Why do some pro's hit heavy topspin shots that go low over the net?

[tennis_hack]

A lot of pro's, for example Federer and Del-Potro, hit a rally ball that goes low over the net yet has heavy topspin on it.

What's the point of doing that?

Surely you're either trying to hit a flat, laser-like shot so that the opponent will have difficulty retrieving it, or you're trying to hit a loopy topspin bomb, so the opponent will have to dislocate their shoulder trying to deal with the height of the bounce.

If you're hitting a flat-trajectory shot that still has a lot of topspin on it, then isn't the topspin 'wasted' because the ball is not going to kick up to an uncomfortable height anyway, since it cleared the net so low? Similarly, it won't be as fast as a flat shot because the spin will slow it down. So also, it needs a lot more racket head speed (and therefore more sources of error) to generate the same pace as the flat shot.

Look at how much faster Del-Potro swings at the ball than a guy like Berdych, who hits the same pace, but much less spin, and a similar height over the net. Is Del-Potro 'wasting' that extra energy?

I guess one advantage is that you won't miss long as much because the spin will drag the ball down into play, but still, you're hitting low over the net with a lot of racket head speed, so your margin for error isn't great anyway.

There must be advantages to this, because Federer and Del-Potro are successful players, but can someone point out the advantage to me?

 

[MarrratSafin]

Shorten the time the ball travel in the air, while maintaining the kick off the ground for better chance of a winner?

 

[HailDjokovic]

These shots that you described are ideal passing shots when someone is at the net.

You want enough top spin so that it goes over the net but not so high that a opponent can volley/push it. The lower it is over the net the harder it is for a volleyer to pick it up. Djokovic,fed,nadal, hell any top pro uses this shot.

If this happens in a rally however it might not be purposeful. Granted it will still be a heavy ball.

 

[Phonco]

I believe its for balance. Hitting flat all the time is a bit too risky in terms of consistency. Hitting loopy top spin gives you consistency, but it may not do enough damage or it may give your opponent too much time.

Hitting the low topspin shots provide a nice balance of power and consistency while allowing for good placement and taking time away from your opponent. Although these shots do not do a lot of damage, they do provide a good rally ball that can set up points.

 

[Bender]

Short balls with lots of topspin can be used to great effect for angles - see Nadal.

 

[Tonyr1967]

Nadal and Djokovic hit with a huge amount of net clearance. Not really that visible (Nadal excepted) on TV. Federer and Ferrer hit with a reasonable amount too.
Del Potro is huge and hits with good spin but flatter than all of the above and Berdych seems to be mainly flat with some spin. Never seen Murray live from up close, so can't comment.

Hitting with a lower trajectory but with good topspin does what MarrratSafin says - shortens the air time but still affords control. Not necessarily making the ball kick so much but rather allowing them to hit with real pace and still keep the ball in the court.
Hitting short with lots of spin gives you the ability to hit short angled winners whereas long with spin lets you pass the guy at the baseline. Hitting both gives you the ability to vary your game; keep your opponent guessing and hit a variety of winners from the same in-coming ball.

 

[OTMPut]

Someone mentioned about angle already.
Spin makes the ball kick forward. That adds another variation to throw your timing off guard.

 

[Roddick85]

It's a smart shot to hit, I myself do it when i'm playing matches and it drives people insane when they try to volley because it goes so low. Since it doesn't go too high above the net, it cuts your opponents reaction time compared to a high bouncing moonball. The top spin is far from wasted, it gives you a higher percentage vs a flat shot while still getting decent pace. The ball also accelerates after hitting the ground which isn't always easy to control for the opponent.

 

[Tennis_Sud]

It is a preparation for a passing winner. You encourage your opponent to leave the base line and come to approach the shot in the service line, so he is neither in the base line nor in the net.

 

[dominikk1985]

A lot of pro's, for example Federer and Del-Potro, hit a rally ball that goes low over the net yet has heavy topspin on it.

What's the point of doing that?

Surely you're either trying to hit a flat, laser-like shot so that the opponent will have difficulty retrieving it, or you're trying to hit a loopy topspin bomb, so the opponent will have to dislocate their shoulder trying to deal with the height of the bounce.

If you're hitting a flat-trajectory shot that still has a lot of topspin on it, then isn't the topspin 'wasted' because the ball is not going to kick up to an uncomfortable height anyway, since it cleared the net so low? Similarly, it won't be as fast as a flat shot because the spin will slow it down. So also, it needs a lot more racket head speed (and therefore more sources of error) to generate the same pace as the flat shot.

Look at how much faster Del-Potro swings at the ball than a guy like Berdych, who hits the same pace, but much less spin, and a similar height over the net. Is Del-Potro 'wasting' that extra energy?

I guess one advantage is that you won't miss long as much because the spin will drag the ball down into play, but still, you're hitting low over the net with a lot of racket head speed, so your margin for error isn't great anyway.

There must be advantages to this, because Federer and Del-Potro are successful players, but can someone point out the advantage to me?

You would Need true net clearance, velocity and spin data to make a Statement like that with confidence

 

[tennis_hack]

Topspin does indeed make the ball kick forward, but after a ball hits the ground it loses a lot of speed compared to a ball sailing through the air.

Sure, the topspin will cause the ball to gather speed from the bounce compared to a ball that bounced with no topspin, but the ball flying through the air without having bounced will still be much faster.

This is why you're taught to volley deep - so your volley won't lose pace by hitting the ground.

Short angle shots are another category - but if you're hitting a low-over-the-net, deep, heavy topspin shot - is it really only good for throwing off your opponent's timing?

Otherwise your rally shot would be best served by hitting heavy, high, looping topspin, and your 'kill' shots would best be hit flat and low?

 

[wy2sl0]

Topspin does indeed make the ball kick forward, but after a ball hits the ground it loses a lot of speed compared to a ball sailing through the air.

Sure, the topspin will cause the ball to gather speed from the bounce compared to a ball that bounced with no topspin, but the ball flying through the air without having bounced will still be much faster.

This is why you're taught to volley deep - so your volley won't lose pace by hitting the ground.

Short angle shots are another category - but if you're hitting a low-over-the-net, deep, heavy topspin shot - is it really only good for throwing off your opponent's timing?

Otherwise your rally shot would be best served by hitting heavy, high, looping topspin, and your 'kill' shots would best be hit flat and low?

The kind of shot you are talking about doesn't make sense, unless you are talking about 95-100mph winners.

If you hit with a lot of spin on a decent pace rally ball low over the net it is landing in the service box.

Not only that it is *almost* impossible to hit 3500+rpms at 100 mph barely over the net.