Sidespin: Good or bad?

[Cindysphinx]

My FH isn't so hot overall. I've been working on it for months, and it is better, but it still isn't much of a weapon.

I tend to generate sidespin on my FH (not my 2HBH). Why does this happen, and is it a bad thing? At my last lesson, my pro observed that I was dropping my racquet head a lot in my take-back. I am trying to stop doing that, but now I'm noticing a lack of power (and less sidespin). Keeping the racquet head up the entire time on the FH feels contrived.

Should I keep trying to eliminate the sidespin in favor of topspin, and if so, what else might be contributing to the sidespin?

 

[xtremerunnerars]

I had a similar problem for a little, but on my backhand side. I wasn't meeting the ball squarely and my takeback was too late. That caused the ball to get on top of me if it had a lot of pace and it would slide across my stringbed.


Btw, i hit a 1 hander.

 

[Voltron]

I would drop the sidespin, possibly you are useing are really "wristy" motion.

 

[NoBadMojo]

Usually when a person hits with sidespin like that, they are swinging too much across their body rather than down the target line. this is now more common with people trying to hit more open stanced on the forehand side these days

 

[Tempyst]

I'd say sidespin is definitely bad because it can really determine whether that down-the-line shot is in or not. I had a few cases where I accidently put sidespin due to a desperate shot and landed just outside the single's line.

 

[sureshs]

Try to close (angle) the racquet face more towards the target. Sometimes on shots angling way from you on the BH or FH, if you keep the face the same way as you normally do, the ball will land outside with sidespin. The ball is sliding across the racquet face and there is not enough force to reverse direction. You have to deliberately turn the racquet face inward.

 

[tennisplayer]

If the sidespin is caused by hitting across the body - that is, by a slicing action - that would indicate that the FH mechanics need to be fixed. This would indeed cause a down the line FH to curve out towards the sideline.

If the sidespin is caused by more by a hooking action - that is, the racquet is moving up and from the inside to the outside - then the mechanics are excellent! The DTL FH shot will curve inwards in this case.

Beginners tend to have the "slicing" mechanics... if this is the case, a coach should be able to apply the proper correction.

 

[Amone]

Sidespin is... both. Especially with underspin, but that's another matter. If you can controll it, which you can if you try, it's great. Folks get real confused when you spin a ball away from them. Like a slice serve. If not, then they're right: it might mess you up.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Every shot (except, maybe, some volleys) should have some kind of spin applied to it with a specific purpose in mind.

It is not wrong to hit a ball with sidespin if you are able to control it and do it for a specific reason under specific circumstances.

Forehand sidespin is created by pulling the racket in towards the body as the racket impacts the ball. This causes the ball to curve (almost like a topspin shot laid over on its side) and then bounce out to the right (if you are right-handed).

You might hit this shot on purpose (for example) if you opponent is very fast and is retrieving your forehand drives to the right-hand sideline. This will force him/her to have to run farther to get to the ball. As an example, Federer uses this shot sometimes against Nadal.

If you are not imparting this type of spin on purpose, then you have a problem with your stroke mechanics. Several things could cause this problem and your coach should be able to see which it is.

You could be hitting late (too far back) and are not able to follow through properly.

Your racket may be slightly too heavy for you, causing you to begin its forward momentum with the racket cocked too far back (parallel to the length of the court) and never get good, solid contact with your full momentun behind it.

Your may need to work on the strength of your wrist/grip. Concentrating on holding your grip firmly during impact may help.

It may be a learned habit that needs to be corrected by drills focusing on correct mechanics. Have a person stand to your right side (if you are right-handed) and toss balls that bounce gently to your comfort zone and concentrate on hitting fluidly through the ball with all of your momentum moving forward toward the intended aiming point. Since the ball, itself, has no momentum you must do all the work of directing the force of your body mass through the ball correctly.

Good luck,

B

 

[Trinity TC]

You could be hitting late (too far back) and are not able to follow through properly.

Also, some players feel that the forehand stroke is more consistent and secure if they keep their elbow tucked close to the body...which can be the source of the underspin, sidespin effect. Pam Shriver used to hit all of her forehands with sidespin and slight underspin. Jack Kramer and Kerry Melville used the sidespin effectively to move their opponents around from the backcourt although they didn't use the sidespin forehand as much as Shriver.

Any video of your forehand? It sounds like the forehand is the source of your sore elbow.

 

[tlm]

There is nothing wrong with sidespin, it can be used to your advantage.It is a great way to hit sharp angles crosscourt, it also helps with control.If i am hitting my deep topspin shots deep, i make sure that i start brushing more to the side+the ball will start dropping in.

I watched nadal play this summer from courtside+ he puts tremendous sidespin on the ball as well as topspin.I call it 45 degree spin, when you see his looping shots come at you it is amazing.

The ball starts to come down+it curves sharpely, the when it hits the ground it really shoots off to the side+up.I watched him eat tommy hass up with this shot to his backhand, it would not have been near as good if it didnt have the sidespin.

 

[es-0]

when i get sloppy on my one-handed bh i usually end up just putting a lot of sidespin on it, especially when im trying to go cross court

i just have to remember to push through the ball, when i don't its all spin

 

[BabolatFan]

Yeah I agree with some above statements that there's nothing wrong with hitting sidespin. Agassi uses it effectively too to change pace, direction and shorten some of his balls.

 

[Cindysphinx]

OK, I have a diagnosis from my pro.

It is a combination of letting racquet head drop on backswing, leading to a wristy motion. The cure is/was to keep the racquet head up on the backswing, take the ball in front and accelerate during the swing to improve topspin.

Easier said than done. But on the few occasions I actually did these things, I got great topspin. Maybe there is hope.

 

[framer]

Fed hits with sidespin

Either I read it here or in Tennis Magazine - Martina Navritolova said, after a hitting session with Federer, that she's never seen a forehand like his - that it had sidespin.

If someone knows for sure where this quote came from, I'd appreciate knowing.

Thanks

 

[MariaS]

It not only shortens the ball but it speeds it up too. It's fun to use when I can remember to use it. Can't do it in doubles though.

 

[Sagittar]

My FH isn't so hot overall. I've been working on it for months, and it is better, but it still isn't much of a weapon.

I tend to generate sidespin on my FH (not my 2HBH). Why does this happen, and is it a bad thing? At my last lesson, my pro observed that I was dropping my racquet head a lot in my take-back. I am trying to stop doing that, but now I'm noticing a lack of power (and less sidespin). Keeping the racquet head up the entire time on the FH feels contrived.

Should I keep trying to eliminate the sidespin in favor of topspin, and if so, what else might be contributing to the sidespin?

it's not a bad thing aslong as you control it and use it in its right time and that's when trying to make a pass shot around your net opponent , on the other hand top spin is by far more usable so concentrate on it first