JAK'S MONTHLY ESSAY SERIES: Achieving Your Personal Best

SPINNING THE BALL

By Jak Beardsworth

Although hitting relatively flat groundstrokes from the back of the court – think Jessica Pegula, Andrey Rublev to name two top-tenners among many others –can be a less forgiving tactic, or somewhat less safe than those featuring a greater spin rate that features topspin in particular, but includes underspin as well in certain situations. Regarding the latter, thankfully, (Bill Tilden, long ago world #1, and author of the seminal Match Play and the Spin of the Ball, would be pleased), it is now, not completely pooh-poohed on the pro tour telecasts by certain over rated TV analysts, as it curiously once was a decade ago.

In Clubland, where mortals roam, hitting exclusively flat is still generally regarded as a somewhat less desirable ball striking technique by many, not evolved and limiting. And there’s some truth in that.

Years ago, I had some fun asking young pros why legendary Jimmy Connors hit so flat in his prime. Typically they were truly without answers. So, I answered for them, “Because he could,” just like Pegula and Rublev etcetera today, only possibly better, since, amazingly, it was with that crazy steel T-2000 tin can (BTW, he would only use those made of the original, superior French steel alloy – Rene Lacoste originally designed it. Wilson bought the worldwide rights to it from him. They then lessened its design, while simultaneously increasing its affordability for the mass market, by using an inferior steel alloy.)

Hitting flat groundies is still, as evidenced by some aforementioned, heavy hitting, sharpshooting, professional players of today, a doable tactic, but, admittedly, with less margin over the net for safety - particularly absent sufficient topspin on the forehand - with a resulting lower bounce potentially right into an opposing player’s wheelhouse that could spell trouble against good opponents. Although the one-handed slice/chip/knife backhand – now very effectively utilized by the vast majority of pros with predominantly two-handed backhands –features a margin to the net that can be a little less forgiving since it typically crosses over the net at a lesser margin than a topspin shot due to its underspin effect.

Topspin helps the ball drop into the court – along with a desirable bounce that, with enough revolutions per second (revolutions per second is far more applicable to the tennis game than the typically quoted revolutions per minute) can jump “up” and out of an opponent’s favored strike zone – despite a considerable rainbow trajectory relatively high over the net. It’s gravity assist if you will. Underspin, differently, keeps the ball in the air longer for still achieving effective depth, but without nearly as much margin over the net.

The physics of it is about the degree of air pressure applied to the ball as it rotates through the air – on top of it (topspin) versus underneath (underspin/slice/chip) – causing those differing flight trajectories.

Note that earlier I used the word relatively regarding hitting a flat ball since all shots actually have some spin, even if slight. It’s almost impossible to produce a perfectly flat shot. That would be a ball traveling through the court completely spin-less…a baseball knuckleball on the tennis court if you will. Former MLB all-star knuckleball pitcher, Tim Wakefield , would be impressed if you could. The Dirt King, Rafael Nadal et al, would not aspire to that!

In golf, I believe that you can carry up to 15 clubs in one’s bag, with varying club face angles, and sizes, for different trajectory shots. We only have that one “club” in our game! Thus we have to be able to adjust grips to alter the racket face as needed, very much in concert with visualizing the accompanying, intended, shot shape or flight plan – the absolutely necessary mind-body connection along with technical expertise.

If you’re interested in adding more spin to, mainly, your groundies, but otherwise as well – particularly on second serves, you might need help from your coach identifying the “right” grip adjustments for you, any accompanying varying swing paths from your norm, and the accompanying visualization adjustments as well.

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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