top spin generation by hitting it outside of the sweet spot?

[d-quik]

i remember a reading a thread earlier about how hitting the ball with the non-sweet spot of the head of a racquet had pretty useful applications. i don't remember if it was for hitting corners, generating spin, making a drop shot or whatever, not could i find it after searching (sorry, i just do not know the keywords)

anyways. i hit with a eastern grip on the forehand for both flat and spin shots, western 1hbd for flat, and continental 1hbd for slice. the topspin backhand has not been tamed fully. so those are my groundstrokes i depend on. my frame is the dunlop max 200g, and the string tension is about the low 50s (synth).

when the ball bounces high, i simply aim the sweetspot of the frame (which is a bit inside of the actual centre of the racquet head) and crush the ball. no problem. on lower balls, however, i have to slice the ball back on my backhand side, but on my forehand i can hit a really aggressive topspin shot.

however for this spin to be generated, things are a bit different. this frame is supposedly weak in firepower but i would have to disagree. hitting topspin, for me (its a 18x20 pattern at an OK tension) means i HAVE to generated racquet head speed to get the spin. i deploy the windshield wiper "flick". even then, the ball will sail long. to cure this problem, i just hit the ball outside of the sweetspot, a bit to the outside of the exact centre of the racquet. by hitting it in such a way, i can increase my racquet head speed without worrying about it being launched off of my forehand long.

my question, at the end, is whether or not this is normal/acceptable?

i keep getting a feeling that its a "cheap" way of getting a shot off with mediocrity. almost like i am "settling" for this shot because i can't aim a proper "uppercut" hit that both gets it on the sweetspot AND i can generate enough spin with racquet-speed. is my swing too and slow?

any replies would be greatly appreciated!

i feel so lost

 

[sureshs]

A lot of topspins seem to hit from the bottom of the strings (when the racquet handle is parallel to the ground).

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Um, I'm pretty sure that the ball should always be struck on the sweet spot if possible.

 

[aaron 3000]

Um, I'm pretty sure that the ball should always be struck on the sweet spot if possible.

TRUTH.


its called the sweet spot for a reason. its the most optimal part of the stringbed.

 

[Geezer Guy]

Actually, I was taught by one instructor that to generate additional spin on a serve you can try to hit the ball as close to the top of the frame as you can - cleanly. For hitting a flat or slice serve, use the sweet spot. For topspin/kick, hit a bit above the sweet spot.

For regular ground stroks and volleys, I'd stick with the sweet spot (actually - I'm just happy if it hits the strings).

 

[Bungalo Bill]

i remember a reading a thread earlier about how hitting the ball with the non-sweet spot of the head of a racquet had pretty useful applications. i don't remember if it was for hitting corners, generating spin, making a drop shot or whatever, not could i find it after searching (sorry, i just do not know the keywords)

anyways. i hit with a eastern grip on the forehand for both flat and spin shots, western 1hbd for flat, and continental 1hbd for slice. the topspin backhand has not been tamed fully. so those are my groundstrokes i depend on. my frame is the dunlop max 200g, and the string tension is about the low 50s (synth).

when the ball bounces high, i simply aim the sweetspot of the frame (which is a bit inside of the actual centre of the racquet head) and crush the ball. no problem. on lower balls, however, i have to slice the ball back on my backhand side, but on my forehand i can hit a really aggressive topspin shot.

however for this spin to be generated, things are a bit different. this frame is supposedly weak in firepower but i would have to disagree. hitting topspin, for me (its a 18x20 pattern at an OK tension) means i HAVE to generated racquet head speed to get the spin. i deploy the windshield wiper "flick". even then, the ball will sail long. to cure this problem, i just hit the ball outside of the sweetspot, a bit to the outside of the exact centre of the racquet. by hitting it in such a way, i can increase my racquet head speed without worrying about it being launched off of my forehand long.

my question, at the end, is whether or not this is normal/acceptable?

i keep getting a feeling that its a "cheap" way of getting a shot off with mediocrity. almost like i am "settling" for this shot because i can't aim a proper "uppercut" hit that both gets it on the sweetspot AND i can generate enough spin with racquet-speed. is my swing too and slow?

any replies would be greatly appreciated!

i feel so lost

For groundstrokes, I mainly try to hit in the sweetspot for these reasons:

1. I can hit for power and do not need much effort.

2. I get better control.

For the serve, on occasion and especially on spin serves, I will try to hit the top part of my string bed to get some nasty spin on the ball.

So unless, I am doing something special, I always try to maximize my contact with the ball by hitting in the sweetspot.