Returning a “bad" shot
Strokes
Peter Chang Asked 10 years ago
I'm a beginner that's trying to get into the game and just joined a club. I usually play with the other beginners and occasionally with intermediate players and I've noticed a trend, I miss way more often trying to do a full forehand loop against beginners than intermediate players. Even though I still lose a lot more against intermediate players it feels like when I try to loop against them, because the ball has spin to begin with, my shots tends to stay in a lot more. Against beginners when I practice my full loop motion I miss a ton more because it feels like their ball has nothing on it and my ball just flies into space.
It's gotten to the point where unless the player puts a lot of pace or spin on the ball I'm afraid to do a full forehand loop so I do an abbreviated flick from far back which is almost never the optimal choice. What exactly is so different between these 'bad' shots that I keep missing vs the 'good' shots that I can loop and how do I start practicing the full forehand loop form against players my own level without sending the ball behind the line?
Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago
Hi Peter,
It may be that the ball is coming through to your bat better from the better shots.
Against the slower shots, try to get your bat moving more forward into the ball first rather than just the upward movement. This may help.
Let me know how it goes.
Recommended Video
Strawberry Flick
The strawberry flick is the opposite of the banana flick and involves utilising the wrist to get the ball spinning with topspin and sidespin. Used in conjunction with the banana flick it can be very deceptive. The banana flick is a more reliable stroke and that's why you see more top players using it over the strawberry flick.
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Peter Chang Posted 10 years ago
Thanks a lot. I tried hitting more through the ball and I found that when I switched to that rather than a full upward motion a few things that I wasn't aware I was doing wrong became apparent. One was my bat face was way too open and the other was I was letting the ball get behind me too much. Sounds kinda weird that a slower ball would get behind me more often but I guess because it was slower I also waited too long. The only thing is I feel like I'm doing more of a counterhit motion rather than a loop motion, so I still have lots to work on. Anyways, thanks again.
Sounds good. Now that you have the contact right you can start to develop the spin again. You have done the hard work.