More damage to the opponent - topspin style of play or flat hitting?

[Konik_1982]

What is from your point of view more effective game on a 3,5 - 4,5 level? Recently after playing several opponents with different types of game I personally realized that I´m having much more problems with "heavy" topspin hitting players than flat hitting ones. Which brought me also to the question what might be generally the better playstyle if you want to win a match? Not just play a match but go for the win. I mean, lots of us (=all ) have different racquets in the bag, right? And sometimes you want to play with a Gravity Pro or a Pro Staff and sometimes you pick up an APD or something similar. I enjoy playing with the G Pro last months and my natural style is more flat than with the spin. But as I realized I have issues with a topspin hitting opponent...wouldn´t it be better/more effective for competition matches/tournaments have a more spin friendly racquet/style to do more damage to the opponent?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Slicehand]

yes, top spin is the way to go, but if one is naturally a flat hitter maybe he should perfect that, the problem with flat is that it has less margin for error, and more dificult to create angles, with top spin you can smash the ball and still have great margin over the net and do damage

 

[tsamo]

It vastly depends on the opponents you're facing in your area I think.

Currently in my local clubs and against other local players I've been playing this past year, they just cannot deal with flat shots that take time away.
Probably more because almost everyone is hitting top-spin nowadays and most people are used to that style than anything else.
Also personally, I can usually hang with better players than me that hit tospin but once in a blue moon when I play a better player than me that hits flat, I struggle to compete against them.

 

[NicoMK]

yes, top spin is the way to go, but if one is naturally a flat hitter maybe he should perfect that, the problem with flat is that it has less margin for error, and more dificult to create angles, with top spin you can smash the ball and still have great margin over the net and do damage

You've said it all. Unfortunately, spin all the way...

Since I am an "old-fashioned" flat hitter from the 90s, I know I have to play really well to win points... except that, as you said @Slicehand, you have less margin of errors and I'm not Henri Leconte or Petr Korda to hit 200 mile missiles from every corner of a court during two hours.

Plus, as flat hitters don't put much effect into the ball, usually their opponent really love to play against them, don't they? Obviously, it's easier to counter attack balls that come flat and not that fast (at least at my level), rather than balls loaded with heavy spin.

Whether I won or lost (not the point), I can't remember how many times I have heard my opponent after a match say : aah well, I played great todayyy!! -- and myself feeling like I played sh*t because 1/ he liked my flat balls so much and 2/ I hit a wall on his spin or he just moonballed me for the entire match lol.

To summarise, I like being a flat hitter because when you hit the ball clean and crack a winner, it's very satisfying, but I'd prefer to hit with heavy spin, I'd win more matches.

Be a spin hitter if you can lol.

 

[Slicehand]

You've said it all. Unfortunately, spin all the way...

Since I am an "old-fashioned" flat hitter from the 90s, I know have to play really well to win points... except that, as you said @Slicehand, you have less margin of errors and I'm not Henri Leconte or Petr Korda to hit 200 mile missiles from every corner of a court during two hours.

Plus, as flat hitters don't put much effect into the ball, usually their opponent really love to play against them, don't they? Obviously, it's easy to counter attack balls that comes flat and, at my level at least, not that fast rather than balls loaded with heavy spin.

Whether I won or lost (not the point), I can't remember how many times I have heard my opponent after a match say : aah well, I played great todayyy!! -- and myself feeling like I played sh*t because 1/ he liked my flat balls so much and 2/ I hit a wall on his spin or he just moonballed me for the entire match lol.

To summarise, I like being a flat hitter because when you hit the ball clean and crack a winner, it's very satisfying, but I'd prefer to hit with heavy spin, I'd win more matches.

Be a spin hitter if you can lol.

ideally one should be able to do a little bit of both, but with classic technique you need amazing timing and form to hit a spinny ball, its possible tough, you never stop improving until you die, stroke wise at least, me im naturally a spinny player, i was born in 91 and learned to play this way, but then im a short guy and it wouldnt make much sense to play flat, the style is a bit of a personal thing, but we can always make improvements inside our particular style

 

[tsamo]

It's so interesting how different your experiences are from mine.
Out of curiosity, in which country are you playing and at about what level?

