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Learning to Deal With the High Ball

Jordan Coons

The high ball can be very challenging if you are unsure how to handle it and many of my students struggle with this shot. Sure, the ideal situation would be to move back far enough to take the ball at waist level or to move forward and take the ball on the rise, but sometimes that just isn't practical, and other times you may want to take the ball at shoulder or head height to be able to hit the ball down into the court offensively. Either way here are two ideas that I often teach to my clients to be able to hit the high ball more effectively.

Before we get underway let me start by saying that both of these methods are addressing the forehand side. That's not to say these tips couldn't be used on the backhand side, but for understanding purposes I’m using the forehand side. Whether you are right or left handed doesn't make a difference in the application.


Click photo: Notice How Taylor Dent is using a forehand slice to handle a high ball off the serve. A lot of players on tour still use this type of return. I would, however, recommend not jumping on these shots for all except the most advanced players. The slice allows for a high tough ball to be handled much easier for a majority of players.

The Slice

The first method I teach to hit the shoulder to head high ball is to use the slice. The slice is great because it can be used in so many different ways. Slicing the high ball provides greater control and prevents a player from over-playing or underplaying the ball. What I mean by that is typically a player can get overly aggressive with a high ball and try to really crush it. This often results in balls flying into the back fence because they fail to make the proper adjustments.

On the flip side, many players tend to under hit the high ball, panicking and getting tight. They seem unsure as to how to play the ball. The fear that they might miss the shot often causes them to push the ball down into the net. Slicing the ball allows a player to stay calm and in control of the shot, hitting the ball deep into the court or being able to absorb power and drop a ball at the feet of an opponent attacking the net.

When slicing a forehand, remember that the swing pattern is high to low, so it is important that you set the racquet handle at least shoulder height as you hit through the ball. A continental grip here is important because it allows the racquet to be positioned with the racquet face open, thereby creating enough backspin on the ball to allow the ball to stay low after the bounce on the opponents side of the net.

Turning sideways allows the contact point to be positioned further back in the stance than the top spin contact point. If you find yourself popping the ball up it is probably due to your swing path — chopping down to much, or your contact point, too far out in front of the body.


Click photo: Notice Jurgen Melzer's grip change and the way the swing path stays the same as it would on a lower ball. It is key to try to make the high ball swing similar to your normal swing or you will have erratic results.


Click photo: It is easy to see Kim Clijster's grip change towards western prior to receiving her high ball. By changing the grip, it prevents the racquet face from opening up while the swing path is taking place above the shoulder.

Topspin

A more aggressive way to hit a shoulder or head high ball is to adjust the grip slightly to a more western grip and hit a topspin forehand. Moving the hand towards the western grip keeps the racquet face perpendicular to the net allowing for a normal swing on such a high ball. So, as the ball approaches and you establish it is going to bounce high, try rotating the grip slightly. It doesn't matter how far as long as it feels different then your usual grip. After this adjustment make note of how it effects the flight of the ball. Does it go into the net? Does it fly toward the back fence? If it's flying long, try moving the grip a bit more towards the western. If its hitting the net soften the grip a little (towards continental).

For this to work well, remember to swing like you would for a normal ground stroke. Most of the people trying this will find their first attempts work fairly well and they won’t have to make more than one adjustment, others will have to go weaker or stronger on the grip a few times to get the hang of it. Have fun with it and enjoy the time on the practice court.

Practice

Click photo: Watch as Avery West keeps his racquet set high to be able to slice the high ball. Notice were his handle is.

Click photo: Avery changes his grip towards the direction of a Western grip to keep the racquet face at the proper angle while attacking this high forehand.

 

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