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Ground Strokes: help for advanced players
Watch the ball hit the strings
If you find
that you are hitting your ground strokes long or into the
net, then the first thing you want to check is if you are
watching the ball long enough.
Concentrate
on seeing the ball actually hitting the strings. This will
help you to hit the ball in front and force your eyes to
stay on the ball. The most common error is the head lifting
off a stroke a little early, to look at the target. Focusing
intently on the ball will help prevent that from happening.
When you
train, practice watching the ball onto the strings and this
will teach you to watch the ball long enough, especially
when under pressure. Remember - it is rare at full speed on
ground strokes to see the ball actually hit the strings, but
attempting to do so will help you to keep your head still,
which is a fundamental key to consistency.
If you are
hitting your shots too short, make sure that you hit with
more height. (see forehand video for water level) If you
still find that you do not have enough penetration, then
after every shot, try to move one step behind the ball after
contact, which will cause your body weight to be behind the
ball more and should improve your length and weight of shot.
If you find
that you are hitting the ball long, but hitting it well, try
to make sure that you are not just leaning back slightly, as
you hit the ball. The other reason for this, is that you are
not hitting with enough topspin.
Spin and angles
Adjust your
topspin, by just coming from 'under the water' (see
"Forehand"
video) and turning the wrist over a little faster. If you
are netting, make sure that you are not hitting the ball too
flat. Lift the ball by getting 'under the water' and play
with topspin. If you find you are netting but with topspin,
you are probably not going deep enough into the water, or
you are turning your wrist over a little too fast.
If you find
that you are not getting enough angle on your
cross-courts, think about hitting a little more on the
side of the ball. This will cause you to hit the ball a
little more in front and give you more angles.
It is quite
normal to suddenly hit the ball a little wide, but it is
always easier to hit the ball and then pull it back a
little. Rather than trying to edge it out slowly, just
exaggerate for one or two shots and you will soon find
your measurement.
If you are
floating your backhand slice and not getting any
penetration, make sure your wrist is firm enough. If you
have very little penetration, or finding it difficult to
hit the slice backhand, put more weight onto the front
leg. In other words, lean into the ball. If you find you
are losing control of the slice backhand, it is probably
because you are dropping the racket head, rather than
gliding it along the table or firmly across the back of
the ball (see
backhand video).
by David
Sammel
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