When to Use Flat Shots

Roy125

Roy125

Professional
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
 
Roy125 said:
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...

A flat shot is a great shot to use when your opponant hits a high shot without much pace, this allowes you to take the ball high and hit it flat but still have plenty of leway to land in.

Short balls are also a good time to use a flat shot as long as its a high short ball. If the ball isnt atleast a footover the net then you should deffently his a topspin shot to make sure you get that ball in.

Since its a short ball a topspin shot can still easily be a winner because your taking so much time away from your opponant, but even if its not a winner your still making that person hit another shot, and a hard one at that.

Steven
 
Roy125 said:
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...

Hitting a flat shot from behind the baseline is NOT high percentage. At all.

Go for a flatter shot when you're moving in or when you're confident that you can give it a good smack. In regards to spinning a shorter ball, the shorter distance that it goes compensates for the loss of pace. The depth also makes up for this deficit.
 
Last edited:
You use flat shots in a baseline-to-baseline rally to take time away from your opponent and to penetrate the court. Flat is deceiving because it actually means flatter. It still has spin, but just enough to keep it from going long. Your placement is going to be more conservative, usually within the sidelines.

People suggest more spin on a short ball because the distance to your target will be shorter thus less time for gravity to do its thing unassisted. Plus we don't always assume a short ball is a high one. Normally your goal on a short ball is to open up the court. On an angled shot, the distance of your target in relation to the net is even shorter, thus requiring more spin.

This doesn't imply that a flat shot is a bad choice on short ball. But it entails more risk and limits the targets you will be able to hit with good consistency.
 
Roy125 said:
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...

Flat shot is easier to hit the closer to the net you are. Flattening out your strokes is good way to get offensive. People, including me on here generally recommend hitting with some topspin depending on the situation of the short response, and placement (and consistency) over power. Lots of people just try to blast it hard and start spraying or netting it a lot or dink it, which is worse then hitting with topspin and hitting it in with good placement consistently.

Flatter shots penetrate through the court faster while topspin shots jump more aggressively after the bounce.
 
Roy125 said:
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...

Depends on the height of the ball. Using topspin on short balls is good habit because the the more you close into the net, the shorter the distance the ball has to land and be called in. So you apply topspin to make the ball land sooner while creating an offensive shot.

However if you get to the ball with plenty of height and it's short, then of course you can hit a more linear trajectory that it goes over the net and lands in.

As far as more high percentage, baseline or inside? well depends on the height! Sitters just happen land inside the baseline ^^
 
you have to understand the dif between flat trajectory and flat meaning not much spin.

You can hit real good spin on a flatter type trajectory shot, that will get thru the court quickly, but also get just a little dip at the end to help you greatly in keeping the shot in. That is what folks mean by hitting flat on shorter, higher balls for attacking.

If you just pop the ball solid and flat on the sweet spot, the ball will often get away from you unless u r right on top of the net and hitting down.

Does that help?
 
..and, you have to understand, it's not black or white !!
You can use flat shots if you know how to hit them hard and consistently.
You should not use flat shots if you swing just as hard as for topspin shots.
You use the shots you can hit well. Don't think you can change from flat to topspin, to sidespin and backspin at will. You need to learn the various shots first, and that takes TONS of time.
For now, use the shot that you can hit.
When encountering a short ball, you don't have to hit nearly as hard, because you're already positioned inside your court, taking time away from your opponent to react to your shot.
Don't matter if it's topped heavily, topped moderately, barely topped, flat, side, or any degree of underspin, the key is consistency and depth, with some pace.
Rather than focus on WHAT kind of shot, focus instead on hitting it well the way YOU hit the tennis ball.
 
For me, flatter shots are very useful for approaches off of high, short balls. At my level, this is the only situation where i feel like it is the high percentage play.

Hitting flat in a baseline rally is riskier and generally does not help you much because flat shots will often be in your opponents strike zone anyway. Unless you can hit winners from that deep, stay away from it.

Low, short balls must be hit with either topspin or slice. Placement is key either way because these shots are inherently slower. Personally I like to slice deep into a corner (usually up the line) - this can be a very good approach but tricky to pull off consistently. Some guys will intentionally hit low and short because it forces you to hit a good approach.

Flat shots, like drop shots, are aggressive shots. If you place it well and don't miss, it's a winner. Otherwise you'll generally lose. Some pros and very good players can hit pretty flat from anywhere on the court but most of us don't have that skill.
 
When I first started, the person that was coaching me at the time always hit flat shots, and thus subliminally taught me how to hit flat rally shots. I generally have little problem hitting a flat shot deep, pinning close to the baseline in a rally, but it might just be because of the angle I hit it at? I also use a continental grip when doing the shot, if that helps at all :)
 
Topspin needs time to take effect on the ball. It drives it down a little with every rotation.

When you are hitting from behind the baseline, the ball has to travel all the way through the court (especially for cross-court shots), so topspin has a lot of time to accumulate and contribute to the trajectory.

When you are hitting a high ball from the middle of the court there is no time for topspin to work on the ball. Hitting topspin when close to the net only decreases your chances for a successful shot since it is easier to mis-time and shank it.
 