 

[NicoMK]

ideally one should be able to do a little bit of both, but with classic technique you need amazing timing and form to hit a spinny ball, its possible tough, you never stop improving until you die, stroke wise at least, me im naturally a spinny player, i was born in 91 and learned to play this way, but then im a short guy and it wouldnt make much sense to play flat, the style is a bit of a personal thing, but we can always make improvements inside our particular style

Indeed.

 

[NicoMK]

It's so interesting how different your experiences are from mine.
Out of curiosity, in which country are you playing and at about what level?

It's what I thought too, reading your post. Two different experiences

 

[bobeeto]

What is from your point of view more effective game on a 3,5 - 4,5 level? Recently after playing several opponents with different types of game I personally realized that I´m having much more problems with "heavy" topspin hitting players than flat hitting ones. Which brought me also to the question what might be generally the better playstyle if you want to win a match? Not just play a match but go for the win. I mean, lots of us (=all ) have different racquets in the bag, right? And sometimes you want to play with a Gravity Pro or a Pro Staff and sometimes you pick up an APD or something similar. I enjoy playing with the G Pro last months and my natural style is more flat than with the spin. But as I realized I have issues with a topspin hitting opponent...wouldn´t it be better/more effective for competition matches/tournaments have a more spin friendly racquet/style to do more damage to the opponent?

What are your thoughts?

if you’re a baseliner -
75% heavy balls without worry of net clearance
25% flat cuts for a winning shot.

All depends on the patterns you play and what your game style demands

 

[Yamin]

I'd say flat as a spin player. Might be my area but people don't really play with that high of top spin in that range.

Spin play might have better consistency but flat counters spin imo.

 

[A_Instead]

spin wins...

 

[Konik_1982]

It's so interesting how different your experiences are from mine.
Out of curiosity, in which country are you playing and at about what level?

I´m coming from the Czech Republic 40 years old, natural flat hitting style, 3,5-4,0 level. Most of our outdoor courts are clay courts. We don´t even have hardcourts here like in US e.g.

 

[Konik_1982]

You've said it all. Unfortunately, spin all the way...

Since I am an "old-fashioned" flat hitter from the 90s, I know I have to play really well to win points... except that, as you said @Slicehand, you have less margin of errors and I'm not Henri Leconte or Petr Korda to hit 200 mile missiles from every corner of a court during two hours.

Plus, as flat hitters don't put much effect into the ball, usually their opponent really love to play against them, don't they? Obviously, it's easier to counter attack balls that come flat and not that fast (at least at my level), rather than balls loaded with heavy spin.

Whether I won or lost (not the point), I can't remember how many times I have heard my opponent after a match say : aah well, I played great todayyy!! -- and myself feeling like I played sh*t because 1/ he liked my flat balls so much and 2/ I hit a wall on his spin or he just moonballed me for the entire match lol.

To summarise, I like being a flat hitter because when you hit the ball clean and crack a winner, it's very satisfying, but I'd prefer to hit with heavy spin, I'd win more matches.

Be a spin hitter if you can lol.

Thanks for this nice summary I can definitely see myself in your point:

I like being a flat hitter because when you hit the ball clean and crack a winner, it's very satisfying, but I'd prefer to hit with heavy spin, I'd win more matches.

 

[Trip]

At the 3.5-4.5 level, the answer is spin, because at or under 4.5, playing a flat game that's both as effective and consistent is a rarity. Not to say that it can't be done, but at/under 4.5, being spin-biased will produce safer, higher-winning-percentage tennis, more often than not.

Note, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for the Marin Cilic's of the 3.5 to 4.5 world, it's just that in the current state of the game, they're going to be at the extreme ends of the bell curve.

 

[kalic]

At 3.5 level heavy topspin players framed ball too often, especially in long ralies.

