WHAT IS A HEAVY BALL TENNIS SHOT AND HOW TO HIT ONE?

A lot of people refer to this shot in tennis as Heavy Ball. What exactly does that mean? How do you hit a Heavy forehand?
Thank you to Richard King for the question.
Thank you to Coach Andrew and Coach Chris for explaining and showing us a drill on a heavy ball.
You can follow Coach Andrew Gu on IG @agu.tennis
You can follow Coach Chris on Ig @cbchientennis
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[@bournejason66]

If the incoming ball has a ton of top spin and you try to impart top spin back to your opponent, you will need to work harder compared to an incoming ball that’s flatter. Also the kick makes it prone to hit off centered and hence “feel” the ball is heavier.

[@antelectronica]

It's a good point that off the sweet spot makes it feel heavier

[@TeeLau]

You guys really had fun with this one, and it's good to see that other side.

[@NamesAreRandom]

A heavy ball is a ball with a lot of kinetic energy - which can be both linear and rotational (how fast it's coming at you and rpm it's going at). The more energy it has the harder it is to redirect it, so the "heavier" the ball feels.

[@goggleboy2464]

Best explanation

[@rishijai]

It's a combination of speed (velocity), spin (rpm) and trajectory (angle)

[@commondirtbagz7130]

Only thing is, like what the other guy said, is that it has to be a mix of the both.

[@flukyreview9128]

In a nut shell. Ball hit with Extreme top spin and with fast pace (power) equals to HEAVY BALL.

[@goldencalf5144]

The heavy ball is the one that comes on to you quicker than you expect. It seems to gain speed after the bounce (although this is an illusion). Usually achieved with a ton of topspin and pace. Modern poly strings allow players to throw the kitchen sink at the ball and still hit it in because of the insane topspin produced. A decently heavy racquet also helps.

[@bsc40]

I disagree with that definition. It’s has nothing to do with perceived speed or quickness. It’s actual speed and spin. If you want to feel what a heavy ball is like, take a ball machine and hit the ball on the fly as if it was coming on the bounce. If you don’t catch it cleanly, the ball will knocked the racquet out of your hand. That’s why the serve return is a completely different part of the game. The ball comes at you so heavy (fast and/or spin) it feels different at contact than an average groundstroke.

[@jonathanchen1026]

@4:23 Fedurdur 😭🤣

[@lucasoscar]

I played someone that eventually ended up being top1000 and his shots had so much spin it felt like they bounced off my racket like my swing didnt affected the original spin at all, definitely heavy. EDIT: i remembered the name it was Mauricio Doria-Medina from Bolivia, he was training in Argentina and when he didnt had any tournament he would play at club level were i randomly faced him, i think i was 6.0 and 6.1 maybe 2, it lasted longer that it looked actually his serve was the games i couldnt do much xD

[@nathanmiller6051]

Thanks guys!

[@crsantin]

A heavy ball has lots of spin and pace. It bounces and comes alive after the bounce.

[@youngsuit]

14:48 - the best part of these videos is watching these dudes cringe at this mans dad jokes

[@monkeyfacesenior]

The faces at the beginning of the video... LOL

[@rolandharris2706]

My homeboy Austin hits balls so heavy we tried to put his shots on weight watchers. His shots never missed a meal. They were suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure due to being so heavy.

[@RossBayCult]

It has something to do with having a heavy racket (Sampras, Wawrinka, Delpo, Federer) along with a high swing weight. But sometimes a man with a “live arm” that uses a light racket like a Babolat (Alcaraz, Nadal, Thiem, Sock) can create a live heavy ball.

[@goldencalf5144]

The Babolats that the pros use have been modified to greatly increase the swingweight. The Pure Aero that Nadal uses will be considerably heavier than what's sold in the store.

[@RossBayCult]

@@goldencalf5144 even with the modification the Babolat’s are still way lighter than the RF97 or the Yonex VCore 95D from Wawrinka. Alcaraz plays with a stock Aero VS.

