What do you do when it feels like your racquet-head speed is too slow?

[Zachol82]

I sometimes have those days where it feels like I just cannot swing my racquet very fast. Since I focus on racquet-head speed a lot, it gets pretty frustrating when I can't swing fast.

I feel as if it's the worse thing that can happen to me. Slower racquet-head speed means that I miss-hit since my normal timing is still the same. I probably wont get as much topspin on the ball, I can't hit it with much pace and my placement is affected because my timing gets thrown off with a slower racquet-head.

What am I suppose to do on days like these?

 

[Funbun]

If you have slow racquet head speed, do what it takes to make it faster. I believe you do know what helps you swing faster, right?

 

[forthegame]

If you have slow racquet head speed, do what it takes to make it faster. I believe you do know what helps you swing faster, right?

TBH, if he/she knew, would this thread exist? If you have a suggestion, please post as I'm interested too..

 

[Kevo]

I think diet, sleep, and general fitness level play into this. I've had days like that, and there isn't a quick fix that I know of. I guess you could try caffeinated drinks or something, but I like to just consider it an opportunity to work on my strategy and mental game.

You won't always be able to play at your peak so it helps to have a backup strategy and shots you can use when your best is on vacation.

 

[papa]

OK, lets look at this. In my opinion there are three or four general reasons for slow racquet head speed.

One is poor reaction/preparation to the ball and the player is late resulting in a shorter/more abbreviated swing thus less power.

Second is that a lot of players bring the racquet straight back and get and don't get any benefit from allowing the racquet to drop which translates into less power.

Third thing is that many players don't finish the stroke strong and as a result they actually start slowing the racquet down prior to striking the ball.

Forth would be that players transfer the weight onto the front foot too early - this is ok for the 2HBH but for most other strokes it does nothing but slow the racquet head down.

 

[LeeD]

When you find yourself slow or late....
Get racketback sooner by turning shoulders first thing!
If the forward swing is a problem, use a choked up grip, starting 1".
Use a head lighter racket, or a more streamlined aero style frame.
If all above fails, hit the ball FLATTER, which needs a SLOWER swing speed...and go for winners more often.

 

[VaBeachTennis]

I sometimes have those days where it feels like I just cannot swing my racquet very fast. Since I focus on racquet-head speed a lot, it gets pretty frustrating when I can't swing fast.

I feel as if it's the worse thing that can happen to me. Slower racquet-head speed means that I miss-hit since my normal timing is still the same. I probably wont get as much topspin on the ball, I can't hit it with much pace and my placement is affected because my timing gets thrown off with a slower racquet-head.

What am I suppose to do on days like these?

I would use that opportunity to concentrate on your timing, fundamentals, and simply concentrating on making "good contact' with the ball. Relax and don't force it.

 

[Dreamer]

I would start with my feet and make sure I am getting into position with enough time. Then I would see if my arm is relaxed. Racquet Head speed comes from a relaxed arm and an efficient kinetic chain starting from the legs and then to your core.

I would see how much the rest of my body is working rather than just my racquet and arm.

 

[russell]

Low racquet head speed is almost always related to low confidence, overthinking (and clogging your mind with technical minutiae) and dwelling on the past few fails. Easier forgotten and said than done but you got to clear your mind, reset, and keep yours strokes relaxed.

 

[crystal_clear]

Many good replies. I learn a lot. Thanks.

Sometimes I forgot to swing fast and I didn't know why my strokes/serves were lack of power.

 

[Zachol82]

OK, lets look at this. In my opinion there are three or four general reasons for slow racquet head speed.

One is poor reaction/preparation to the ball and the player is late resulting in a shorter/more abbreviated swing thus less power.

Second is that a lot of players bring the racquet straight back and get and don't get any benefit from allowing the racquet to drop which translates into less power.

Third thing is that many players don't finish the stroke strong and as a result they actually start slowing the racquet down prior to striking the ball.

Forth would be that players transfer the weight onto the front foot too early - this is ok for the 2HBH but for most other strokes it does nothing but slow the racquet head down.

I am good on one and two since my feet are never lazy and I always turn my body/shoulder with my racquet pointing upward, therefore the racquet is forced to drop.

