Tennis Strategy: Hit with Shape to drive you opponent CRAZY!

[@anacap007]

This shot is basically a semi-moonball. About 6-10 feet clearance over the net and landing right at the baseline. Very tough ball to deal with.

[@daenbrown830]

Basically a skinny moonball... I was thinking I'd see something different until he did one

[@K4R3N]

Karue would call this healthy topspin rally ball.

[@Kelvin-ed6ce]

not so much, because it's not very heavy. Pros don't do this shot often, so is it really the way? Even Rafa's most defensive shots go a lot lower than that.

[@K4R3N]

@@Kelvin-ed6ce it works up to NTRP 5.0 because most rec/club players cannot crush a high ball from baseline or hit effectively on-the-rise

[@Dancingontgesun1942]

I've played and coached over 30 years and this is one of the best tennis instruction channels online.

[@Better_Call_Raul]

08:00 "Racquet face needs to be a little bit open." We are constantly told that racquet face needs to be very slightly closed (a few degrees) for topspin. So which is it? I think very slightly closed in order to generate topspin makes sense. Slightly open and balls will sail long.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

It's the combination of swing path and racquet face that make the ball go where you want it to. For instance if the racquet face is too closed at contact, you can swing up past the ball to create topspin but the ball will go into the net every time. The best thing to do is go out and experiment for yourself. Change the racquet face angle with the same swing path and then analyze where the ball goes! I think it's the best way to really feel the difference a racquet face angle can make. I would recommend you videoing it also because that's really the only way to see what is actually going on a the contact point. Keep us updated with the results you see.

[@MadisKreem-ud7bm]

Great video! Shape is THE #1 word tennis commentators discuss. Many pro games make over 90%+ of their shots with topspin with also “shape”, You could make more videos including backhand shape and how to do cross long and short-angled court shots with shape, as well as underspin shots with good shape added, For some short, even serves, it’s good to also know how to add do a bit of side shape from either ball side instead of only “low to high” strokes.

[@GeneralRock114]

I do this a lot and people hate it. Especially to the back hand side. At the rec level, most people will backup and try hitting the ball as it drops. This opens up angle shots and drop shots. Very effective!!!

[@beaglesrfun5896]

Thanks to you, my partner ran me around the court this evening with his deep and high-clearance shots! Good job!

[@scrabbleking1965]

Loved where you walked toward the net with the camera showing how little of the court you can see. Even a person 7 feet tall can't stand on the service line and see OVER the net into the other service box. From the baseline you have to be about 9' 8" in the air to just barely start to see the back of the service line over the net. The point is....with the serve, without some shape from either gravity or spin you basically can't get the serve in.

[@lyndseyandandrew5771]

The iPhone cam split screen was brilliant! Thank you!

[@mlbaker40]

This is a perfect explanation of the difference between an advanced thinker versus a non thinker. The folks who swing AT THE NET don't understand that we are trying to create parabolic shapes. Parabola 1 is from the racquet to the first bounce followed by parabola 2 which we generally have to deal with. Great video.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thanks for watching! A great way to think about it also!

[@peterfennell6994]

Hello Kevin. I know this is a year after this video. When I think hitting of with shape I think of the acronym “HARD”. HEIGHT ARC ROTATION DEPTH. It is a helpful acronym. It would be interesting if you revisited “court access” but this time walk your camera first from shoulder height, then waist high and finally from knee height. These elevations will give a perspective from the impact point which will determine the swing path and applying HARD. Hope you find this helpful. Keep up the good work! BTW, bought a Spinfire because of your recommendation and love this machine!

[@NeuralEngin33r]

I wish all tennis instructors were as smart as you! You're the best ever!

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Wow, thank you very much! Appreciate you watching!

[@mosiof]

Thank you for your great tips 😊

[@richardmills5360]

Another brilliant video Kevin. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thank you for watching! Glad it was helpful!

[@twinwankel]

Good video. I think that the effectiveness of shaping the ball depends on your level of play. For beginners to intermediate, shaping works great because most players can't hit a high ball hard even if it has little pace and they will struggle with what to do. For advanced players, if my opponent just shapes the ball and not drive it, they are allowing me to get to the ball and giving me a slower ball to deal with as I can move in to take it early, drive it high and flat or slice it down hard away from them. A lot of the times when I see a slow buggy whip angle shot when I'm at the baseline and I just drop shot my opponent down the line for a winner. You need the heaviness to keep an advanced player off balance.

[@kikibeldandy]

That's how nadal collected 22 slams by shaping the ball.

[@yongli4304]

It's better to learn to shape the ball first, hit it effortlessly and consistently, before learning to hit it heavier with more top spins.

[@andrewwarren654]

Great vid & demo!

[@JoJo-Mo-63]

I think you should set your phone on the other side to see how the ball comes to the opponent, Thank you for your awesome videos.

[@ariwibowom1984]

Yes, especially on backhand side corner

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Yes that can get tricky for sure!

[@lirenchan]

Great lesson. Thanks coach. I shall be able to put this instruction into use: hitting the ball with shape.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Let us know how the training goes! Appreciate you watching!

[@nguyen925]

Love my slinger too!

[@hangerq5735]

Great job 👏.

[@PaulVoorberg]

My points of interest: 6:36 - Demonstration 7:52 - The How To

[@0215roman]

You’re awesome. The way you breakdown strategy and techniques on your videos is great. Where do you teach ?

