Me: Slicer/Dicer Trying to Develop a Weapon

[Bobby Riggs]

I'm a self-taught player 4.0 rated player with some strokes that I'd like to iron out in the future. I use the Continental grip for everything and cannot hit a flat or topspin groundie to save my life! I slice everything else too, volleys, serves, overheads.

I have no real weapon, so consistency is my big thing. I can only beat people by running for my life and hoping my opponent self-destructs. But now I'm so sick of only being able to put away the shortest ball that comes my way, I want to change my strokes.

Between my single-hand slice backhand, which at least bothers some people, and my harmless-as-a-fly-- but more consistent-- forehand, I'm trying to decide what to change.

Besides my serve ( which I'm working on ) and volleys, which are my strength, what's the best single shot for me to try to develop into more of a weapon?

Later, I will try to post a video. Thanks!

 

[imalil2gangsta4u]

I would NOT want to play you lol. I would start my maybe moving to an eastern forehand since it wont be as big of a change like going straight to semi-western. it all depends on if you are move confident with your forehand or backhand.

 

[gzhpcu]

Just go to Will's site and look at his instruction videos:

http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/

 

[Slicendicer]

Just go to Will's site and look at his instruction videos:

http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/

Yes... an excellent resource...

 

[LeeD]

Conti grip, net play is your forte'..
So approach slow and deep with underspin, play net all the time. You already have the volley grip and overhead grip, so net play should be easy to master somewhat.
Do not hit medium deep approach's. Extreme deep or extreme short approach shots work great.
Conti forehand, to get some top, go with Laver's long loopy forehand stroke, with racket pointed at the sky at the backswing. It doesn't give the power or consistency of SW or W grips, but works as a change of pace.

 

[chico9166]

I'm a self-taught player 4.0 rated player with some strokes that I'd like to iron out in the future. I use the Continental grip for everything and cannot hit a flat or topspin groundie to save my life! I slice everything else too, volleys, serves, overheads.

I have no real weapon, so consistency is my big thing. I can only beat people by running for my life and hoping my opponent self-destructs. But now I'm so sick of only being able to put away the shortest ball that comes my way, I want to change my strokes.

Between my single-hand slice backhand, which at least bothers some people, and my harmless-as-a-fly-- but more consistent-- forehand, I'm trying to decide what to change.

Besides my serve ( which I'm working on ) and volleys, which are my strength, what's the best single shot for me to try to develop into more of a weapon?

Later, I will try to post a video. Thanks!

Bobby,

If your serious about changing, and you seem like you are, try moving your forehand grip over to at least a strong eastern to mild semi-western grip-------- and give it some time. Playing continental on the forehand, will really hamstring your development......

 

[Tennis Dunce]

Conti grip, net play is your forte'..
So approach slow and deep with underspin, play net all the time. You already have the volley grip and overhead grip, so net play should be easy to master somewhat.
Do not hit medium deep approach's. Extreme deep or extreme short approach shots work great.
Conti forehand, to get some top, go with Laver's long loopy forehand stroke, with racket pointed at the sky at the backswing. It doesn't give the power or consistency of SW or W grips, but works as a change of pace.

It's amazing how Lee can be so right on some days...

and then others...:shock:

Stick those volleys into the turnbuckles (corners). No mercy. Set up a TENT at net!

 

[LeeD]

Hey, I'm just guessing, and a pure guess is somewhat 50% correct, eh?

 

[coolblue123]

I just played against a slicer/dicer the other day. Like the op says, I totally self destructed... The shots messed around with my mind... It's hard to play against a human backboard... I had to earn every point and my unforced errors went up like crazy...

 

[Cindysphinx]

I'm no expert or anything, but I would say to develop a topspin FH. If you've already got the net skills, then you just need a nice topspin FH to make you dangerous from the baseline so opponents can't anticipate the junk.

I would go out and use an Eastern or Eastern/SW hybrid. Take a hopper of balls and drop feed to yourself for hours and hours and hours. You'll get the feel for generating topspin and will get used to the grip, and then you will be in business.

I think you are in an enviable position. It seems like a lot of people get used to developing a powerful FH, but then they never get used to touch or volleys etc. and are forever limited. You've already learned the hard stuff.

 

[larry10s]

I would go out and use an Eastern or Eastern/SW hybrid. Take a hopper of balls and drop feed to yourself for hours and hours and hours. You'll get the feel for generating topspin and will get used to the grip, and then you will be in business.

youve come a long way baby. seems like only yesterday you were lamenting the switch to eastern/sw hybrid and now you are giving out advice on it.

