard, Spurs SF, who is 6'9" tall and has a 7' 2" wingspan.
The reason your width go wider when you play points is that you need movment for recovery, balance, and initial first step. Shoulder width is NOT an athletic stance, it's a balanced stance.
Instead of narrowing the feet, concentrate on getting your eyes forward, even when you turn sideways, and using less open stance which float a ball too high.

 

[oble]

Anubis, you hit with no topspin, swing as hard as you can, have a window of 5 feet, and the ball still stays in? Sounds weird to me.

I don't think Anubis mentioned that he hits with no topspin.

 

[LeeD]

OP hit's with very moderate topspin, which is very little.
But, he's big, he's strong, and he's got long arms, a disaster if perfect posture is not achieved by guys his size and hitting with moderate topspin.
Worse, he's thinking of narrowing his feet stance. That would add more imbalance making it even easier to lean back and hit long.

 

[oble]

Usually when I'm drilling or practicing with friends, I can keep the launch angle relatively low. But once a match begins, when I'm hitting my forehands, I struggle to keep the ball lower to the net. My typical net clearance during a match (doubles or singles) is probably around 5 feet or higher. I just can't seem to get the ball lower over the net.

In singles its not too horrible, as it gets the ball nice and deep. But then if I'm going for a short angle or approach shot, you want to keep the ball low over the net.

In doubles, though, its usually a bad thing. 4 or 5 feet above the net is easy for an astute net guy to put the ball away easily.

It's like I've forgotten how to hit the ball low over the net. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

You are probably leaning back a lot more in a match situation because you're now reacting to incoming shots that try to bring you out of position and off balance. I second 5263's suggestion: lean slightly into the shot whenever you have time to be in good position and set up for the shot.

 

[anubis]

You are probably leaning back a lot more in a match situation because you're now reacting to incoming shots that try to bring you out of position and off balance. I second 5263's suggestion: lean slightly into the shot whenever you have time to be in good position and set up for the shot.

Ahh, yeah when I drill with friends, I'm almost always leaning forward into the shot. On my finish I'm almost always 100% on my front foot. But during drills and rallies, my hitting partners aren't usually trying to hit me off the court -- we're "trying" to generally hit to each other. In a match though, the "gloves come off" so to speak. Now they have me on the run and I'm having trouble staying forward.

Good advice, thanks

 

[coolschreiber]

Try to take the ball as far out in front as possible. Really helps with varying heights over the net, directional control and consistency.

 

[LeeD]

If you hit off your backfoot, like the Spanish system player's, driving hard with pace, you have to use stronger grips, like true SW or extreme SW to keep the ball IN.
Hit off the backfoot as in match play, not rallying. Rallying doesn't count at all.
NObody can hit long if they keep the ball lower than 5' high at the net. Talking practical. Of course someone can slice it low and low if they just try it repeatedly. That's TWO feet above the net.

 

[LeeD]

Remember, Anubis, you posted mostly ball machine feeds of your hitting, which we all said "doesn't count". Only real hitting against a peer counts. For analysing your strokes.