Technique of Topspin Forehands & Backhands
When you hit a groundstroke you have to control the ball simultaneously over three different directions.
You have to hit the ball FORWARD from your side of the court to your opponents.
You must hit the ball UP over the net.
You must make the ball come DOWN onto the court before it passes your opponents’ court.
It’s that simple! Every forehand and every backhand from history and into the future must do the above. To coach yourself and develop consistent groundstrokes you must understand that simple breakdown.
NOW: How to do it! To correspond to the three directions, we break the topspin technique into corresponding three components.
To hit the ball FORWARD, you start the racquet behind you and swing it forward. The forward motion of the swing is the part of the swing that is responsible for the forward motion of the ball.
To hit the ball UP, your racquet must come from below the point of contact and UP to the ball and continue up and around the head. If the ball goes into the net you didn’t come from low enough. (Also Influencing this is whether the ball is falling or rising at the point of contact).
To make the ball come DOWN onto the court you must put TOPSPIN on the ball. Topspin will ensure you have control over that movement. Anything that spins will curve in the direction of the spin. Topspin will cause the ball to curve down to the court. This fact carries the advantage of causing the ball to bounce higher, causing discomfort for your opponent.
How to use the above to coach yourself.
To correspond with the three movements of the ball, there are only three mistakes that you can make with regard to the groundstroke technique. You can –
Hit the ball into the net. You are now armed with the information to correct that problem. (See point 2 above).
Hit the ball out past the baseline. Once again by going back to the basics you can identify the remedy to that. (See point 3 above).
Hit the ball too short. While the ball may still be in play, there is a problem here. The correction is found in point 1 above.
You can break the above into the three words Forward, Up and Down. These three words cover everything in the topspin groundstrokes. These are the very basics of the technique, and everything else that a player does, is their style. A coach must encourage elements of style that enhance the players ability to execute these three elements and discourage the opposite.
For example, A high backswing will inhibit the players ability to come from below the ball and so it should be avoided. A backswing that is lower will enhance the ability to get lower than the contact point and should be encouraged. This is the basis for the commonly taught loop backswing.
Racquet Speed and Racquet Control – The Relationship
One of the very important factors that must be considered when we discuss the swing path is the racquet angle at the point of contact is a prime consideration for developing players from beginner to intermediate.
As a player improves their groundstrokes two things happen to their technique.
1. Their racquet speed goes up
2. Their racquet control goes up.
A beginner (by virtue of the skill level) swings slowly and their racquet face meets the ball in an appropriate open position* (* an open racquet is upward facing on contact and a closed racquet is slightly downward facing on contact). This approach is suitable as their judgement, timing & movement still require improvement. As this player improves and they look to hit the ball harder they learn to have the racquet closed on contact by changing their grip to a more eastern or semi-western grip. This grip change represents racquet control during modern higher racquet speed shots. When the racquet strings meet the ball in this more closed postion it has dominence or control over the ball.
A simple corellation exists – An open racquet face works with a slow moving racquet as favoured by beginner players. A closed racquet face works only with a fast moving racquet as favoured by a more advanced player.
Racquet speed through the contact point will prove itself in the extended follow through. The finish point of the modern topspin swing comes to a natural end around the back of the head. This is proof of the racquet speed. A finish point less than this proves a lack of racquet speed.
To own the skill of hitting topspin means that you own the skill to hit with a lot of topspin, AND the skill to hit flat with little topspin, AND everything in between.
When executing a Topspin groundstroke, the energy a player provides gets divided into two different places. Some (most) of the energy moves the ball through the air and some of the energy spins the ball. This is the reason that the modern game demands and permits fast racquet speed.
Racquet speed through the contact point will have a momentum that carries itself through to the extended finish. This is a ‘swing’.
It is the most important action during the groundstroke. It holds this honor because it is the swing of the racquet that protects you from muscular injury.
Every racquet will vibrate when it impacts with the ball, (some more than others). This vibration will flow up the arm holding the racquet. If the muscles in that arm are tensed then the vibration will jar the ligaments and tendons. If however the muscles are more relaxed and the racquet has been allowed to build a smooth acceleration to the point that it has its own momentum then those vibrations will have little effect on the arm.
When you give a racquet to a small child, they don’t have the strength to “grip it and rip it” so they instinctively use momentum to get the racquet moving for the shot. It is wonderful to see this because you know that the child will bring that skill into other sports such as Baseball, Golf, and most racquet sports. Adults (especially men) must guard against tensing the arm for the shot. Let it flow and you will feel the wonderful feeling of hitting a fast shot with seeming effortless grace.
When focusing on the topspin technique for forehands and backhands, it’s essential to break down the motion into three components to ensure effective ball control: They are
Forward, Up, Down
Hit the Ball Forward:
Start the racquet behind you and swing it forward. The forward motion of the swing is responsible for the ball’s forward trajectory towards your opponent’s side of the court.