 

[Konik_1982]

At the 3.5-4.5 level, the answer is spin, because at or under 4.5, playing a flat game that's both as effective and consistent is a rarity. Not to say that it can't be done, but at/under 4.5, being spin-biased will produce safer, higher-winning-percentage tennis, more often than not.

Note, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for the Marin Cilic's of the 3.5 to 4.5 world, it's just that in the current state of the game, they're going to be at the extreme ends of the bell curve.

This makes sense...at this level we´re talking about the consistency is the winning strategy. The rallies don´t end with winners but much more with unforced errors and if you don´t want to loose, you must be consistent and return the ball to the other side.

But anyway...isn´t it beautiful to end a rally with a down-the-line flat forehand? Or at least go for it and have the satisfaction when it lands near the line.

 

[GN-001]

I definitely find heavy topspin to be tough to deal with as not only it moves in a vertical way making timing the ball hard, it also makes it hard to create your own topspin as you're trying to make the ball spin the other direction.

I tend to try to hit more like Federer (alot of spin with low trajectory) on the rise to take time away but I do take pace off and add extra spin if I want to hit angles.

 

[ryushen21]

From a former flat hitter, spin is the way to go. The opportunities for safe aggression are far more abundant as is the range of shots at your disposal.

 

[NicoMK]

My barometer has always been the pro tour, not because I like to compare myself to pro players (we're basically not doing the same sport) but because it's tennis at its best.

Let's take about the last 20 years (otherwise some will call me a dinosaur). With the rise of poly strings, more open patterns and, overall, stiffer frames, players learnt to hit harder and with huge spin. And what happened then? Serve & volley vanished, bye-bye flat hitters (Connors, Leconte, Agassi, Sampras and all the 1990 generation) ; nowadays all players hit with spin from the baseline, it's no scoop.

Back in the late 70s, two players dominated the tour for a good while: Borg and Vilas. Connors was able to adapt before McEnroe could find a solution against Borg's style. But today, fast surfaces and S&V have gone, for now.

Flat hitting or spin? Overall spin always wins.

Best famous example? Nadal VS Federer.

 

[Cap]

What is from your point of view more effective game on a 3,5 - 4,5 level? Recently after playing several opponents with different types of game I personally realized that I´m having much more problems with "heavy" topspin hitting players than flat hitting ones. Which brought me also to the question what might be generally the better playstyle if you want to win a match? Not just play a match but go for the win. I mean, lots of us (=all ) have different racquets in the bag, right? And sometimes you want to play with a Gravity Pro or a Pro Staff and sometimes you pick up an APD or something similar. I enjoy playing with the G Pro last months and my natural style is more flat than with the spin. But as I realized I have issues with a topspin hitting opponent...wouldn´t it be better/more effective for competition matches/tournaments have a more spin friendly racquet/style to do more damage to the opponent?

What are your thoughts?

I have very similar experience as you have. Naturally more flat hitter, used to play with Gravities MP&Pro and played infrequently with friend who plays with some topspin.
2 years ago I started training seriously and adjusted to flat play style of my hitting partner and old fashioned coach after a while. Those fast low skidding balls were difficult at the beginning.

Then I realized I have an issue with receiving heavy topspin ball even more. Working with another modern style coach, facing slinger bag ball machine led me to switch to AEMP.
I developed topspin strokes, but way far from really heavy balls I faced this Saturday. I got destroyed by young spin monster guy, 2 levels above me.

So, for me, spin is the key. But only if you can really produce SPIN, not just a bit of spin (this is still comfortable to hit against).
Ideally as said, learn both and apply it accordingly to your opponent on the given day. Mixing it can confuse easily at this level (3.5-4.0).

I´m coming from the Czech Republic 40 years old, natural flat hitting style, 3,5-4,0 level. Most of our outdoor courts are clay courts. We don´t even have hardcourts here like in US e.g.

I am also from Czechia, a bit older and self-estimated 3.5-4.0 level. Where do you live exactly, interested to hit with me? @Konik_1982

 

[NicoMK]

So, for me, spin is the key. But only if you can really produce SPIN, not just a bit of spin (this is still comfortable to hit against).
Ideally as said, learn both and apply it accordingly to your opponent on the given day. Mixing it can confuse easily at this level (3.5-4.0).

