TennisOne Lessons

Ball Control – Win with Spin

Wayne Elderton

As I've said before, no matter your level, success in tennis really comes down to one simple thing: “Making the little round yellow fuzzy thing do what you want it to.” Manipulating the ball is the essence of the game.

In the earlier articles we learned there are only five ways to manipulate a tennis ball. These are the five “Ball Controls” of: Height, Distance, Direction, Speed and Spin. In this installment, we will look at the Ball Control principle of Spin.

Everyone remembers the first time they encountered an opponent who could spin the ball. It seemed to magically do indescribable things. The laws of physics and gravity apparently didn’t apply as the ball curved, jumped, and stopped everywhere your racquet wasn’t.

The truth is, spin isn’t magic, it is actually all about physics. Spin refers to the rotation of the ball. The direction of rotation determines the type of spin. There are four types of ball rotation we refer to in tennis.

• Topspin: The ball rotates forward, away from the hitter
• Underspin: The ball rotates backward, toward the hitter (Sometimes called ‘backspin’ or ‘slice’ on groundstrokes)
• Sidespin: The ball rotates sideways (like a globe). Sometimes referred to as ‘slice’ on serves.
• Flat: Very little ball rotation

When looking at spin, there are three important ‘phases’ that occur on any spin shot:

• The PAS Principles at the impact (how the racquet ‘addresses’ the ball)
• The flight characteristics (how the spin makes the shot fly through the air)
• The bounce characteristics (how the spin effects the bounce of the ball).

We learned in the last few articles that all the Ball Controls are a result of the PAS principles. (Path, Angle, and Speed of racquet through the impact point). Let’s look at how the PAS Principles affect spin.

P.A.S. Principles At Impact

Each spin is a specific ‘recipe’ of P.A.S. The combination of the path of the racquet and the vertical angle of the strings are the main determining factors for spin. When the path and the angle match (e.g. ‘open’ racquet and upward path or, vertical racquet and level path) the ball is ‘flat’. In reality, it is rare to hit a ball that has no spin. ‘Flat’ is just a range of spin where there is not enough ball rotation to significantly alter the trajectory or bounce characteristics.

When the path and angle don’t match, spin is the result. For topspin, the racquet is vertical (within a few degrees), the path is low to high through the impact. For underspin (often called ‘slice’ on groundstrokes and volleys), the racquet angle is ‘open’ and the path is level or, high to low.

Sidespin

For sidespin (often called ‘slice’ on a serve), the racquet brushes the side of the ball.

Adding racquet speed makes the path dominate the ball more than the angle. For example, if a ball hit a stationary open racquet, the ball would ‘reflect’ upward (figure #1). If the racquet path were high to low and faster, the ball would go in between the angle of the open racquet and the high to low path (figure #2). Adding more speed would make the path dominate the ball even more and send it lower yet.

Enough of the physics, the real question for tennis players is, “SO WHAT?”

In a Game-based approach (GBA), spin has a direct relationship to tactics. Spin allows a player to control the trajectory and bounce of the ball in ways not possible by just hitting flat. Every top player has mastered spin. Whether for offence or defense, spin is a critical tool for advanced tennis play.

Flight Characteristics

The real advantage of spin is controlling the way the ball flies through the air (trajectory).

The diagram below shows the flight characteristics on a ball hit at waist level.

Topspin

Topspin makes the ball fly in an exaggerated arc. This is a great thing considering the task of every tennis player is to hit the ball up and over and net but have the ball drop into the court.

Mastering topspin is the key thing 2.5-3.5 players must do to move to higher levels. Being able to make the ball arc allows a number of advanced shots:

Medium Arcs:

• On groundstrokes, players can hit with greater consistency and add more pace without the ball flying out.

High Arcs:

• On groundstrokes, sending the ball loopy and high pushes an opponent back and encourages them impact at shoulder height or above.
• Topspin lobs arc the ball high over the opponent’s head, but the ball drops fast and bounces towards the back fence, making it difficult for an opponent to chase it down.

Short Distance “Dips”:

• Making the ball drop quickly after it crosses the net means the ball can be hit at a short angle (where there is less court to hit into).
• Arcing the ball at the feet of an opponent at net makes them hit upwards. This means the ball will be weaker and hopefully, easier to get.

Swing Volleys:

• Taking the ball out of the air requires the ball have some arc to control the speed. Players can drive the ball to the open court with this shot.

Topspin also has some limitations that players should be aware of:

Timing: Generating topspin requires better timing since the racquet needs to ‘brush’ across the ball. Typically, when a player uses topspin, they have a fast racquet speed. This means the racquet would be in the hitting zone for a very short period since the racquet head is moving fast in an upward direction. Using topspin when receiving fast balls may result in more off center hits.

Receiving low balls: Topspin shots use a low-to-high motion that starts below the impact point. It is difficult to start the racquet head below the impact point on low balls.

Receiving high balls: If the impact point is very high, it is difficult to brush upwards across the back of the ball with a low-to-high motion. This is especially true for a one‑handed backhand.

