Will a lighter racquet make it easier to hit high, one-handed backhands?

[GugaGuga]

I have a one-hander on the backhand side. So, not surprisingly, the high backhand is my nemesis. I was wondering if a lighter racquet will make those chin-high topspin balls easier to hit.

Also, what effect will a lighter racquet have on my slice backhand?

Informed opinions welcome.

Thanks

 

[jace112]

You'll be able to swing faster, which is a big advantage in this case.

About slice backhands, I'd say that it's harder to hit heavy slices with a lighter frame. My PS 85 is the best tool for slices (and for serves). I've never achieved good slice backhand with my Radical.

(I assumed the 2 frames have the same balance)

 

[PBODY99]

How fast is your swing speed ? The lower swingweight frame will allow you to meet the ball a little earlier for the same energy expenditure, but will not have as much pop as a heavier frame that meets the ball at the same speed. So, if you cannot "catch up" with the high one, yes it will help. Your slice will have the same trade off.

 

[BreakPoint]

I feel a heavier racquet is easier to hit all one-handed backhands with than a lighter racquet. This is because since you only have the strength and support of one hand with the 1HBH, you need the racquet to do more of the work. And a heavier racquet does more of the work for you (more momentum) than a lighter racquet does. Heavier racquets also give you more biting, more penetrating slices.

 

[sureshs]

Lighter racquet definitely helps you get to the high ball faster, either on the rise or later. I find it easier to get such balls back with a lighter racquet. But at higher levels, you need to have the strength to do the same with a heavier racquet and with the same speed, or else the ball will have nothing on it.

 

[Rickson]

A heavier racquet is better for one handers than a light racquet.

 

[bluescreen]

i agree. heavier racquets r gonna be better all around.

 

[NoBadMojo]

People should use the right swingweighted frame for their abilities including the high 1HBH. it's not a function of lighter or heavier, it is a function of the right swingweight for you

 

[jonolau]

Footwork and preparation is also important. If you find that you're encountering high balls to your backhand, and you're having problems returning it, it would seem to me that your opponent has found your weakness and is exploiting it.

Rather than look at the racquet first, I'd be inclined to look into working out a good opposing strategy.

And as NBMJ rightly pointed out, swingweight is a better indicator than static weight.

 

[HyperHorse]

Use the heaviest racquet that u can, without sacrificing manouverability...
oh and u might want to use a more extreme eastern grip for those high balls...
u never answered my question in another thread about sunglasses.... so what sunglasses do u have, GugaGuga?

 

[emo5]

maybe you should try and hit flats if when the ball is that high in the air.
I do it with an eastern grip so the person cant charge and volley.

 

[kabob]

Footwork and preparation is also important. If you find that you're encountering high balls to your backhand, and you're having problems returning it, it would seem to me that your opponent has found your weakness and is exploiting it.

Rather than look at the racquet first, I'd be inclined to look into working out a good opposing strategy.

And as NBMJ rightly pointed out, swingweight is a better indicator than static weight.

Best advice in this thread, BY FAR.

 

[jonolau]

I just realised that I did not fully answer your question.

On top of preparation, the best way to counter a high topspin ball to the backhand is a slice volley. A heavy and headlight racquet will provide you with stablity and better directional control.

 

[Rabbit]

People should use the right swingweighted frame for their abilities including the high 1HBH. it's not a function of lighter or heavier, it is a function of the right swingweight for you

To take this one step further, and Mojo feel free to jump back in, that weight should be as heavy as you can comfortably swing.

Think about hitting a ball with a bat. You can't hit squat with a plastic, hollow bat. However, if you hit the same ball with a heavier bat, you'll get more distance. Challenge with tennis rackets is that your swing is on different planes depending on the height of the ball at your point of contact.

 

[kreative]

People should use the right swingweighted frame for their abilities including the high 1HBH. it's not a function of lighter or heavier, it is a function of the right swingweight for you

Though this is true to some extent, 2 frames w/ similar swingweight may have different static weight. The change in weight distribution changes the feel of the stroke.

 

[NoBadMojo]

To take this one step further, and Mojo feel free to jump back in, that weight should be as heavy as you can comfortably swing.

Think about hitting a ball with a bat. You can't hit squat with a plastic, hollow bat. However, if you hit the same ball with a heavier bat, you'll get more distance. Challenge with tennis rackets is that your swing is on different planes depending on the height of the ball at your point of contact.

ya furry guy..that;s what i have been preaching around here....use the heaviest frame which you can swing as fast as you need to for as long as your sessions last when you are playing someone at least as good as you..that could be a 300 swingweight, or it could be a 320swingweight.

But just like baseball where it's now about batspeed, tennis has become more about racquetheadspeed these days i feel. The baseball pros being much stronger and steroidal than in days gone by, I believe are using lighter bats than before (correct me if i am wrong here). I dont know if you saw the Sampras Ginepri exhibition, but that one was pretty revealing as far as stroke production goes vis a vis modern technique vs old school technique. One one hand you had Ginepri swinging something relatively light very fast with more abrupt abbreviated strokes than Sampras who was swinging somethng much heavier with longer slower strokes...

People seem to notice swingweight and balance far more than static weight <during play>. Have you ever seen someone pick up a frame and just hold it (static) rather than swing it about (swingweight) ?

 

[GugaGuga]

Again, I appreciate the input, and I can't agree more about changing one's tactics to prevent being put into that situation over and over.

With that said, I guess I am struggling to settle into the proper equipment for myself. I have always believed in the idea that one should use the heaviest racquet that he can swing comfortably. My current racquet weighs about 12.8 ounces. (An nCode Tour 90 with a couple of grams added to the hoop). I do truly love the feel of it, and it is by far the most stable feeling racquet that I've ever hit with.

However, I don't want to be stubborn and refuse to try equipment that might be a little lighter, but benefit me more in the long run. I'm not a big guy--5'9'' and tipping the scales at 145lbs. soaking wet. I guess I'm Coria-sized or Clement-sized, if you will. I've noticed that those guys swing bats in the 12+ ounces range, so I'm definitely not out of my league using the equipment that I have. However, an awful lot of very large, strong pros use racquets that hover more around the 11 ounce range. Maybe I would be better off adapting to that weight.

I have been playing around with some lighter sticks, and I can't say that I really notice a lot more pop on my serve. They are definitely easier to get that backhand through. Then again, they are no where near as stable through groundstrokes and volleys. The heavy racquet counters the heavy ball well, but it is harder to get around in time sometimes.

What's a guy to do? Is it really just a matter of preference and comfort? Is there some well-informed opinion out there that could point me in the right direction? I'm planning on discussing this issue with my club pro as soon as I can squeeze into his booked up schedule. He had a former ATP ranking, so I would tend to trust his opinion.

Thanks again.