Third may be the problem I'm having.

As for Fourth, I've never really paid attention to this since I'm sure my weight transfer is optimal, but I will keep it in mind the next time this happens and see if this is a cause as well.

Thanks!

 

[papa]

I am good on one and two since my feet are never lazy and I always turn my body/shoulder with my racquet pointing upward, therefore the racquet is forced to drop.

Third may be the problem I'm having.

As for Fourth, I've never really paid attention to this since I'm sure my weight transfer is optimal, but I will keep it in mind the next time this happens and see if this is a cause as well.

Thanks!

Without seeing a player its very difficult to know what really is going on. I like many of the replies here. The situation with choking up, as brought up by LeeD is good along with his others. However, if you have a tendency to rotate/break the wrist like many players do, be careful that the butt doesn't injure your wrist. Many have given themselves these self inflicted type injuries which I'm sure are painful. If you swing the racquet correctly (wrist laid back until contact) its not much of a problem.

You sound like a more advanced player.

 

[Sreeram]

I would suggest having an alternate racquet that is extremly head light,like 12 pts head light. Use it in those days when head speed is slow. This will help you to hit consistently.

 

[goran_ace]

I would start with my feet and make sure I am getting into position with enough time. ... I would see how much the rest of my body is working rather than just my racquet and arm.

This is the best answer, and there were other very good answers as well. Don't be so quick to assume its your swing speed. Sometimes you are just a little off/late. It happens to everyone. It's your timing. Maybe it has to do with lack of good sleep/diet. Maybe you haven't hit a ball in a week. When it happens start with your footwork and early racket preparation. Don't think about trying to speed up your swing to compensate for what you might think might be a slower swing speed, just focus on hitting the ball cleanly.

I would suggest having an alternate racquet that is extremly head light,like 12 pts head light. Use it in those days when head speed is slow. This will help you to hit consistently.

I completely disagree with this answer. When you're already off, major equipment changes will only make you more inconsistent. Play with what you use in practice.

 

[fuzz nation]

Start your forward swing sooner... easy to say, but not so easy when you're not clicking on the court. One thing that might trick you into an earlier move on the ball is driving more deliberately cross-court with pretty much everything. Compared with a down-the-line shot, you've got to go out after the ball some more to get that cross-court angle.

I also do better when I get my focus off my racquet, arm, and top-half. If I can concentrate on doing a better job of getting off my back foot through my strokes, that can help me to make an earlier, more complete move through contact instead of a delayed burst at the ball. When that delay sneaks in, I'm forced to rush and muscle the racquet to the ball - that means less zip in my stroke.

 

[LeeD]

We all know the problem is with the late preparation, so turning shoulders is more important than anything, including moving the feet.
See all those practice vids of Fed, Youzny, Murray, and such never moving feet, but fully turning shoulders, and they can still hit at 6.0 levels NOT moving their feet.

 

[UCSF2012]

1) use a thinner guage of string so the racket's less heavy and you swing faster.

2) increase string tension, so the racket's lighter

3) drink coffee for strength

 

[Fuji]

Does increasing the string tension actually make it lighter? I've never heard of that before tbh hahaha!

-Fuji

 

[UCSF2012]

Does increasing the string tension actually make it lighter? I've never heard of that before tbh hahaha!

-Fuji

It absolutely does. The higher the tension, the more the string is stretched. You use less string total, so there's less string mass to swing.

 

[GetBetterer]

Instead of focusing on swinging the racket fast, have you thought about using your body to transmute the energy into the shot so that it's a deeper, or more spinny ball? Closed stance helps, just saying.

 

[Zachol82]

Instead of focusing on swinging the racket fast, have you thought about using your body to transmute the energy into the shot so that it's a deeper, or more spinny ball? Closed stance helps, just saying.

Yes, that is what I do all the time; I use my body either with angular momentum with focus on body-rotation or linear momentum with focus on a close stance and stepping in.

I don't literally mean that I want to increase the swing-speed of my arm, I'm just saying that I sometimes have days where I just cannot increase my racquet-head speed to its usual pace :[