Speed: Topspin decreases the forward speed of the ball since much of the racquet speed is used to create rotation.

Underspin

Underspin gives advantages as well. Just like topspin, controlling the trajectory is the big advantage. Generally, a ball hit with underspin will fly more level. It will also drop quicker at the end of it’s flight. Underspin shots are often combined with some sidespin.

As many advantages as underspin has for sending the ball, it also provides advantages for receiving the ball. Underspin is the shot of choice for many top players when responding to difficult attacks by opponents. The reason, an underspin shot can be performed from a number of impact points. For example, if a ball is ‘jamming’ you on your backhand, it is still possible to dig it out of your bellybutton with a slice. Contrast this to attempting a topspin shot off the same ball. Topspin shots require a very specific relationship between you and the impact point of the ball. Underspin impacts are much more adaptable.

Underspin allows a player to hit these advanced shots (and more):

Rally slice:

• The ball can be sent deep (which pushes the opponent back but, it has less pace when it hits the court so the opponent must work harder to generate their own pace. If they don’t you get a weak ball).

Short bouncing slice:

• Underspin can make the ball land shorter but bounce lower, making the opponent reach forward and send it upward.

Chip:

• A ball that comes to you with a lot of pace can be controlled and sent back with accuracy and a change of pace.

Drop Shot:

• The ball can be made to land very short causing the opponent to come forward a big distance.

Low Volleys:

• With underspin shots, the racquet is angled upward (lifting a low ball over the net), by leveling off the path, the ball can be sent to penetrate the court or, at an angle.

Like topspin, underspin also has some limitations that players should be aware of:

Speed: It is difficult to send an underspin shot with a high pace since the ball tends to ‘float’.

High bounce: If the underspin shot has a steeper approach angle to the court, it tends to ‘sit-up’ on certain courts, making it easier for an opponent to return.

Sidespin

Although the word, “sidespin” typically conjures up images of the older, “slice & dice” player that spins you off the court, it is used by top players. Sidespin allows advanced shots to be performed where curving the ball has some distinct advantages.

Sidespin allows a player to hit these shots:

Slice Serve:

• The curve of the ball can give more of a ‘safety margin’ when clearing the net.
• The curve can send the opponent out of the court wider than a flat serve.
• The curve of the ball can make the shot tougher to time (e.g. curving the ball into the opponent’s body).

Low Volleys:

• When receiving a low ball, it is difficult to hit with pure underspin. Accepting some sidespin on the ball can help control it and curve it away from the opponent.

Sidespin also has some limitations that players should be aware of:

Speed: Producing sidespin slows the forward speed of the ball. This can make it easier for opponents, especially if they know which way the ball will curve.

Timing: Since the racquet must brush across the ball, it is more difficult to time the shot and center the ball on the strings.

Bounce Characteristics

Each spin also creates a unique bounce. These can be used to make an opponent’s job tougher as well.

The main thing to remember is, the spin has less effect on the height of the bounce than the trajectory of the ball. In other words, a ball sent at a low trajectory with topspin will not bounce as high as any other spin that has a bigger arc.

Aside from the main ‘bounce factor’ of the incoming ball trajectory, in general, a topspin ball will continue to gain speed after the bounce. A flat shot will bounce approximately the same angle it came towards the court and maintain speed. An underspin shot will lose speed after it bounces. As a general rule, players should focus more on the trajectory advantages of spin. The bounce tends just to be an, added-value.

Spin Drills

Spinner

One player is the ‘spinner’ who topspins the ball to a partner at the opposite baseline (a ball machine can be used for this drill however, getting practice on receiving spin is just as useful as practicing sending it). The spinner calls out which arc they intend to hit and hits the ball with various arcs (“high”, “medium”, “low”). The partner must rally the ball back with little or no spin so the spinner gets practice. Rally for two minutes. The spinner gets one point if they do three high, three medium, and three low arcs within the two minutes. After two minutes, switch roles.

The same game can be played with underspin. The three shots are, “deep slice”, “short/low slice”, and “drop shot.”

Serve Slice

The challenge when serving with slice is controlling the direction. Place the three standard “ABC” target areas in the service box (Angle wide, Body, Center). The target areas should be big enough to be challenging for your level, but not too small to have no success.

Practice hitting the targets with spin. For right-handers, to measure the spin, the ball must cross the baseline much further to the left than the target in the service box. Server gets one point for every successful spin serve.

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Wayne Elderton's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.

Wayne Elderton

Wayne is the Head Course Conductor for Tennis Canada Coaching Certification in British Columbia. He is a certified Canadian national level 4 coach and a PTR Professional. For two consecutive years he was runner-up for Canadian national development coach-of-the-year out of nominated coaches from every sport. Wayne has also been selected as Tennis BC High Performance Coach-of-the-year.

Wayne is currently Tennis Director at the Grant Connell Tennis Center in North Vancouver. He has written coaching articles and materials for Tennis Canada, the PTR, Tennis Australia , and the ITF. He is a national expert on the Game-based Approach.

For more information on the Game-based approach, you can visit Wayne Elderton's website at www.acecoach.com