100% agree.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

The tactic discussion is slightly different than the racket discussion.

The racket doesn't matter significantly if you are focusing on spin or flat hitting. One racket in the bag won't transform someone from spin monster to flat missile hitter if you are bringing a bunch of sticks to a match to switch tactics. Once you can do both the racket is more of a preference or a maximizer, but the overall impact on winning is around 5% and I think SW has more of an impact on spin than "marketing". If you develop the flat and spin game you can do it with a "spin" or a "flat" stick, 16x19 or an 18x20. You can do it with an old racket off the Walmart shelf etc. The racket won't give someone those skills, those skills travel with the person to whatever racket. Sure, the racket makes some difference, but the racket doesn't give someone spin nor flat ability to a degree where a racket in the bag is a strategy or switching rackets is a strategy for a certain match.

 

[NicoMK]

The tactic discussion is slightly different than the racket discussion.

The racket doesn't matter significantly if you are focusing on spin or flat hitting. One racket in the bag won't transform someone from spin monster to flat missile hitter if you are bringing a bunch of sticks to a match to switch tactics. Once you can do both the racket is more of a preference or a maximizer, but the overall impact on winning is around 5% and I think SW has more of an impact on spin than "marketing". If you develop the flat and spin game you can do it with a "spin" or a "flat" stick, 16x19 or an 18x20. You can do it with an old racket off the Walmart shelf etc. The racket won't give someone those skills, those skills travel with the person to whatever racket. Sure, the racket makes some difference, but the racket doesn't give someone spin nor flat ability to a degree where a racket in the bag is a strategy or switching rackets is a strategy for a certain match.

Sure, but it really helps and, using a racket or another will mould your game either way. I don't play quite the same whether I use a Pure Drive or a Prestige mid, for instance. I try to adapt my game to the racket -- or maybe it's the contrary lol.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Sure, but it really helps and, using a racket or another will mould your game either way. I don't play quite the same whether I use a Pure Drive or a Prestige mid, for instance. I try to adapt my game to the racket -- or maybe it's the contrary lol.

All true. I'll throw this out there though.... under 4.5 and even some 4.5 players that use a pure drive are easy to jam and make overhit, they lean into that power game too hard, they often dont have touch at the net, they dont have the skill to harness the power boost. Of course it can overpower some, but it's more something that requires a lot of skill to really use that power. Most should start with an all around racket and develop spin and flat and slice and touch and power. Just something balanced. Chicken or the egg I guess.

 

[NicoMK]

All true. I'll throw this out there though.... under 4.5 and even some 4.5 players that use a pure drive are easy to jam and make overhit, they lean into that power game too hard, they often dont have touch at the net, they dont have the skill to harness the power boost. Of course it can overpower some, but it's more something that requires a lot of skill to really use that power. Most should start with an all around racket and develop spin and flat and slice and touch and power. Just something balanced. Chicken or the egg I guess.

Absolutely and, personally I hate those easy power hollow rackets. Doomed to hit flat balls forever lol.

 

[NicoMK]

Btw, if someone could give me ONE good advice to neutralise those heavy spin hitters, I would appreciate greatly lol. Yeah I know, hit the ball early and cut the angles, for sure. But since I'm not such a tall guy, those young dudes with their Pure Drive (or alike) just kill me when I play against them on clay -- and I love clay!

 

[esgee48]

Why isn’t this thread in Instructions/Tips?

 

[Vicious49]

At 3.5 level heavy topspin players framed ball too often, especially in long ralies.

I've definitely seen this from 3.5 players. Either that or they hit with spin but not through the ball. So there's a lot of windshield wiping but no plow going through. Also, those guys struggle to take balls on the rise so are easy to push back.

I consider myself a flat hitter but have been told by most of my opponents that my balls still have lots of spin on them. I used controlled 18/20 frames for a long while and have now switched to 16/19 frames so I guess I can hit a bit of both - flat and topspin - in some weird combination without realizing it.