 

[eagle]

^^ TW Tennis Academy is the best.



That's why I come here. I'm sure the pros peek in also to skim some tips from members to improve their game.



r,
eagle

 

[LeeD]

Rehashing an old thread...
OK, use your conti forehand grip, turn SIDEWAYS feet, expose back of shoulders to your opponent, and rip slightly topped, hard fast forehands like AndrianoPanatta, JohanKriek, contact point close to front shoulder (much farther back than with E, SW, or W grips) and sometimes behind the front shoulder, barely.

 

[tennisdad65]

You have a few options:

1) Develop topspin groundies, but you are behind the learning curve on it. Every body and his dog is an expert on topspin, so you will lose most topspin rallies for a long time till you learn it.

2) Stick with you current game and develop a great net and approach game. You will get enough easy winners at the net and force your opponent to hit difficult passing shots. Develop some flat/underspin drives on both wings and use these shots to get to the net. Very easy to do using continental. And develop a serve & volley game. It still works very well at the club level.

I have very good topspin forehand/backhand .. yes, it is possible with continental backhand and australian forehand. BUT I rally with flat/underspin drives (like connors). It makes it easier to dominate and get to the net quickly with flat drives in addition to normal slicing. I use topspin only for passing shots, and shots on the run.

 

[Cindysphinx]

youve come a long way baby. seems like only yesterday you were lamenting the switch to eastern/sw hybrid and now you are giving out advice on it.

HA! I am most definitely an expert on drop feeding!

 

[GuyClinch]

I'd watch Johnny Mac. He actually can hit topspin - and with some surprising top and pace when he wants to. But he uses the contintental grip.

 

[LeeD]

JohnMc used an abberation grip between EFH and pure Conti, maybe Aussie, and holds his racket like a POINTER, indexing his fore and mid fingers. He sat around one time at the TranAm and shot the S...... Later in his career, he used a EBH grip towards conti to hit topspin drives off the backhand. He was the most gifted hand/eye player ever. He often stressed "turning shoulders" to all of us who would listen. Since he hit so lazily and casually, we never knew what to believe.
He'd probably be the worst player in the world to copy, since his gift was directly from the Gods, and we know ours aren't........

 

[LuckyR]

You have a few options:

1) Develop topspin groundies, but you are behind the learning curve on it. Every body and his dog is an expert on topspin, so you will lose most topspin rallies for a long time till you learn it.

2) Stick with you current game and develop a great net and approach game. You will get enough easy winners at the net and force your opponent to hit difficult passing shots. Develop some flat/underspin drives on both wings and use these shots to get to the net. Very easy to do using continental. And develop a serve & volley game. It still works very well at the club level.

I have very good topspin forehand/backhand .. yes, it is possible with continental backhand and australian forehand. BUT I rally with flat/underspin drives (like connors). It makes it easier to dominate and get to the net quickly with flat drives in addition to normal slicing. I use topspin only for passing shots, and shots on the run.

I agree with your assessment and would recommend #2.

 

[LeeD]

Post #5 might work in an insignificant manner.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I'm a self-taught player 4.0 rated player with some strokes that I'd like to iron out in the future. I use the Continental grip for everything and cannot hit a flat or topspin groundie to save my life! I slice everything else too, volleys, serves, overheads.

I have no real weapon, so consistency is my big thing. I can only beat people by running for my life and hoping my opponent self-destructs. But now I'm so sick of only being able to put away the shortest ball that comes my way, I want to change my strokes.

Between my single-hand slice backhand, which at least bothers some people, and my harmless-as-a-fly-- but more consistent-- forehand, I'm trying to decide what to change.

Besides my serve ( which I'm working on ) and volleys, which are my strength, what's the best single shot for me to try to develop into more of a weapon?

Later, I will try to post a video. Thanks!

I would transistion your style to an all-court game. Work on developing topspin on both wings. Improve the other things you are doing.

 

[Nellie]

yeah - it depends on how much you want to work on. In the immediate, without overhauling your game, you may want to trying developing different slices for ground strokes - some that are more hit with a more flat swing path to skid through the court while others could be hit with a more vertical swing path to make the ball die more at contact.

You could also experiment with an eastern back grip and see how your same slice works with a different grip.