Sidespin forehand help

Luca Morpurgo Asked 10 years ago

Hello Alois, this is Luca, a big fan of yours. 

Whenever I try to do a forehand loop/put sidespin on the ball, it doesn't work. Like said in one of your videos, I drop/hook my wrist. When I proceed to hitting the shot, I hit it, brush against the side of the ball, but all it does is put topspin on it and the hook just makes it go at a different angle. I know this because I tried using a spin tester ball, and I was not getting any side spin whatsoever, just an angled topspin shot. I have a fairly good paddle with sticky rubber, and I do not know why I can't get any sidespin on the ball. Please help and reply because I do not have a coach in real life that can help me. 

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Luca,

Often when we do these strokes we feel we are doing something different to what we actually are.  Try to get a video and film yourself playing the stroke and then watch it back.  You can even just use a phone camera for a few seconds and see what is looks like.  Then compare it to the lesson we have on the stroke and see if you can pick up an y differences.

You will probably find that at the point of contact you are changing the angle of your racket slightly to go straight over the top of the ball.