Tomaz, this is an insightful video. After a couple practice sessions, I'm starting to use the technique in matches. As you say, the ball lands in reliably; bounces deep, high and fast; and catches my opponents off-balance. I've been playing for many years and never knew how to do that before.
Been waiting this for a while and it's as I expected. The forehand at 20:27 and the backhand at 20:31 are my dream shot and I see the hardwork required just to be able to produce them. I can only imagine the fitness level of a pro player that can pull it out consistently in a grueling 3+ hours Grand Slam match. A couple questions that come to mind 1. What about the low balls? I think we can hit a heavy shot from low ball but only with harder leg work. 2. I also think that some spin frames and strings from well known manufacturers will also be some help in producing a heavy shot, but only if our technique has been sound.
1. I would not attempt heavy ball off a low ball. I am not saying you shouldn't attempt to hit a low ball with a lot of topspin if it's not too fast, but remember that a heavy ball requires topspin + speed + height. So the height is the problem when you want to hit a low ball and hit it "heavy" because that means you need to lift it high and that's very difficult - or much more difficult than to hit it at a normal height above the net. 2. Yes, good equipment helps a lot. Lighter rackets allow for faster acceleration and some strings like Luxilon and others are designed to grip the ball a lot and create a lof of topspin more easily. Of course, if one has good technique and timing like the pros, then swinging a heavier racket and accelerating it effortlessly creates even more racket head speed.
I have been anxiously waiting for this video and it was worth the wait. I feel like I’m armed now with this secret weapon!! Left to my own after watching “What is a heavy ball?” I was trying to apply it without picking and choosing the appropriate time. Now I have it all drills and picking the appropriate time. Awesome 👏 😎
Wonderful to hear! Now is time to get on court and put the drills to practice, and now only once, but for at least a month and give them time to work...
Hey Simon, actually I didn't think about it until now. I got so many questions on how to hit a heavy topspin ball but none until now on how to return it. Added to my notes for future videos! Short answer here: hold your ground - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D_5w-x6SyQc.html, mostly play open stance - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Auem1-8t3rE.html, and focus on intercepting the ball in front of you - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MO01CaN6lFc.html. Also, do not try to hit the ball back hard as you are neutralized, play back another heavy ball if you are skilled enough or at least a good neutralizing ball - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sKOrSuPTLMQ.html.
@@feeltennis Thank you Tomaz, the combination of points in your reply helps and answers my question. A small follow up question, on the holding your ground, the idea is to avoid backing up further to take the ball in a preferred contact zone (lower zone), correct?
@SimonDay-ps7ud A good heavy ball is also quite fast. If you attempt to move backwards you will not have time to stabilise and stop moving backwards as you are hitting the ball. You will have more time but you will be off balance. It turns out in the long term that it's better to have a bit less time but be on balance, very stable. Therefore we just hold our ground often.
Hi Tomas, when I tried to hit heavy topspin the ball often goes up high and becomes a moonball. My friend told me this is because I had too much upward force and it did not became topspin. What should I do to make a ball lower But with more topspin?
As I get older I notice topspin becomes more and more draining and taxing of energy. I'm now 69 and am sorry that I don't seem to hit with as much topspin as before as most of my shots or more or less flat. When I do hit with topspin the spin sort of slows my ball down so hitting flat gives me the most power albeit a lot more risky. Looking at players 80 years old and more it seems that this eventually turns to backspin as it requires so little energy with the open racquet face doing most of the work to getting the ball over the net. Also in this video I would think one could get more height on the ball if the contact point was higher (should level) instead of waist level or below. Was waiting or hoping for a final rally of heavy topspin vs., heavy topspin which I suppose would be the last stage of testing this technique. Otherwise clear explanation as usual with many useful drills.
For most recreational level tennis players higher contact point will result in them swinging too horizontally towards the ball and not being able to give the ball good spin or height. It is much more comfortable to get the contact point a bit below the waist so that you can naturally swing up and therefore give the ball lift and spin. The pros of course have no trouble hitting a heavy ball off a ball that has a higher contact point but my objective is to always teach what is attainable to the viewer and not "what the pros do" because their skill level is off the charts compared to a normal recreational tennis player.
It is always hard to close the point but your intention is wrong. Never try to close the point, just try to create pressure and the points will unfold: ru-vid.comkVMF-lCI1Cs
One of the keys of a heavy ball compared to just a "high ball" is that it's relatively fast. If hit well, it's too fast for opponent to have time to move back, stop, get good balance and then hit. If they do try to move back when they read a heavy ball then they will be hitting the ball WHILE moving backwards which is what we want to avoid as it's difficult to hit with good depth and ball control. So either opponent already has to stand quite far behind the baseline or they hit above the shoulder. In both cases we have achieved the main objective of the heavy ball - which is to neutralize the opponent.
Tomaz, Love this side by side videos! Helps show the differences. It actually shows how little the differences between the shots are and like you have said in previous videos, how important balance/loading/stability in lower body is so you effect these small differences. Thanks again.
A moonball is way slower and a way higher ball, very easy to play back. See in this video how Djokovic returns the serve with a moonball but most other shots from the baseline at pro level are heavy balls: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dwm01PSpfnE.html Does that answer your question?
My first... My favourite... Mine & many others Best... Tennis RU-vid tennis Guru... I never will but if I did say a grand slam winners speech... I'd Dedicated Top thanks to Tomasz...
What would you say is the power level of a typical heavy ball swing? What ratio of swinging a weight vs tool (using your concepts) would you say a typical heavy ball swing is?
A heavy ball stroke begins in the same way as just a normal stroke, with a lot of swinging weight, except that you now add a LOT of your own acceleration towards the contact and through it.
Throughly enjoyed this video, so informative with easy to follow but yet highly technical drills. I hope the people I play against don’t watch your videos because they will begin to get better at tennis very fast 😂
Hi Tomaz, thank you for this video.. it's quite simple to understand, a testament to your superb teaching quality. So my question is, as rule of thumb, what is the apex height of this heavy ball? in the video I saw it's just above adult height, meaning 2~2.3 meters? Is that correct? If we make it higher than that, it will give the opposition more time to react?
Yes, it depends on your skill level. On the pro level the net clearance is between 60-70 inches (1.5 - 1.8 meters) ABOVE THE NET for a heavy rally ball. Nadal was playing around 90 inches on average. I am probably hitting a very good heavy ball around 50-60 inches above the net. As for time to react, that's not the main objective. You are not trying to hurt opponent with speed, your main objective is to neutralize their attacks and put the ball outside of their strike zone. You need some speed (not very high) just so that they don't have enough time to position perfectly but the speed is usually not high enough to trouble them in terms of timing the ball (unless they are lower level).
