Trouble with Topspin?

Trouble with topspin? Here’s a simple and effective way to learn to hit it. PROBLEM You have difficulty applying topspin to the ball because you instinctively swing from high to low. It’s particularly common with young beginners who equate the motion with hitting a baseball. The resulting shots are slices or flat balls that you have little control over. For many players, it’s natural to swing from high to low. As a result they can’t apply topspin to their shots. SOLUTION To introduce the concept of swinging from low to high, I’ve had success using an ordinary household broom. Stand on the baseline with your racquet back, holding that position. Have someone face you while gripping a broom firmly by the handle and positioning the bristles at your point of contact. Now swing at the broom and brush up on the bristles with your strings. If the motion is too level or high-to-low, your strings will get stuck in the broom. But when you brush past the bristles without getting stuck, you’ve got the proper brushing motion needed to apply topspin to the ball. You’ll also improve your extension and follow through. It’s a great way to “clean up” a messy topspin stroke. Brushing up the bristles of a broom gives you the feeling of hitting with topspin. You also get the sensation of proper extension and a full follow-through.

Strategy 101

Whether you’re just beginning to play matches or you’re already a seasoned veteran, there’s one play that works no matter what your level is. What is this magic formula, you ask? Hit to your opponent’s weaker side. Sure, this is really basic advice but the truth is that many players who should know better ignore it. That’s too bad because directing ball after ball to your opponent’s inferior wing is often the surest way to win. Try this. Identify early on which of your opponent’s ground strokes—his forehand or backhand—produces the most errors or, if you come to the net, gives you the ball you can volley successfully. Then pound that side ruthlessly. Don't change because you think they will catch on. Don't worry they will improve their weakness because you're hitting there so much. Don't worry that they know you're going to hit there. Just hammer that side without mercy. This tip was submitted by dross80, a regular reader of Joe Pambianco's and Kellie Walters' blogs.

Learning from Novak Djokovic

The Serb has beefed up his game. Here are two ways to help you do the same. 1. Take your chances. Novak Djokovic has a lot of the ingredients that make some players superstars. He’s athletic; he can play offensively; he knows how to take the ball early; he’s not afraid to end points at the net; he’s a good competitor; and he can hurt you with both his forehand and his backhand. In other words, he’s a pretty darn good tennis player. Along with Andy Murray and Richard Gas-quet, Djokovic is on his way to the upper echelon of the game. The thing I think Djokovic has done especially well in the last 12 to 18 months is hone his offensive mind-set. He’s gotten much better at recognizing and taking advantage of his opportunities to be aggressive. For Djokovic, that typically means blasting his big, fl at backhand down the line. He also uses his huge forehand to open up the court so he either can get to the net and finish the point with a volley or set up a short ball that he can put away with his next ground stroke. Seeing and seizing your chances to take charge are skills that you can use to improve your game as well. To learn when you should attack off the ground, try this drill: Start by rallying from the backcourt. Whenever you get at least one foot inside the baseline, you must hit an offensive shot—either go for a winner or hit a shot you can follow to net. You may miss a lot of balls at first, but you’ll soon start to be aware of your position on the court and learn to select the right shot at the right time to take advantage of your edge. Play one game to 11 points. 2. Neutralize with slice. Although Djokovic is a tall, aggressive player, he’s athletic and defends well. He’s particularly skilled at using a one-handed backhand slice—he also has a two-handed drive—as a neutralizing shot when he’s pulled wide. This means that when his opponent hits a tough shot, he counters it by fl oat-ing the ball back deep, forcing his opponent to hit one or two more shots. Many players with two-handed back-hands, especially at the club level, try to hit with both hands when they’re on the run. That’s difficult. At the rec level, having a solid defensive slice can pay big dividends. To improve this skill, even if you don’t have a one-handed backhand, try this exercise: Rally crosscourt, forehand to forehand. When one player gets a short ball, he has to hit it aggressively down the line to his opponent’s backhand. The defender has to try to use the deep slice to get back into the point with the goal of regaining the offensive as soon as possible. The person on the attack must wait for the slice reply before moving forward so he can work on his offense if the slice is short. (To do this drill in a lefty-righty pairing, the player hit-ting backhands has to attack down the line when he gets a short ball.) Play one game to 11.

