Contact points for various serves
Serving
Phillip Simmons Asked 12 years ago
Would you discuss and demonstrate the contact points for hitting forehand and backhand serves, including topspin, sidespin, backspin. I am finding that where you contact the ball has a big impact on the effectiveness of the serve.
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi Phillip,
Do you mean where to contact the ball on the bat or where you contact it in relation to your body?
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Thank you for your prompt response. I meant the contact point on the bat. However, it would also be great to know for sure the contact point in relation to one's body.
Thanks for all the lessons and techniques.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Try to contact the ball on the fastest moving point of the bat. This is the part of the bat that is usually furthest away from your hand. The tip at the opposite end to the handle. For the Pendulum especially the backspin serve you can hit it right at the end of the racket. I find the front edge is also good because the ball stays on the rubber a little longer. So if you are looking at your bat face with the handle being at 12 the ideal spot is at around 7. For sidespin you can hit it more towards 9 and for topspin you can hit it even up near 11 as long as that part of the bat is moving up when you contact the ball. For more spin you can get it down near 7 but for deception you can hit it up near 11.
In relation to your body hit in in front of your body, close to your right hip for the Pendulum serve. For the backhand serve close to your left hip. All the contact points should be close to your body rather than too far away. You get better control of the ball closer to you.
Lukasz Drazdzewski Posted 12 years ago
Alois, I guess you mean 7 o'clock for lots of spin on pendulum for a left hander? I think this would be 5 o'clock for a right hander? Or am I mistaken?