Too much topspin

M

msweigert08

Rookie
Hey guys, im using a Babolat Aeropro drive GT and i think i have decent strokes. My problem is that sometimes i feel i am getting too much topspin. Would adding some leadtape to make it a little less head light help? I dont want to take away from my serve.
 
Nadal has the most topspin in the world, and I don't think he has an issue with "too much topspin". Why, is the topspin a hindrance for you? Does the ball tend to fly way up in the air and loop down? Top spin is meant to be an advantage.
 
Lead tape will definitely help... try placing lead at the 3/9 positions first... if it affects the serve too much raise the lead to the 10/2 positions.

And yes... what a problem to have... too much topspin! Wish we were all this lucky! ;)
 
maybe he is looking for a more penetrating stroke. Lead tape at 3 and 9 does help with this as long as you're willing to swing through the ball more.
 
msweigert08 said:
My topspin sits...im looking for tighter topspin and some plow. I feel my shots turn into a slugfest for flat ball hitters
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If your ball is sitting for flat hitters, that means your ball either isn't bouncing high enough or isn't deep enough...or your opponents are 6'7. You probably don't have as much topspin as you think.

The remedy is to hit deeper or flatter, most likely. Either that, or topspin that makes the ball bounce out of your opponents strike zone. I doubt that lead tape is the answer to your problem, all of those remedies are stroke related.
 
dman72 said:
If your ball is sitting for flat hitters, that means your ball either isn't bouncing high enough or isn't deep enough...or your opponents are 6'7. You probably don't have as much topspin as you think.

The remedy is to hit deeper or flatter, most likely. Either that, or topspin that makes the ball bounce out of your opponents strike zone. I doubt that lead tape is the answer to your problem, all of those remedies are stroke related.
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Hear hear... Definitely stroke related...
I doubt it's excessive topspin... Probably the lack of it...
 
msweigert08 said:
My topspin sits...im looking for tighter topspin and some plow. I feel my shots turn into a slugfest for flat ball hitters
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but I have noticed many junior USTA players that hit with what I consider too much topspin (at Level 6 tournaments, not elite players). Loopy balls that land by the service line and sit up waiting to be crushed. In many of the matches they don't get crushed, they get a loopy, heavy topspin return that hits by the service line, etc.

The heavy topspin is great if you can keep the ball deep. The best of both worlds is being able to flatten out your shots when needed. You should be able to do this just by a slight change in your swing path and/or grip. I don't think you should need to modify your racquet.
 
dman72 said:
If your ball is sitting for flat hitters, that means your ball either isn't bouncing high enough or isn't deep enough...or your opponents are 6'7. You probably don't have as much topspin as you think.

The remedy is to hit deeper or flatter, most likely. Either that, or topspin that makes the ball bounce out of your opponents strike zone. I doubt that lead tape is the answer to your problem, all of those remedies are stroke related.
Click to expand...

Yep. This is the hard truth!
Ultimately, everything will be stroke related... technique dictates and the racquet executes. However the OP did ask if lead could help, and I have noticed that sometimes players that are hitting with a "thin" or overly exaggerated or weak topspin stroke will drop the ball just beyond the service line... and sometimes a little weight (or lead in the hoop) will deliver a little extra plow, and help them to program their noodle to step in a little more (thus flattening the stroke) with little more forward momentum rather than all upward momentum.
 
its not to much topspin so much as not enough driving contact. More weight would you give you more plough through which would help i guess, but fixing your strokes would do more.
 
If your topspin shots are falling short, try stringing your racquet 2 lbs. lower. If you hit this with the same stroke the ball should land deeper and your topspin will be a weapon.
 
Yes i hit with a lack of topspin ... i have no idea what topspin is...i just swing and hit it straight up in the air ...thats probably my problem.

Im sure its a stroke thing...something small but even when i go through the ball and open my hips, it still is putting tons of topspin on it. I want topspin I like topspin but i wanted to know what to do to my racket to get some plow.

Before you post, please do not start rambling about what I probably play like...thanks for the serious posts.
 
For some reason I'm thinking Babolatking "epic amatuer tennis" type topspin.

