Well I'm using the Blx Six one tour and I use a western grip with a windshield wiper follow through and I have a pretty good racquet head speed, I would consider myself a 5.0 and I want to know if using a heavy racquet with a pretty good racquet head speed create a heavy ball? Like sometimes I accelerate really fast and my ball is still in the court with alot of topspin so would that be a heavy ball? Sorry for my writing its 2am haha
Would a heavy racquet with good raquet head speed produce a heavy ball?
- Thread starter Dimitrov
- Start date
ProgressoR
Hall of Fame
at 5.0 I would imagine you hit heavy balls a lot, isnt it....?
HiroProtagonist
Professional
I think you should post a video of your 5.0 strokes so we can tell you if you hit a heavy ball:roll:
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
Ah yes, typical TT attitude. Someone posts a high NTRP rating of themselves and everyone gets their panties in a bunch instead of helping the guy.
Dimitrov, what do you consider a heavy ball? Everyones terminology is different. Mine is, a heavy ball that has speed but kicks like a mule after the bounce. Its not one of those high arch topspin shots either.
Also, a heavy ball is different depending on your level. To a club player you could have a heavy ball, to an Open player yours could be sitting up waiting to be punished. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it and just play. Its not worth losing sleep over.
Dimitrov, what do you consider a heavy ball? Everyones terminology is different. Mine is, a heavy ball that has speed but kicks like a mule after the bounce. Its not one of those high arch topspin shots either.
Also, a heavy ball is different depending on your level. To a club player you could have a heavy ball, to an Open player yours could be sitting up waiting to be punished. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it and just play. Its not worth losing sleep over.
I would consider a heavy ball to be not as fast as a flat shot but its hard to return, it would feel like your hitting a bowling ball back over the net.
rufusbgood
Semi-Pro
I know a bunch of guys who can hit serves hard and fast. Years ago though I played with a guy whose serve flattened out like a pancake when it hit the court. I didn't know a tennis ball was even capable of this. To me, that was a heavy ball.
thug the bunny
Professional
I would think a 5.0 could tell us what a heavy ball is...
First, yes I know that a moving ball can only be characterized by two quantities - the angular momentum that quantifies the spin, and the velocity vector quantifying the acceleration of the ball. That being said, any major league catcher will tell you that not all 94 mph pitchers feel the same - some just hurl a 'heavier' ball. What this mystical quantity is, I am not sure. I think it has something to do with heavy balls not deccelerating as much (given the same initial velocity as a 'lighter' ball)...
First, yes I know that a moving ball can only be characterized by two quantities - the angular momentum that quantifies the spin, and the velocity vector quantifying the acceleration of the ball. That being said, any major league catcher will tell you that not all 94 mph pitchers feel the same - some just hurl a 'heavier' ball. What this mystical quantity is, I am not sure. I think it has something to do with heavy balls not deccelerating as much (given the same initial velocity as a 'lighter' ball)...
salsainglesa
Semi-Pro
The heavy racquet has more mass, its more difficult to move, but on the other hand is more difficult to stop moving.
All you need is to change your timing slightly, start swinging a little bit earlier so that the maximum velocity of the racquet head coincides with the contact of the ball...
All you need is to change your timing slightly, start swinging a little bit earlier so that the maximum velocity of the racquet head coincides with the contact of the ball...
Fuji
Legend
The way I think about it is..
What's harder to return, a poofy light top spin shot, or a hard fast shot, that explodes off the court?
A heavy shot for me is one that when my opponent hits, it causes them to put extra effort into the shot, just to return it.
My serves are neigh impossible to tee off on, at my level because when they hit the ground, they have so much pace on them most people shank or just barely hit it past my service line. I've had people say my serve is heavy, and it's just my natural game. It's just something that some people have and some don't!
Some guys I play against "think" they have a heavy shot because of a lot of top spin, but really they are just sitters!
-Fuji
What's harder to return, a poofy light top spin shot, or a hard fast shot, that explodes off the court?
A heavy shot for me is one that when my opponent hits, it causes them to put extra effort into the shot, just to return it.
My serves are neigh impossible to tee off on, at my level because when they hit the ground, they have so much pace on them most people shank or just barely hit it past my service line. I've had people say my serve is heavy, and it's just my natural game. It's just something that some people have and some don't!
Some guys I play against "think" they have a heavy shot because of a lot of top spin, but really they are just sitters!
-Fuji
dominikk1985
Legend
TonLars is easily a 6.0 though. he he beaten 500ish ATP players.
Concering the question: yes usually a heavy racket with good RHS produces a heavy ball. however a clean contact is also very important. An ideal sweetspot hit produces a lot more power than a less clean hit. have you ever hit a very clean ball without any effort and still hit it hard?
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
More than likely yes, but to me the rating doesn't mean anything and the Threadstarter didn't even need to mention it as it just causes a sh*tstorm.
All that needs to be asked is define a heavy ball, and what needs to be done to hit one. I answered that, regardless of his NTRP rating. However, if you really wanna try and hit a heavy ball, play with a Tretorn haha or on a red clay court after some rain. Thats a heavy ball
T.Balla's got it down right.
WHAT IS A HEAVY BALL?
To a 5.5, you hardly hit any heavy balls.
To a 5.0, half you shots are heavy.
To a 4.5, most of your shots are heavy.
To a 4.0, almost all your shots are heavy.
But what level "heavy ball" are you talking about?
Mass and velocity is great to have, but more important is placement and the thinking ability to place it where the opponent, whatever level, doesn't like it.
McEnroe had no racketspeed, but could place it where 7.0's found it uncomfortable to return.
WHAT IS A HEAVY BALL?
To a 5.5, you hardly hit any heavy balls.
To a 5.0, half you shots are heavy.
To a 4.5, most of your shots are heavy.
To a 4.0, almost all your shots are heavy.
But what level "heavy ball" are you talking about?
Mass and velocity is great to have, but more important is placement and the thinking ability to place it where the opponent, whatever level, doesn't like it.
McEnroe had no racketspeed, but could place it where 7.0's found it uncomfortable to return.
ProgressoR
Hall of Fame
a poofy shot is not heavy, i have faced some heavy ground strokes and they are tough to deal with
Are you trying to hit THROUGH a player, by hitting so he can sustain the rally until you hit harder than him?
Makes no sense to play like that, hitting THROUGH a player. Why not hit beyond his reach, or at least to his reach limit, where he fetches for you, and you hit the next ball to the open court?
Yes, a heavy racket, coupled with a fast replicable swing, into the OPEN court, hits the heavy ball. If your light racket hits a fast ball to the OPEN court, it's also a heavy ball.
Makes no sense to play like that, hitting THROUGH a player. Why not hit beyond his reach, or at least to his reach limit, where he fetches for you, and you hit the next ball to the open court?
Yes, a heavy racket, coupled with a fast replicable swing, into the OPEN court, hits the heavy ball. If your light racket hits a fast ball to the OPEN court, it's also a heavy ball.
thug the bunny
Professional
Whad'ya, live under a rock?
FedExpress 333
Professional
LOL good one!
Fuji
Legend
Exactly my point! A light little spinny ball that barely reaches the service line is not a heavy ball.
-Fuji