 

[Royp91]

I can tell you that racquets with a lot of swing weight and mass handle heavy topspin a lot better than those with lower swing weights and mass. I switched to a Blade Pro and all of a sudden heavy topspin didn't bother me any where near as much as it did with my Pure Aero 23.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

I adapted my game over the years from a more traditional stroke (like a Pete Sampras) with eastern grip to more a of a semi-western. I can actually hit balls with a full western if need be and modernized my swing to make contact out in front with a lot of spin. However, even when I was hitting 'flat' I still hit a heavy ball with a lot of spin. My goal even back in the eighties was to hit the ball with as cleanly as possible... which meant power with a good amount of spin. Even flat hitters hit with spin and it's necessary to control the ball, create angles and have consistency.

If you're driving the ball on a flatter trajectory you won't hit with as much spin, but the spin will also cause the ball to move fwd off the bounce. If you put more height on the ball you'll naturally create more spin and because of the steeper descent angles the spin tends to make the ball jump up more instead of fwd.

The modern topspin game with the ball bouncing up around the shoulder level is more effective more so because of the strings (poly) and the slower, spin-friendly court surfaces. Because the courts have so much more grit in them than they used to (hard courts)... ball bounces and reacts more... which is why flat hitting styles have fallen out of fashion. If the ball is slowing down more off the bounce... having the ball jump high in the air is better than it slowing down off the bounce and sitting in a players sweet spot (between hips and shoulders).

 

[Dragy]

Speaking of the frames you listed, both GPro and PS97 are reasonably spin-friendly. They allow to lift and shape the ball very well, finding angles etc. while retaining precision and feel. So it’s more of your choice for what type of shot you want and can hit.

Meanwhile, if you want to shift the paradigm and go for using spin and heaviness as direct weapon (Nadal style), you may of course find better suited spin monsters for that. Just keep in mind its efficiency also depends on the surface, and there would be enough players who you cannot plain bully with spin on hard courts, for example.

I personally am a proponent of tactical use of shapes over trying to straight forward disrupt my opponents with heaviness (apart from kick serves where I like the effect actually). But for sure I did face opponents whose ball quality did it to me with high and energetic bounces.

 

[Fintft]

Speaking of the frames you listed, both GPro and PS97 are reasonably spin-friendly. They allow to lift and shape the ball very well, finding angles etc. while retaining precision and feel.

I would reccoment the Shift for the same reasons + power.

 

[Dragy]

I would reccoment the Shift for the same reasons + power.

I’m not familiar with Shift, but I’ve played with GPro, tried PS97 and recently C10 Pro. They all lift the ball decently well. Speed Pro or Ultra Tour (dense 18x20) are closer to extreme low-launch ones.

I prefer softer frames for my elbow safety, some reported Shift to be firm. So not interested

 

[initialize]

Flat hitting or spin? Overall spin always wins.

Best famous example? Nadal VS Federer.

Not really a good example because Fed's losses against Nadal were pretty much only due to the smaller racket head size with his one handed backhand. Although Fed hits flatter than Nadal, he's obviously the much better player overall

 

[Fintft]

I’m not familiar with Shift, but I’ve played with GPro, tried PS97 and recently C10 Pro. They all lift the ball decently well. Speed Pro or Ultra Tour (dense 18x20) are closer to extreme low-launch ones.

I prefer softer frames for my elbow safety, some reported Shift to be firm. So not interested

"W Labs engineered SHIFT with a perfect mix of classic bending and insane lateral bending for big spin, dwell time, power, and control."

"Built around the insight of maximum lateral bending and best in class torsional stability, Shift allows players to hit the ball consistently deep in the court ..."