If you want more plow, start by adding lead tape at 3 and 9 in 3 gram increments.
 
msweigert08 said:
Yes i hit with a lack of topspin ... i have no idea what topspin is...i just swing and hit it straight up in the air ...thats probably my problem.

Im sure its a stroke thing...something small but even when i go through the ball and open my hips, it still is putting tons of topspin on it. I want topspin I like topspin but i wanted to know what to do to my racket to get some plow.

Before you post, please do not start rambling about what I probably play like...thanks for the serious posts.
Click to expand...


What is your level?
 
msweigert08 said:
Hey guys, im using a Babolat Aeropro drive GT and i think i have decent strokes. My problem is that sometimes i feel i am getting too much topspin. Would adding some leadtape to make it a little less head light help? I dont want to take away from my serve.
Click to expand...

Yes. If you have "decent" strokes, then the lead will give you more plow (more force projection into the court).

Further, because you are using the APDGT, I would not suggest that you reduce the string tension to gain power, power derived from your strings (trampoline effect) is not the problem (although it can cause additional problems)... you need to gain plow, you need to more effectively project your force through the court. It might even be better to raise the tension but strike the ball harder.

Once you add weight to the racquet, you will want to step in more and strike the ball with a full and solid stroke using your legs and body rotation.

Note: I don't thing this racquet is too HL, rather the static weight may be (for some) to light. When I used the APDGT, I found the static weight to be too light and the racquet to be too HH. I added a leather grip but opted after some experimentation to remove the lead in the hoop (I had originally tried 4gs at the 10/2 positions) and found it perfect... much more stable, with more plow and authority.

The bottom line... the real problem is your stroke technique. If your strokes are landing short and sitting up... you need to adjust the bio mechanics of your stroke, you need to analyze your take back, your loading, your contract point, your follow through, your grip, your angle of impact, etc...

Regarding your other concern: If you only add weight to the hoop, you may find that your serve will suffer, this is another reason to add the weight to the handle, or to both the handle and the hoop.
 
If you are after a quick fix, how about switching to a different racquet? Something closed pattern, more plow thru, and less of a "spin" racquet?
Like what backatcha said, the APDGT isn't HL to begin with, adding more lead at loop is just going mess up the serve and give the already powerful racquet even more power.
 
With "too much topspin" the ball will noticably jump from the ground when it lands. You're hitting sitters, which generally come from mishits or weak hits. You need personal instruction from a trainer or friend.
 
If you are hitting too much topspin and want something with more plow through. Would you demo a PDR2012or PD2012? Also, is the grip too small for you?
 
As has been suggested, a little lead tape is the quickest and simplest solution. It will add some plow through and also flatten out your strokes.

I recommed about 1-2 grams at 12 o'clock for maximum effect for minimal weight gain. However no harm in trying a little more at 10 and 2 or 3 and 9.
 
counterpuncher said:
As has been suggested, a little lead tape is the quickest and simplest solution. It will add some plow through and also flatten out your strokes.

I recommed about 1-2 grams at 12 o'clock for maximum effect for minimal weight gain. However no harm in trying a little more at 10 and 2 or 3 and 9.
Click to expand...

How much lead tape is:

1 gr -
2 gr -
3 gr -
 
If you are hitting loopy topspin shots, you are probably brushing up on the ball too much. You need to follow the racket through the ball more towards the target. If its a high ball, you need to elevate your swing, start high and end high.
The racket or string you use has negligible effects on topspin and power at the rec level since most rec players can improve their mechanics. A D1 player using a Walmart racket can produce more topspin and ball pace than your average rec player using a Babolat Pure Drive Whatever with the fanciest poly strings you can think of.
 
What happened to me when I used the dunlop 4D 500 tour, a similar frame, is that I started getting addicted to windshield wiper strokes that generate lots of topspin because that's what these frames are designed for. I really liked the action on my ball but I felt like I was losing that great feeling of driving through the ball with some weight. I added some weight at 3 and 9 and that helped a bit, and it didn't effect my serve. I would've probably added more, but the stiffness of the frame started hurting my shoulder and I stopped using it.These light sticks just don't feel solid enough to me and I really started missing driving through the ball. However, I do think that adding lead to a frame on the lighter side is the way to go. Good luck.
 