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thank you! Glad it is helpful! We are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma

[@nvn2005]

I’m using the exactly open racquet technique for my backhand since I don’t have a powerful backhand.

[@andrewcampbell2903]

Nice work on this video Kevin . The section showing access to the court was very good and innovative , as was the demonstration of hitting with shape . BTW , can you tell me what kind of racquet you are using ? I have a gut feeling that it might suit me too !

[@TotalTennisDomination]

So glad the video was helpful! It's a head radical

[@jcarter8765]

Another great video Kevin. I very much like your instructions. Just one thing, you are a bit of a fast talker for my taste. I find if I play it back at 85-90% speed it sounds great.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thanks for the tip! Appreciate you watching!

[@GeneralRock114]

How about a video showing how to hit high balls on both forehand and two handed backhands.

[@rqnhan5858]

Also top spin allows you to hit more angle to drive your opponent outside of the court

[@ZeroHourEs]

strangely enough, I like hitting the ball higher from the normal strike zone from the baseline cause it allows me to drive the ball so much harder (almost like a smash). I would really love to learn how to shape the ball higher like this cause even my topspin forehand barely clears the net which entails opening up the racket face more, but damn its hard to kick a habit. at this point I'm even trying to change my default semi-eastern grip halfway into a continental grip 😅

[@n3307v]

Great video. Really enjoy your content.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thanks for watching!

[@K4R3N]

Kev, good video. Any strategy tips when to hit with shape versus when to flatten out. I can hit with shape, my opponents have commented on it. But I almost never flatten out and I think I'm missing some opportunities (3.5/4.0 level)

[@ivanhannel]

I was just doing this today in fact. Easier to hit deep with shape from the baseline.

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Yes for sure! Height is a great way to get depth on the ball (and play high percentage tennis).

[@neygercey7899]

Open racquet and still get spin on the ball?

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Yes the path past the ball is what creates the spin - the open racquet face creates the height on the ball - hope that is helpful!

[@flukyreview9128]

Ahhh “hit the ball with shape”. A pusher’s dream. 😁😁😁

[@shroud1390]

I thought I was OK at tennis. Tried this ball and ugh i must have been doing it wrong. It just kept me running around or giving up winners. I couldnt hit hard enough to get lots of spin like on my flatter TRAJECTORY normal shots

[@bournejason66]

Hi Kevin, when coach says aim higher over the net, what we really need to do is to open the racket face a little past neutral, correct?

[@mlbaker40]

No. The face is not opened to create parabolic shapes. The face is either vertical or slightly closed and then the top edge of the racquet is swinging UP at the bottom of the ball while rotating the torso forward. Don't open the face while swinging UP.

[@bournejason66]

@@mlbaker40 then what’s the difference on the racket face when you aim higher vs lower over the net?

[@mlbaker40]

@@bournejason66 your elbow is involved with height control

[@bournejason66]

@@mlbaker40 only two things affect the ball trajectory, racket face and swing path. A sharper upswing path will impart more top spin but the ball won’t be landing deep into the court. The second knob is racket face angle, which Kevin mentioned a few times here (racket face open). That’s why I like to ask him (and viewers here) if aiming higher actually translate to racket face slightly open (open past neutral angle).

[@mlbaker40]

@@bournejason66 swing path is a general term. The issue is how do we create various swing paths? You can create height with how the elbow rises and you can create spin and rpm by flipping the racquet. For instance the top spin lob. The bottom line is if you want to create a parabolic shape you have to swing up and you can't really swing at the net. The hardest thing that I deal with is getting folks to understand that from the baseline, it's not a great idea to swing directly at the net. Put some height on the ball and play safe tennis.

[@billucf96]

Lot of 3.0 and 3.5 players hit this on every shot, because it's the only type of shot they know how to hit. My favorite way to win against these pushers is to give it back to them, but with a lot of top spin using a strong semi-western or full western grip. After a few rally shots of this they are fighting the back fence just to get strings on the ball.

[@ql3670]

But what if your opponent charges the net? I hit this kind of high ball often, but a good net player can destroy it.

[@francisremedios2530]

Does this work for doubles?

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Yes this can work in doubles as well - it's a great ball to come in behind (and look to take a volley out of the air) if your opponent is moving backwards off the baseline

[@dylanyang8959]

Is it just me or does coach Kevin look like a normal-sized Serge Ibaka?? Great lesson though, gonna try this out tomorrow!

[@Javi_C]

Thanks Kevin

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Thanks for watching!

[@zoeszlips9373]

Second!

[@chung729chung]

High balls without sharp angle are really easy to attack on

[@TotalTennisDomination]

Even when you are way behind the baseline you think they are easy to attack?

[@chung729chung]

@@TotalTennisDomination yea take it on the way up

[@chung729chung]

@@TotalTennisDomination why would you hit a nothing ball when I am way behind the baseline😂

[@chung729chung]

@P234 Right, it is a good trick for beginners and intermediates. But it can’t be a habit to constantly hit loopy nothing ball. Players will stuck at some level.

[@Editor_Hound]

Basically what moonballers do, but not with that much shape like you want to catapult rocks over the Buckingham Palace. Got it. 😅

[@Luo9explo]

First

[@mattberg4842]

... to drive your opponent...

[@mikealbert728]

Be a moonballer. Got it

[@JanitorIsBack]

too much talking not enough demonstrating