The Forehand of Roger Federer

A full shoulder turn, good balance, and tremendous racquet-head speed make this a much-feared weapon. As the Wimbledon approaches near, let us take a look at the 3 time champion Roger Federer. On the list of all-time great forehands, Roger Federer’s should be near the top. It’s struck powerfully and has remarkable variety and adaptability. Of all the shots in his arsenal, it’s his forehand that he relies on most to win points. Whether he’s defending or attacking—as he’s doing in this sequence—Federer makes it all look effortless. 1. Federer is turning his shoulders as he’s moving to the ball. Notice how his left hand is on the racquet even though he’s well into his preparation. This forces him to turn his shoulders. Federer uses a semi-Western grip and he’s bringing his racquet back with the head cocked above the wrist. This will ensure a loop back-swing and good spin production. He’s moving diagonally forward, rather than straight to the side, so the ball doesn’t get away from him. 2. Federer brings his racquet back and his left hand comes off the throat but stays to his right side. That’s a big change from my day, when players such as Chris Evert had their non-dominant hand out front and pointing to the oncoming ball at this stage. Keeping your off hand on the same side as your racquet produces a fuller shoulder turn, which helps you get more racquet-head speed and a more powerful shot. 3. After taking a big stride to reach this point, Federer is now calculating the distance of his next step so the ball will be at the perfect point for contact. Although he’s preparing to hit a low ball, he’s taken his racquet back quite high. Federer’s left arm remains to the right side, still assisting in his shoulder turn. In this frame and the next one his rotation is so complete that you can see much of his back. 4. Federer is lowering his body with his legs (not bending at the waist) and starting to bring his racquet down. Notice how the racquet face is closed (the strings are facing down). This is due in part to his grip, but also because of the way he leads his backswing with his elbow, pronating his forearm. This type of take-back—another big change from the straight-back, straight-forward forehand of my day—allows you to produce tremendous racquet-head speed. 5. As he starts his forward swing, Federer begins to open his torso and bring his left arm around to the front of his body. The string bed is still facing the ground. The oncoming ball is low—you can tell because he’s looking down—but his head has barely moved throughout the sequence. Federer follows the ball by moving his eyes while keeping his head as still as possible. 6. Federer has opened up completely at this point and his body is facing his target. His racquet has come forward with tremendous speed and he’ll make contact at a point that’s even with his right foot. Notice how he keeps his left hand close to his body. Just as figure skaters pull their arms close to spin faster, Federer tucks in his left arm to help his upper body turn more quickly and to get more racquet-head speed. Here we also get a good look at his semi-Western grip. 7. Though he’s well past striking the ball, Federer’s eyes are still glued to the point of contact. This is one of the reasons Federer makes such consistent contact on his shots. His follow-through, which is to the side rather than extended out front, shows just how important rotation is in his forehand. In my era, ground strokes were more linear—straight back and straight forward. 8. The ball has been directed down the line and Federer is moving back toward the center of the court, probably with the intention of following this shot to the net if it isn’t an outright winner. He’s fi nished his forehand while maintaining his balance, which will allow him to make a smooth transition forward.

Learning to Hit Topspin

PROBLEM You’re a flat-ball hitter. This is a huge disadvantage when you’re trying angled shots, offensive lobs, or safe, high rally balls. You’ve heard the term “brush up the back of the ball” more than you can stand, and you finish your swing up high over your shoulder, but there’s still no topspin. SOLUTION While executing a low-to-high swing, try to hit the ball with the top edge of the racquet. This will be difficult to do at first, but the exaggeration will give you the feel of the vertical sweep up the back of the ball that you need for topspin. After that, try leading with the top edge of your racquet, but hit the ball on the strings. The resulting shot should have plenty of topspin. Watch the seams of the ball as it leaves your strings, paying attention to the spin and not just if it goes in. When pro players such as Rafael Nadal are on the defensive, they still hit with topspin. But since they’re late making contact, their racquets on their forehands will follow through behind their heads. I’m not encouraging a late contact point, but mimicking them is a great way to learn the vertical sweep necessary for topspin. Be careful not to hit your head when practicing this technique. If your shots don’t make it over the net, pick a higher target. Bonus: If you get this shot down, you’ll also have that topspin lob you’ve always wanted.

Five Things to Learn from Roger Federer

Federer Moving ForwardFive things you can learn from Roger Federer’s victory in the 2004 U.S. Open men’s final.

1. KICK IT OLD SCHOOL
I like to say that Roger Federer has brought the old-school game of tennis to the modern world. He plays with tremendous variety of shot and strategy, and it was all on display in his 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-0 rout of Lleyton Hewitt, a player whose tenacity usually gives his opponents fits. What Federer shows is that there is no substitute for being a well-rounded player and having options when you step on the court.

2. BE PATIENT
Because Hewitt plays a conservative, defensive style, it was up to Federer to decide when to go on the offensive. Hewitt couldn’t hurt him from the baseline, so Federer waited for a ball that would allow him to take control of the point. When you face a determined counterpuncher, try not to get overeager. The surest way to defeat such an opponent is to be patient and work each point until you have a clear opening.

3. HANG TOUGH
Even though Hewitt lost the first eight games, he still fought hard. If he had gotten a few lucky breaks he would have been back in the match. When you’re playing an opponent who is on fire, keep making him hit shots. If he continues to hit winners, then he’s too good that day. But many times you’ll weather the storm. Federer cooled off considerably in the second set, and Hewitt kept plugging away and nearly stole it.

4. PLAY BIG IN THE BREAKER
Federer realized the importance of the secondset tiebreaker. Winning it would give him a two-set lead and destroy the momentum Hewitt had gained by clawing his way back into the match. Federer elevated his game and reeled off the first four points of the breaker. Instead of trying to take the initiative, Hewitt played the points hoping Federer would make errors. You have to put a premium on every point in a tiebreaker. Play each one as if it’s a break point.

5. TAKE THE BALL EARLY
Federer’s ability to move from well behind the baseline to the middle of the court, from defense to offense, is unbelievable. Once he recognizes that a ball is going to be short, he moves up to take it early. That’s how he hit most of his winners against Hewitt. If you take the ball even a half-second earlier, that’s better than adding 10 m.p.h. to your shot because you’re being aggressive while still playing within your comfort zone.