Practice hitting the ball past the service line. If you can get it into the last 6 feet of the court regularly, your opponents won't be able to do a whole lot with it. I have the same problem, and it is stroke related, and am working on hitting through the ball more when I don't want to go for an angle.

A heavier stick will help, because you won't be able to overswing it as easily, but that's a temporary fix. The solution is to learn to hit different shots. If you swing as hard as you can and the ball doesn't go past the service line, it's definitely you. By the way, if you can do that, why not keep it? It's useful to be able to do it in certain situations, especially if you figure out how to hit deeper as well.

Stick with what you have. MHO.
 
msweigert08 said:
My topspin sits...im looking for tighter topspin and some plow. I feel my shots turn into a slugfest for flat ball hitters
Click to expand...

That sounds like a launch angle problem not a topspin problem (which is really is never the problem).

Solutions:

Go more western on your grip to lower launch angle.
Increase stringbed tension to lower launch angle
Hit through the ball more to drive it deeper

lead can help with driving deeper, for APD I recommend adding lead at 12.
 
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I don't think Mike Tyson ever blamed his debts because he had "too much" money and therefore was overspending.

I've hit with that stick and I love it. Word of advice. When you have a problem with an over abundance of one thing, counterbalance it. The more I feel like I'm hitting too much top, I change my grip to a more aggressive extreme western grip and I make sure I finish with a more cupping motion and finish horizontally through the ball.
 
Good stuff...yes i play 3.5....weirdo....stop creepin!


I think its the way i bring my wrist through. I notice when i got to hit the ball with a good amount of pace, i take a lot of fuzz off the ball. I was thinking that perhaps im not timing it correctly and it could be from the light weight. Ive never had a lesson before and I may be taking one here aoon. Its just so damn expensive.
 
msweigert08 said:
Good stuff...yes i play 3.5....weirdo....stop creepin!


I think its the way i bring my wrist through. I notice when i got to hit the ball with a good amount of pace, i take a lot of fuzz off the ball. I was thinking that perhaps im not timing it correctly and it could be from the light weight. Ive never had a lesson before and I may be taking one here aoon. Its just so damn expensive.
Click to expand...

I teacher with a good eye can really help and you don't need a lot of lessons to really benefit. (I smile to myself, because I probably had 7 years of coaching on and off, back in the day :) ).
A good teacher should also be able to maximize what you do particularly well because of your body type, strength, mindset, etc. We have to play the game that suits us.
I play pretty much exclusively on clay and I don't care how hard anyone hits the ball, pace is not the issue. A highly spinning ball stays in your strike zone for much less time, so I think what we're all saying is that you're already way ahead of the game.
Good luck and have fun. I'm sure you'll solve this.
 
prjacobs said:
I teacher with a good eye can really help and you don't need a lot of lessons to really benefit. (I smile to myself, because I probably had 7 years of coaching on and off, back in the day :) ).
A good teacher should also be able to maximize what you do particularly well because of your body type, strength, mindset, etc. We have to play the game that suits us.
I play pretty much exclusively on clay and I don't care how hard anyone hits the ball, pace is not the issue. A highly spinning ball stays in your strike zone for much less time, so I think what we're all saying is that you're already way ahead of the game.
Good luck and have fun. I'm sure you'll solve this.
Click to expand...

Now thats a solid post! Thanks!
 
msweigert08 said:
Good stuff...yes i play 3.5....weirdo....stop creepin!


I think its the way i bring my wrist through. I notice when i got to hit the ball with a good amount of pace, i take a lot of fuzz off the ball. I was thinking that perhaps im not timing it correctly and it could be from the light weight. Ive never had a lesson before and I may be taking one here aoon. Its just so damn expensive.
Click to expand...

If you've never taken a lesson, then try very hard to find someone to work briefly with you - keeping the cost as low as possible. I imagine you will find it is a lack of understanding of the stroke production. Topspin isn't really about "wrist", although it will certainly feel that way sometimes. I bet a good pro will get that straightened out - then you can keep your topspin, and also develop your other options.

Good luck!
 
I would love to have this problem! Most folks have a hard time generating enough topspin like me.

Altering your technique will probably benefit you the most, but also look at your racquet setup. Simply changing to a different type of string and tension can help alleviate this problem as well.
 
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