Slapping the ball

[ItalianScallion]

What does it mean to "slap" the ball? I've been told by multiple people that I play very slappy or I slap the **** out of the ball, but I don't actually know what that means. Is that just synonymous with hitting flat (which I know I do)?

 

[dlam]

idk what your slap looks like but when someone say slap I think of the Kyrios slap forehand which is high risk high reward forehand winner

 

[sureshs]

Slap means hitting flat (square to the ball) or with slight sidespin and a little downwards.

 

[10sbeast888]

I can give you a slap to show what it is.

 

[Dragy]

Flat and usually not smoothly, but with high racquet head acceleration.

High acceleration is good generally, but some angle of attack is necessary to make such strokes reliable.

 

[ItalianScallion]

idk what your slap looks like but when someone say slap I think of the Kyrios slap forehand which is high risk high reward forehand winner

Outside of random highlight clips I haven't really watched Kyrios so I'm not sure what that looks like but "high risk high reward forehand winner" certainly sounds like my natural play style. I recently started up with a coach and am working on hitting with more top spin to have a higher margin shot.

 

[ItalianScallion]

Slap means hitting flat (square to the ball) or with slight sidespin and a little downwards.

I definitely tend to hit flat and down so that makes sense. Not really any sidespin though. Thanks

 

[ItalianScallion]

Flat and usually not smoothly, but with high racquet head acceleration.

High acceleration is good generally, but some angle of attack is necessary to make such strokes reliable.

Ah, makes sense. The angle of attack/low to high is something I'm struggling with (but working on!).

 

[Robert F]

The rec "slappy" looking forehands often have shorter swings that really accelerate at contact. Can be a little wristy or arm dominant.

 

[ItalianScallion]

The rec "slappy" looking forehands often have shorter swings that really accelerate at contact. Can be a little wristy or arm dominant.

My coach has said my forehand is too wristy, making it inconsistent, and is working on fixing that so that checks out lmao

 

[enishi1357]

prob mean your stroke is very simple. Like take back racquet, slap the ball, and that's it. There's alot more steps than that and the trained eyes can see the missing steps.

 

[sureshs]

My coach has said my forehand is too wristy, making it inconsistent, and is working on fixing that so that checks out lmao

These days even low level players have topspin shots, which are difficult to handle by slapping.

 

[johnmccabe]

Short, fast swing. Short contact with the ball.

I know science says the dwell time is always short. Several trust worthy sources also mentioned keeping the ball on the string for longer is important for higher quality groundies.

 

[AnyPUG]

This vid explains slap vs brush.

 

[blowouttennis]

What does it mean to "slap" the ball? I've been told by multiple people that I play very slappy or I slap the **** out of the ball, but I don't actually know what that means. Is that just synonymous with hitting flat (which I know I do)?

I think that usually what is meant by slap, is to use your racket like a whip, loosen arm and swing your elbow in so the whip lags and slaps the ball.

 

[Bud]

What does it mean to "slap" the ball? I've been told by multiple people that I play very slappy or I slap the **** out of the ball, but I don't actually know what that means. Is that just synonymous with hitting flat (which I know I do)?

Open your hand and give it a good whack. It relieves tension and frustration.

On a serious note, watch Tomic play. Every FH is basically a slap.

 

[Jaferd]

Short, fast swing. Short contact with the ball.

I know science says the dwell time is always short. Several trust worthy sources also mentioned keeping the ball on the string for longer is important for higher quality groundies.

I think it's this! It's when rackets are swung and finishing across the body too soon, resulting in a short contact point and more of brushing the ball instead of hitting through the ball in the outward direction to the other side of the court. Ie, extending the swing which will allow for more contact time with the ball since the racket face is still traveling in the direction of the ball after it is struck. John Yandell used to stress this extension because it allows for a more controlled, heavier and deeper ball.

 

[Bisquick]

Can you slap the backhand?

 

[Jaferd]

Yes. Same concept as the forehand. The racket needs to keep going in the direction of the ball as much as possible. Obviously it will need to come around but you want to delay that as much as you can. When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, his hand when really fast from right to left but if he punched him straight into his face, Chris would have been seriously hurt.

 

[Jaferd]

Forgot to mention that extension also increases your hitting zone and also more linear to the ball, which increases the chance of having a solid strike. Slapping it would reduce the hitting some and the timing has to be more precise so that the ball doesn't hook or slice because the racket trajectory is more circular.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Yes. Same concept as the forehand. The racket needs to keep going in the direction of the ball as much as possible.

Have you ever thought about how this idea affects spin?

 

[Jaferd]

You can still generate top spin by hitting upward. Nothing is changed but just extending out the racket more.

 

[ballmachineguy]

You can still generate top spin by hitting upward. Nothing is changed but just extending out the racket more.

The more the racquet travels along the x axis, the less it goes along the y. You can’t have 10% of both.