 

[Royp91]

Not really a good example because Fed's losses against Nadal were pretty much only due to the smaller racket head size with his one handed backhand. Although Fed hits flatter than Nadal, he's obviously the much better player overall

Really, only due to the racquet size? That’s highly debatable and undermines the work Federer put into changing his game to be able to compete with Nadal After struggling for a stretch. In 2017, Federer beat Nadal indoors at the AO and Shanghai (closed roofs for the finals), IW which he last won in 2013, and never won Miami. So yes, Federer beat Nadal and he had a new racquet, but he would have done alright with his old racquet.
And Fed was much better? Year end #1: both had 5, H2H: Nadal 24-16, Masters 1000s: Nadal 36, Fed 28, GS: Nadal 22, Fed 20.
Clearly you are a Fed fan, and there is plenty of reason to be one, but much better? Hard to make that argument.

 

[initialize]

Really, only due to the racquet size? That’s highly debatable and undermines the work Federer put into changing his game to be able to compete with Nadal After struggling for a stretch. In 2017, Federer beat Nadal indoors at the AO and Shanghai (closed roofs for the finals), IW which he last won in 2013, and never won Miami. So yes, Federer beat Nadal and he had a new racquet, but he would have done alright with his old racquet.
And Fed was much better? Year end #1: both had 5, H2H: Nadal 24-16, Masters 1000s: Nadal 36, Fed 28, GS: Nadal 22, Fed 20.
Clearly you are a Fed fan, and there is plenty of reason to be one, but much better? Hard to make that argument.

Yep. On anything outside clay, Fed is much better

 

[McGradey]

Federer was not a flat hitter — he hit almost as much spin as Nadal.

 

[Chairman3]

I find winning to be most damaging to the opponent

 

[Konik_1982]

I’m not familiar with Shift, but I’ve played with GPro, tried PS97 and recently C10 Pro. They all lift the ball decently well. Speed Pro or Ultra Tour (dense 18x20) are closer to extreme low-launch ones.

I prefer softer frames for my elbow safety, some reported Shift to be firm. So not interested

Could you share your set-up for the GPro that you´ve used? mainly string and tension, thank you.

 

[Dragy]

Could you share your set-up for the GPro that you´ve used? mainly string and tension, thank you.

I’ve been using Dyreex Black Edge 17 at 23/22 kilo.

Mine has been a tad over spec with SW at around 335+ without dampener. I also had it weighted behind the buttcap and on top of the handle (8-9” mark) for static weight of ~350 with o/g and dampener and around 31.8cm balance IIRC. SW ended up 340.

I played well with it and won more matches than ever. I’ve temporarily switched to Speed Pro in a lighter setup (342g, 330-332 SW), but I want to try Auxetic GPro with normal spec… actually want pretty much same to what I have with Speed.

I’m using gut/poly hybrid right now in my Speed and want to try same in GPro. Great for my golfer’s elbow on serves.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

What is from your point of view more effective game on a 3,5 - 4,5 level? Recently after playing several opponents with different types of game I personally realized that I´m having much more problems with "heavy" topspin hitting players than flat hitting ones. Which brought me also to the question what might be generally the better playstyle if you want to win a match? Not just play a match but go for the win. I mean, lots of us (=all ) have different racquets in the bag, right? And sometimes you want to play with a Gravity Pro or a Pro Staff and sometimes you pick up an APD or something similar. I enjoy playing with the G Pro last months and my natural style is more flat than with the spin. But as I realized I have issues with a topspin hitting opponent...wouldn´t it be better/more effective for competition matches/tournaments have a more spin friendly racquet/style to do more damage to the opponent?

What are your thoughts?

Very easy answer, topspin.

You can test it like this hit with a ball machine max out its topspin see how ridiculously hard it becomes to hit a good response. Then turn off the topspin and see how easy it is to tee off on flat balls.

 

[NicoMK]

Not really a good example because Fed's losses against Nadal were pretty much only due to the smaller racket head size with his one handed backhand. Although Fed hits flatter than Nadal, he's obviously the much better player overall

Federer was a number one in the world with his "small" racket so… The real issue was Nadal's spin on his backhand, and volleys also. The bigger racket helped a bit but not on clay, where the ball bouncing is always higher.

 

[NicoMK]

Federer was not a flat hitter — he hit almost as much spin as Nadal.

