JAK'S MONTHLY ESSAY SERIES: Achieving Your Personal Best

Exactly what is a heavy ball

By Jak Beardsworth

You’ve most likely heard that term – “heavy ball” – previously, “She hits a heavy ball.” But do you know exactly what constitutes one? Nonetheless, I’m betting that you’ve been on the receiving end of one many times. So, you have, at least, minimally experienced it.

First, consider that a tennis ball weighs only two (2 – 2.1) ounces, and is required to have a uniform bounce of between 53”-58” when dropped from 100” according to the ITF(International Tennis Federation) which sets these standards for all brands.

As we begin to pursue what this so-called “heavy ball” actually is, there are some pre-existing, helpful, classic descriptions of it. Don Budge - who was the first player, and still only one of two players (Rod Laver being the other, two times – ’62,’69), to win all four majors in the same calendar year (The grand Slam) 87 years ago back in 1938 was known for his ability to generate one. A Budge contemporary rival, George Lott, had a unique take on what it was like parrying the widely recognized prodigious Budge backhand passing shot: “It felt like volleying a flying piano.” That’s heavy!

Others have also coined phrases that similarly represent the characteristics of a heavy ball coming off an opponent’s racket colliding with yours, and exploding off the court as well. Tennis Channel commentator, Leif Shiras, describes it this way: “He/she had gas off the bounce.”

Another TC commentator, Brad Gilbert, often likes to say: “He/she put some stick on that one.”

The predictably articulate, always proper, and generally understated British announcers are known to go with: “Exceptional weight of shot.” Always attention getting to an American audience with an attraction to the accent.

It’s basically really all the same thing…getting a relatively light 2 oz. ball to feel far heavier when opponents are encountering it at contact.

It could be relatively flat strike and deep, or include some severe topspin (think Rafa who could land a ball just beyond the service line with his forehand, yet the ball then exploded off the bounce with that 50 revolutions of spin per second topspin propelling itself quickly to the baseline area – depth without depth if you will.

Yet, I’ve never read, or heard, a clear, concise explanation of what has specifically taken place to achieve this exceptionally heavy ball with that gas off the bounce, one that you’ve put some extra stick on, or one that you’ve replicated that somewhat British stuffy weight-of-shot description.

Ironically, I heard Jimmy Arias and his co-commentator, Mark Petchey, attempt an explanation on a TC Cincy 2025 telecast. They failed miserably. Talking mostly about heavy rackets and lead tape mainly, which of course are in the mix, but…

By the way, when it does occur – a perfect storm of technique, along with a fitting accompanying mind-set - it’s typically on serve, return of serve, or a forehand or backhand off the ground. Although I also heard Petchey share, from his previous tour playing days, a first- hand experience that Pete Sampras, besides the obvious huge serve and forehand weaponry, had it on his forehand volley as well.

Technically, in Clubland it’s actually, simply, mostly about ball on string duration – that elusive five-thousandths of a second maximum - and its resulting exceptional ball deformity on the strings (one of my lesson clients originally calls it “squishing”). It’s so fleeting we seldom see tour photographers, who are right on-court, unable to consistently capture the ball on string moment even with their very expensive hi-speed cameras.

But, it can be felt, and that extra “pop” can certainly also be heard. It’s seen in an opponent’s inability to deal with it effectively and comfortably – they’re startled and predictably late to contact, or were not able to, as is commonly stated, “catch-up with it”.

It generally takes an overall relaxation, especially a relatively low grip tension to max your stick’s swing weight, and an accompanying free flowing follow through – that’s hitting “through” the ball versus the all too often “at it.” Naturally you’ll have to track the ball really well, along with simultaneously having, an early on, clear picture in your mind (visualization or imagery) regarding exactly what your intentions are.

So, when you’ve got the right ball…relax and go BIG!

Copyright© 2007- 2025 by Jak Beardsworth Tennis. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

COMMENTS WELCOME: JB1tennis@comcast.net

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