Last edited:
Roy125 said:
I've heard a lot of things on this site regarding flat shots. I was told never to hit flat in a baseline-to-baseline rally. My coach did tell me that when I'm about to take the offensive (when a short ball arrives), that I should really power through my shots if I want to make my opponent suffer. From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball. I know that this keeps the ball in, but wouldn't it make the ball slower though, because of the increase in the spin?

Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...

Except if the guy possess great returning abilities, is not the time you hit flat and hard to him off the baseline, or he will tee off on those and rip you down the lines. What was the old saying, a slugger hits his best against another slugger?
 
Last edited:
LeeD said:
..and, you have to understand, it's not black or white !!
You can use flat shots if you know how to hit them hard and consistently.
You should not use flat shots if you swing just as hard as for topspin shots.
You use the shots you can hit well. Don't think you can change from flat to topspin, to sidespin and backspin at will. You need to learn the various shots first, and that takes TONS of time.
For now, use the shot that you can hit.
When encountering a short ball, you don't have to hit nearly as hard, because you're already positioned inside your court, taking time away from your opponent to react to your shot.
Don't matter if it's topped heavily, topped moderately, barely topped, flat, side, or any degree of underspin, the key is consistency and depth, with some pace.
Rather than focus on WHAT kind of shot, focus instead on hitting it well the way YOU hit the tennis ball.
Click to expand...

QFT

DelPotro hits flat and Nadal ALWAYS hits spin. It depends on your style, both of theirs got them where they want to be
 
Roy125 said:
Also, which shot is more high-percentage? A flat shot while you're behind the baseline, or one where you're inside the court?

(Btw, when I say flat, I mean with little spin or when you're hitting down on the ball.)
Click to expand...
As a general rule, I use more spin the closer I am to the net. So from the baseline, I hit a flatter stroke, but if I take something waist high or lower around the service line, for example, lots more spin because you have less length to work with. Of course, if the ball is high, you can flatten it out even if you're near the net.

You can really see it with Pete Sampras, how he hit with more spin the shorter the ball was, because he would often hit a forehand like Nadal on short and short/low ones. But from the baseline he hit a super heavy flat forehand even on rally balls.
 
Of course you have to be aware of your court positioning, but in general a good rule of thumb is that if the ball is above the level of the net cord, you can hit it flatter (never completely flat unless you're three feet from the net or something). If the ball is below the net cord, hit topspin.
 
as far as forehands are concerned, i use various different forehands, but when i have time and the ball is up high enough (doesn't have to be that high, since i've recently learned to whip low balls up and over the net and have them dip back down into play) i use massive lefty topspin. this works great, like i say, when i have time.

i've been trying to teach myself lately the one shot that my extreme western lefty fh grip will not allow me to make. That's the running fh-as a lefty to my left.

so the running forehand is best done, it seems, with a continental or eastern (associated with a flatter ball) grip, depending on how you follow through. That, to me, is the one situation that i can't use my heavy top. granted i use a cc fh slice at times as a more conservative option, when i can't grip and rip topspin fh.

i had not read any posts about the running fh working best with a "flatter" grip, so i thought i'd put in my $.02.
 
5263 said:
you have to understand the dif between flat trajectory and flat meaning not much spin.

You can hit real good spin on a flatter type trajectory shot, that will get thru the court quickly, but also get just a little dip at the end to help you greatly in keeping the shot in. That is what folks mean by hitting flat on shorter, higher balls for attacking.

If you just pop the ball solid and flat on the sweet spot, the ball will often get away from you unless u r right on top of the net and hitting down.

Does that help?
Click to expand...

This is the best comment you can get on flat shots. I mostly hit flat against players whoes game is based on consistency. When i learnt Topspin i was so excited about it and I used to hit topspin everytime. But when i played against players who can put everyball into my court, i was not able to hit winners with topspin. I then developed a drive into my topspin forehand that helped me to hit flat deep and also with decent topspin. I play with semiwestern and I play with lot of consistency. Once I added a flat part to my shot i was able to beat those high perct players.
so the fact is though my shots appear flat it actually as decent topsin in it to bring the ball down.
 
The 2010 Nadal can sure hit flat. Go look up his 110mph fh on youtube.

He doesn't hit flat all the time because it is his game.
 
Roy125 said:
From what I've seen on this board though, most people say to use more topspin when hitting a short ball.
Click to expand...

The farther you are from the net, the father the ball has to travel, the more time your topspin has effect on the ball and pulls it down.

The closer you are to the net, the less time the ball has to travel, the less effective topspin becomes. This is why volleys are rarely hit with topspin.

You need some insane amount of topspin to bring a short ball down. Unlike hitting extreme topspin from the baseline, topspinning a short ball is a lower percentage option - it is very easy to shank the ball or hit it out.

But when the short ball is below the net, you have no option (not counting slices, dinks and dropshots) but to try to increase spin as much as possible. When it is above the net, you hit it hard and flat for a winner, almost always.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
western grip flat vs. topspin shots
Replies
3
Views
1K
jasoncho92
jasoncho92
RCizzle65
Help on making flat shots
Replies
6
Views
981
Vincent Left
V
1
flat shots
Replies
17
Views
3K
GrahamIsSuper
G
T
Study Group of Rising Shots and Flat shots.. Please only someone INTERESTED
Replies
1
Views
863
InsideOutBackhand
I
stav_babolat
Topspin/flat shots.
Replies
7
Views
3K
WildVolley
WildVolley
Back
Top