Hit the Ball Up:
The racquet must come from below the point of contact and move upward to strike the ball. This upward motion, combined with the swingspeed, ensures the ball clears the net. Adjustments may be needed based on whether the ball is falling or rising at the point of contact.
Make the Ball Come Down with Topspin:
Applying topspin to the ball is crucial for control. Topspin causes the ball to curve down to the court, resulting in a higher bounce that can be challenging for opponents. The topspin technique involves the ‘sliding’* of the strings over the ball during contact. (* “Sliding’ is a concept more than a reality)
Coaching Yourself: To troubleshoot your groundstroke technique, consider the three possible mistakes:
Hitting the Ball into the Net:
Focus on starting your racquet low, coming up from below the point of contact, and continuing up and around the head.
Hitting the Ball Out Past the Baseline:
Work on incorporating topspin into your shots to ensure the ball curves down onto the court.
Hitting the Ball Too Short:
Adjust your swing to ensure the racquet starts behind you and moves forward. Emphasize the forward motion.
During on-court play, remember the three words: Forward, Up, and Down, to guide your technique.
Racquet Speed and Racquet Control – The Relationship (continued)
Understanding the relationship between racquet speed and control is vital for player development:
Racquet Speed and Control Improvement:
As players progress, their racquet speed and control generally increase. Beginners start with a slower swing and an open racquet face. Advanced players, aiming for more power, close the racquet face through grip adjustments.
Correlation:
An open racquet face aligns with a slow-moving racquet (favorable for beginners), while a closed racquet face pairs with a fast-moving racquet (preferred by advanced players).
Racquet Speed and Follow-Through:
Racquet speed is evident in the extended follow-through, with the finish point around the back of the head indicating sufficient speed.
Skill Mastery:
Proficiency in hitting topspin involves mastering the ability to generate a variety of spins, from a lot of topspin to flat shots.
Racquet Speed and Momentum:
During a topspin groundstroke, energy is divided between moving the ball through the air and spinning it. The modern game encourages fast racquet speed to accommodate these demands.
Importance of the Swing:
The swing of the racquet is crucial during the groundstroke, not only for shot execution but also for protecting against muscular injury. A smooth acceleration and proper follow-through help absorb vibrations and reduce strain on the arm.
Guard Against Tension:
Tensing the arm during the shot can lead to discomfort. Allowing the racquet to build smooth acceleration gathering its own momentum helps alleviate this tension.
Coach Note: The quality of the grip wrap on a racquet is related to this point. As the grip depreciates the player will need to very gradually increase the pressure they apply to holding the racket. This will affect the tension in the arm and can lead to arm injury if the grip becomes too worn out. Replace them regularly.
Understanding these principles enhances your ability to execute topspin forehands and backhands effectively, ensuring control, accuracy, and a diverse range of shot options.
NOW: How to do it! (Remember, this describes the very basics, so excuse the simplicity).
Based on the 3 directions, we break the shot’s technique into a corresponding three components.
To hit the ball FORWARD, you start the racquet behind you and swing it forward to the front of you. The forward motion of the swing is the part of the swing that is responsible for the forward motion of the ball. If your shots are landing short, (you require more depth), then emphasize this part of the swing.
To hit the ball UP, your racquet must come from below the oncoming ball and will meet the ball while swinging UP to a finish high. If the ball goes into the net you didn’t have enough of this component.
To make the ball come DOWN onto the court you must put some TOPSPIN on the ball. Obviously gravity will make the ball come down, however topspin will ensure YOU have control over that movement. As the level of play goes up, so also does the speed of the ball, and knowledge and skills with topspin become more necessary.
To correspond with the above, there are only three mistakes that you can make with regard to the groundstroke technique. You can –
Hit the ball into the net. You are now armed with the information to correct that problem. (See point 2 above).
Hit the ball out past the baseline. Once again by going back to the basics you can identify the remedy to that. (See point 3 above).
Hit the ball too short. While the ball may still be in play, there is a problem here. The correction is found in point 1 above.
The above lesson outlines the very basics of the topspin groundstroke technique. Everything that you do over and above these basics is your style. You should try and develop a simple and compact style as you progress your tennis. If you have an overly complex style it will break down when you are tired or under pressure. It is also very hard to maintain if you are a seasonal player.
A Note for Junior Competitors
Most frequently, Junior (U14, U16) Boys are most vulnerable to over working their shots and should understand the above basics and learn early to simplfy technique. Watch the style of the players in the semi-finals and finals, very often you will find the players with simple reliable technique. Simple technique saves you from injury.
Caveat, “Beware of the player with ugly technique, who makes it work” Some players are in sync with an exaggerated style that just works!
Racquet Position at contact