Err, I saw them live on several occasions both on practice and during a match, to me not exactly the same amount of spin between these two. Otherwise, maybe they would have shared Nadal's 15 RG… no?

Not a "fan" of either one or the other btw.

Sorry, don't want to turn this thread into another Nadal vs Federer dumb discussion. I just took these two as an example for what I said above, for what it's worth.

 

[McGradey]

Err, I saw them live on several occasions both on practice and during a match, to me not exactly the same amount of spin between these two. Otherwise, maybe they would have shared Nadal's 15 RG… no?

Not a "fan" of either one or the other btw.

Sorry, don't want to turn this thread into another Nadal vs Federer dumb discussion. I just took these two as an example for what I said above, for what it's worth.

That their shots and play styles were different doesn’t mean Federer didn’t hit a massive topspin ball, because he did. It just had a lower, less shaped trajectory than Nadal’s.

Dominating on clay is not just about spin production anyway. Thiem for example could hit even more spin than Nadal, more revs on the ball, but he could never get close to him at Roland Garros.

 

[gold325]

Flat hitting or spin? Overall spin always wins.

In the context of the modern pro or rec 4.0+ game I game I guess Flat vs Spin is probably as follows.

Flat - Spin but more through the court
Spin - Heavy Spin jumping up and into the opponent.

Doing either or both well takes both speed & quality of stoke and movement which most players do not have.

Is Flat Through Spin vs Heavy Bouncy Spin better? Depends on the surface - Since most matches are not on clay I would say Flat Through Spin is better.

 

[Permitlady]

The tactic discussion is slightly different than the racket discussion.

The racket doesn't matter significantly if you are focusing on spin or flat hitting. One racket in the bag won't transform someone from spin monster to flat missile hitter if you are bringing a bunch of sticks to a match to switch tactics. Once you can do both the racket is more of a preference or a maximizer, but the overall impact on winning is around 5% and I think SW has more of an impact on spin than "marketing". If you develop the flat and spin game you can do it with a "spin" or a "flat" stick, 16x19 or an 18x20. You can do it with an old racket off the Walmart shelf etc. The racket won't give someone those skills, those skills travel with the person to whatever racket. Sure, the racket makes some difference, but the racket doesn't give someone spin nor flat ability to a degree where a racket in the bag is a strategy or switching rackets is a strategy for a certain match.

have to disagree. some racquets I don't have a forehand and others I have a laserbeam

 

[Permitlady]

spin people always get to. remember what flat shots did to Nadal one fine day in France

 

[Konik_1982]

In the context of the modern pro or rec 4.0+ game I game I guess Flat vs Spin is probably as follows.

Flat - Spin but more through the court
Spin - Heavy Spin jumping up and into the opponent.

Doing either or both well takes both speed & quality of stoke and movement which most players do not have.

Is Flat Through Spin vs Heavy Bouncy Spine better? Depends on the surface - Since most matches are not on clay I would say Flat Through Spin is better.

And if most matches you play are on clay - would you go with the same statement?

 

[Dragy]

In the context of the modern pro or rec 4.0+ game I game I guess Flat vs Spin is probably as follows.

Flat - Spin but more through the court
Spin - Heavy Spin jumping up and into the opponent.

Doing either or both well takes both speed & quality of stoke and movement which most players do not have.

Is Flat Through Spin vs Heavy Bouncy Spine better? Depends on the surface - Since most matches are not on clay I would say Flat Through Spin is better.

One extra thing to consider is how far from the baseline you want to play. It’s mixed in both as reason and consequence actually. With same RPM and pace, hitting from farther back usually goes with hitting higher over the net. More to it, from far back ball speed is less of a weapon - as opponent has more time. So there’s extra reason to shift the balance for even more heaviness.

But you have to cover the court better, as well as having longer way to the net and to chase drop shots.

Playing closer up the net and approaching it more - you have more challenge to actually impart high shape on the ball. Still can do, but less natural. On top of that, anything you add on as pace troubles your opponent much more than from farther back. So you end up hitting lower and faster ball, using spin for margin and access to angles more than anything else. Need fast reactions and setup, but less running.