Forehand Topspin Follow Through

Strokes

vito memoli
vito memoli Asked 13 years ago

Hi everybody,

I would like to have some advice about the forehand topspin. I think my preparation to the shot is quite good (right foot behind to form a side angle of 45 degree, bat behind the right knee) but i still have some trouble with the follow-up after hitting the ball. I know I have to swing the arm till , as you say, the  imaginary line between head and shoulder. If I am able to do it during shadow playing  when I actually  hit the ball (as friends told me) I instinctively stop the swinging too early with the result that the ball has little spin. Moreover it seems I tend to lean backward with back when I'm taking the shot. I've been trying for weeks to correct such mistakes but I can't find the way out.  Are there any exercises that can help me ?

Thank you very much

Vito

 


Alois Rosario
Member Badge Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Vito,

When you practice the topspin for a while, I want you to play them slowly to start with. At the end of each stroke I want you to actually follow through and touch your right eyebrow, very gently.  Don't swing back and get ready for the next ball until you have touched the eyebrow with your bat.  This will feel strange.  Be strong enough to do this for a good 5 minutes or so when you start your forehand topspin practice and you will soon find a difference.

Keeping the ball slow is a key.  Don't worry if the path up to your eyebrow is crooked or it even takes half a second when you finish your stroke to get the back up to the right position.  Eventually you will start to get the bat through on a straight path and smoothly through your stroke. 


Recommended Video

Backhand Topspin Off Backspin

This lesson provides you with some tips to deal with a backspin ball when playing the backhand topspin loop.

Watch Now

Thoughts on this question


Claus Hamacher

Claus Hamacher Posted 13 years ago

Good question  - I have exactly the same problem.

And  an interesting answer  - I'll give that a try.


Alois Rosario

Member Badge Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 13 years ago
It is something I have found works really well from beginner to more advanced player.


Vincent Munoz

Vincent Munoz Posted 13 years ago

Do some shadowing without the ball for 10minutes or more. You can also do shadowing with footwork. Forehand to the far right, forehand to the middle, backhand to the far left then big side step back to forehand on the far right of the table. Do this repeatedly every time you practice without a ball. This is very effective. Chinese kids do this for hours.

Cheers! Hope it helps. 


Ittipat Amonrungmetham

Ittipat Amonrungmetham Posted 13 years ago

Thank you for a very good tip!

What about the follow through of backhand topspin, Alois :)?


Mandy Sutter

Mandy Sutter Posted 13 years ago

These tips are ingenious - thanks, Alois, I'll try them. 

vito memoli

vito memoli Posted 13 years ago

Hi Alois,

I really appreciated your video. You're so good. This evening I will try the drill. Just hope my sparring partner will have the patience to feed me smooth balls. (:-) I'm sure he will ). 

I wish I could come to Australia to practice TT with you !! 

Bye 

    


Alexander Szymanski

Alexander Szymanski Posted 12 years ago

I like it! 


Jonathan Lau

Jonathan Lau Posted 12 years ago

Hi Coach,

I found this tip so good. What about the start position for topspin vs backspin or topspin vs block?... do you have ideas for this? so we can learn the movement, and teach to the body and mind to do the movements better.


Mark Baker

Mark Baker Posted 12 years ago

This video is troubling to me.  I have only been playing seriously for about a year and I tried to copy all the pingskills strokes, however I know that on some stokes I am not aware of my flaws.  My forehand topspin (actually I think I hit it flatter than most) against topspin or block has improved greatly over the past few months and I win a lot more points with it, however after seeing this video I checked my stroke and found that I start out low but finish in front of and about at the same elevation as my left shoulder.  This stroke feels very comfortable to me.  I guess I picked it up because I use to play a lot of tennis and it is the same stroke essentially that I used in tennis except in tennis I would continue my follow through around my neck.  I feel very uncomfortable trying to follow the video but I am looking at long term results and do not mind changing if it will make me a better player in the long run.  On my forehand against backspin my finish position is correct, I use a more vertical motion.  Please advise.


Dang Toi

Dang Toi Posted 12 years ago

This video is useful, my FH topspin is better than before. Thanks! 


TranHung LamVien

TranHung LamVien Posted 12 years ago

thank you so much! :)

 


Rajul Desai

Rajul Desai Posted 11 years ago

THANKS SIR,  IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.  I GOT MY TOP SPIN SHOTS LANDING PERFECT WITH YOUR  GIVEN ADVICE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW CAN WE HAVE SOME VIDEO SHOWING BACKHAND TOPSPIN FOLLOW THROUGH.  

RAJUL


shashank kumar

shashank kumar Posted 11 years ago

can you please tell me how to come forward when playing boll so away from the table?

 


Ajoy Kumar

Ajoy Kumar Posted 11 years ago

Alois

when doing this should I feel l am hitting the ball with the hand on the way to to the forehead or rubbing / carrying the ball on the bat for a bit?

thanks


Harsh anonymouse

Harsh anonymouse Posted 11 years ago

i think you should hit it from the middle of ur raquet.

as i always do like that i get a good topspin.

BTW ALOISE IS THE EXPERT!


j s

j s Posted 11 years ago

What about taller players ? Should they follow through lower ?


Ralph Goodman

Ralph Goodman Posted 11 years ago

I notice when Jeff illustrates the top spin finish position, his follow through ends on the left side of his face, while you state to try to finish on the right side. I imagine there will be some variance to this, so is it OK if you do like Jeff does or should I work at keeping my follow through as you show.


Sandor Istvan

Sandor Istvan Posted 10 years ago

Thank you for this video because this type of stroke not was in my arsenal.

Istvan


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