Low Forehand Balls
- Thread starter BIGJ98
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Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Try to contact the ball further in front of you, especially if you use a semi western grip. That will square up the racket face more and also give more power to the shot, as well as the natural top spin to bring the ball back down.
martini1
Hall of Fame
Your ball is too flat, and it is probably below the net to begin with.
Get under the ball more. Don't swing like you are going for a winner neither.
How low?
I also had a problem with these and after looking at Nadal I experimented with a more vertical follow though. It worked. While not as much pace as the shot that Fed makes (I don't know how he does it), it is fast enough and if you can make a pretty short angle that is very hard for your opponent.
For even lower balls, I use more of a side spin shot with an over the shoulder follow through. These are harder to make, but with practice and proper stance (recommend neutral to closed) can also be made
Of course, there is always the bunt or slice.
I also had a problem with these and after looking at Nadal I experimented with a more vertical follow though. It worked. While not as much pace as the shot that Fed makes (I don't know how he does it), it is fast enough and if you can make a pretty short angle that is very hard for your opponent.
For even lower balls, I use more of a side spin shot with an over the shoulder follow through. These are harder to make, but with practice and proper stance (recommend neutral to closed) can also be made
Of course, there is always the bunt or slice.
TennisLovaLova
Hall of Fame
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
Learn to slice that ball so that your opponent is good and neutralized - that means slide it nice and deep wherever you want. A good slice will skid and stay down low under the other guy's strike zone, which gives you time to step in on the net. After that, you get to harvest a point by volleying into daylight.
Ballinbob
Hall of Fame
I second the slice notion. I have a very hard time hitting good topspin shots off those low short balls that are below the net.
For these balls I make sure to move quickly to the ball, stay low and balanced, and hit a deep slice. Nothing fancy, but I focus on getting it deep so I can reset the point.
This has worked for me pretty well. You can also approach down the line with these slices if you'd like
For these balls I make sure to move quickly to the ball, stay low and balanced, and hit a deep slice. Nothing fancy, but I focus on getting it deep so I can reset the point.
This has worked for me pretty well. You can also approach down the line with these slices if you'd like
Hollywood401k
Semi-Pro
Like other people have said you can swing extremely vertical to generate the topspin. One video that came to mind is this one, starting at 1:13
http://youtu.be/aTCJxKzrwnw?t=1m13s
Here Roddick's taking the shot from the baseline, a little late, but it's the same response you'd have to a short ball. Haas has the same vertical sort-of-stalled follow through on a lot of his short ball approaches.
http://youtu.be/aTCJxKzrwnw?t=1m13s
Here Roddick's taking the shot from the baseline, a little late, but it's the same response you'd have to a short ball. Haas has the same vertical sort-of-stalled follow through on a lot of his short ball approaches.
Bobby Jr
G.O.A.T.
Short balls are easy. Just do it like Federer in the first point here.. no problems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgwguCmCJHQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgwguCmCJHQ
martini1
Hall of Fame
Great stuff.
Probably the most important tip in my opinion has nothing to do with how you hit the ball:
From the moment you see the ball will be shorter get you feet inside the court. I mean go as fast as possible to the position where you will make the shot..
Lot's of people will not run as fast as possible but will just reach the position in time and then make the shot. If you are faster in position the shot will be easier to make.
Then:
When you hit the ball from the back of the court, imagine the net has double the height as normal. Try to hit your strokes over the imaginary line. Strokes have longer swings. you'll get more depth.
When you have to make the approach shot, you'll try to hit under the imaginary line. shorter, compact, fast swings like anubis already said.
hope this helps. If somebody thinks this is wrong please comment... :/
From the moment you see the ball will be shorter get you feet inside the court. I mean go as fast as possible to the position where you will make the shot..
Lot's of people will not run as fast as possible but will just reach the position in time and then make the shot. If you are faster in position the shot will be easier to make.
Then:
When you hit the ball from the back of the court, imagine the net has double the height as normal. Try to hit your strokes over the imaginary line. Strokes have longer swings. you'll get more depth.
When you have to make the approach shot, you'll try to hit under the imaginary line. shorter, compact, fast swings like anubis already said.
hope this helps. If somebody thinks this is wrong please comment... :/
