Need ideas on how to teach topspin to kids

[Homey]

I am helping some junior high age kids out.

I am trying to teach them a semi-western basic forehand. Most of them are doing well, but a few of them will hit more of a slice/undercut forehand. They don't lock the wrist, and they hit more under the ball, instead of topspin. They swing straight (not low to high) and they twist their hand more towards the sky instead of rolling their hand over.

It is very hard to break that habit.

Does anybody have any drills or ideas on how to fix this problem?

Thanks!

 

[dozu]

been there done that... had to teach my 8 yo daughter to get away from the chop as she played golf before.

just use something along the lines of FYB FH progression.

junior high kids should learn much faster.

 

[SlapChop]

"Brush the ball" That is the number one thing you hear from coaches over here.

 

[JackB1]

I like the concept of "closing a doorknob" as you make contact.

 

[JRstriker12]

Try the "Broom Drill"

http://www.physicaleducationupdate....rrect_Upward_Swing_Path_for_Topspin_Shots.cfm

Tennis: The Broom Drill Teaches the Correct Upward Swing Path for Topspin Shots


When hitting groundstrokes, beginners often have difficulty in swinging the racquet with the desired low-to-high swing path. Many instinctively emulate a baseball swing, which is naturally level or high-to-low. As a result they tend to have little control over their shots, and the ones they hit are often slices.

Here's a way to introduce the concept of a low-to-high topspin- producing swing.

The Broom Drill

You can use a household broom to introduce the concept of a low-to-high swing path to your students. Students stand on the baseline and swing their racquet through the bristles of a broom. The coach holds the broom at the point of contact with an imaginary ball.

If students swing with a level or high-to-low swing path, their racquet will become stuck in the bristles of the broom. However, if they use a low-to-high swing path, their racket will sweep through the broom's bristles.

It's a great way to give them the feeling of a low-to-high swing path and the type of swing that will apply topspin to the ball. The drill also improves your students' extension and follow through.

Reference: Robert Chonoles, “Trouble With Topspin?” Tennis.com, 2006.

 

[esgee48]

Swing low-to-high leading with the top edge of the racquet. Make sure they hit the ball in front of the body!

 

[bharat]

they showed this drill on tennis channel academy

kids stay close to the net and the coach drops the ball which stay below the net

the only to way to hit it would be to hit low to high and put spin on it so it lands inside the court

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

First things first, don't worry about topspin yet, worry about the grip and the stroke pattern first with the kids who are slicing the forehand. The fundamentals must be corrected first. My guess is that they also have other issues with the fundamentals, such as takeback, etc.

Start with the grip and ready position, cradle the throat with the off hand, on the toes, split step just before you toss a hand feed. Racquet taken back and up with the off hand, release off hand and point down the baseline. If they are really beginners start with the eastern grip and gradually work into the semi western. The more advanced can use the semi western.

Racquet drop, swing low to high, follow through around the opposite shoulder.

Once they can do all of these things, then you can let the stroke develop. Girls will naturally hit a flatter, penetrating ball. The boys will develop heavier topspin.

Get the strokes fundamentally sound, then you show them the concept of brushing up on the ball to create topspin. Many coaches try to teach topspin before they work out the basics. With the proper stroke pattern some topspin will occur naturally.

 

[coach]

my sons are a bit younger, 6 and 8, but I occasionally show them visually and demonstrate topspin, (and backspin) with a volleyball, showing the action as I toss it toward them standing 10 feet away. This at least begins to help them understand in a real dramatic and easy to see way that the ball bounces differently with top/backspin (slice).

As far as the actual technique of hitting topspin, I try the "brushing" technique as well, demonstating on the net as I step toward the net, my hip touching the net and the racquet face moving vertically but flat against the top 10" or so of the net.

 

[Homey]

Thank you

Thank you guys for all the helpful ideas. I really like the broom drill. I have never done that before. The kids need a physical object like that. I have shown them visually many times, but the problem is that people in general think they are doing something one way, when in reality they are doing it totally different.

So, I think the physical activity of hitting up against the broom will make a difference.
Can't wait to get out and try it.

Once again, thank you everybody for the ideas!

Homey

 

[gameboy]

Here is what I did with my 8 year old daughter when she first started a couple of years ago.

I made her touch the ground first on every stroke. I would feed the ball by hand and soon as I toss the ball, I had her touch the ground and stroke up from there.

 

[Ash_Smith]

Get them to stand close to the net with their racquet in the contact point you're after. Wedge a ball between the racquet and the top of the net and get them to hold it there, then ask then to roll the ball over the top of the net - the faster they accelerate the further the ball will go - if they brush up and across they be getting the feel of topspin, anything else and the ball won't go over the net or the racquet will get stuck under the net band (if they scoop the racquet face open for example).

Works like a charm (if you understand what I'm on about!)!

Cheers

Ash

 

[Frank Silbermann]

If they're beginners, you should do like my instructor in Tennis 101 at college. He told us we should try to hit our ground strokes flat -- without any spin.

 

[mightyrick]

I am helping some junior high age kids out.

I am trying to teach them a semi-western basic forehand. Most of them are doing well, but a few of them will hit more of a slice/undercut forehand. They don't lock the wrist, and they hit more under the ball, instead of topspin. They swing straight (not low to high) and they twist their hand more towards the sky instead of rolling their hand over.

It is very hard to break that habit.

Does anybody have any drills or ideas on how to fix this problem?

Thanks!

Give each kid ten bucks if they hit 500 looping topspin forehands to your liking. Problem solved.

 

[charliefedererer]

I remember seeing this on tennisone.com

Bring one of those large (3 foot diameter) exercise balls to the court.

You, and then the kids, can very graphically simulate a groundstroke by brushing up the back of the really big ball.

Once they get the "feel" of what they are doing, they are much more likely to reproduce that motion using a tennis ball.

 

[Chenx15]

when i was my teaching sister last summer. i taught her to hold the EFH grip. From there i told her to place her non-hitting (left)arm lateral to her left shoulder and every time i throw the ball at her all she needs to do is hit it but the racket neck should end up on her left non- hitting hand face forward. did it work the first time? nope, but after a few weeks i started to see some brushing and spins, then winter came.

 

[Larrysümmers]

I like the concept of "closing a doorknob" as you make contact.

you beat me to it. i watched something on tennis channel, it actually had something on for once that wasnt already aired a million times, and the coach was talking about that. i havent played much at all in the last few months and coming back i felt as this helped.