[@goldencalf5144]

@@RossBayCult While the static weight may be lower, the swingweight will be right up there. I don't really know much about the equipment Alcaraz uses.

[@iacobandrei5660]

@@goldencalf5144 how much heavier?

[@goldencalf5144]

@@iacobandrei5660 KZbin keeps deleting my reply for some reason, I'll try one more time. Nadal's racquet weighs 343g strung, whereas the retail Pure Aero weighs 318g. The swingweight on Nadal's racquet is a whopping 360 while it's a more manageable 324 on the retail version. Most rec players wouldn't be able to effectively use a racquet with a 360 swingweight.

[@djblackwing737]

I like coach Chris expression LmAo hahaha.. agree gut/ poly hybrid makes the best snapback provides the best spin generation from my experience.

[@ldeue4837]

Just a personal experience of mine but I give my hitting partner the most trouble when I'm hitting high heavy topspin, with a true inside out swing the ball will actually curve in slightly. It drives him nuts lol

[@joecarib1166]

A heavy ball means when you see the trajectory it looks like an easy lob but when you hit it, it feels heavy. This is caused by top spin and speed. The top spin gives the curve to give the lob illusion and the speed in it surprises you. Most of what you all talk about is how to create it but not why it is called "heavy".

[@tennis-fan]

what kind of blade is coach Guu's racket ?

[@MrRockrobstr]

If you want to practice playing against a very heavy ball, buy a Slinger Bag and turn up the speed. OMG, you must either take it on the rise or stand far back to catch it more in your strike zone. And the ball shoots foreword, gaining speed off the bounce so it surprises you. If you try to hit it at or above shoulder height, especially with a one handed backhand, you have to be very strong and have impeccable timing to hit a decent shot or your pretty screwed.

[@user-yh4zx4ky9j]

A heavy ball is a ball with spin and pace coming from swing and solid racquet instead of coming from the string bed. A low tension string and light racquet can generate fast ball that kick up high. It will be hard to return. On the other end, a correct full swing with a very heavy racquet 340+ sw normally about 357 sw with high tension will hit a ball that isn’t super fast or jump high. But it will knock racquet off your friend on the other side of court. It’s kind of ball you can see, you can hit, but you can’t return or hold your racquet. More often, it also comes with wrist injury as well. When the power of the ball is coming 90% from swing instead of string, a ball will be heavy.

[@selfhelp69]

coach Gu's technique is impeccable.

[@diabloo28]

hes trying too hard to hit big though, watch some pros their body barely move or jump off the ground but the pace is unreal

[@bournejason66]

sadcfasdf not true. Watch them practice in person and you will change your mind

[@benjamintran5444]

K = (1/2)*(mv^2) + (1/2)*m(rw)^2 so the faster and the more spin you have, the heavier the ball

[@neonoir671]

there's one person here who knows something :)

[@donkeykong516]

Huh? Lol

[@Escorpio123PS]

Where do I write for a question?

[@4justiceagainstevil]

I am surprised you guys didn't explain the origin of the term: A great top spin shot causes the other player not to hit precisely at the center of their racket, and therefore their hand and arm experience a lot of leverage operating against them, and hence the feel as though the ball was heavier.

[@wkozwkoz6255]

can you hit a heavy ball from a closed stance?

[@lendljetleyba7920]

Isn't that a ProStock Blade , Gu?

[@movdqa]

I think that most would say that Berdych hit a heavy ball but his strokes have also been described as "Easy Power". Soderling hit a heavy ball too with that huge takeback. I think that Sampras hit a heavy ball as well. Berdych and Sampras both used heavy and high swingweight racquets. I would guess that Soderling is in that category though I don't recall his specs. Perhaps a heavy or high-swingweight racquet helps with producing a heavy ball.

[@CodamATW]

Söderling’s racquet was crazy. 384 SW, 357g strung. A monster!

[@kingtrawal]

Just curious... what tennis facility is this?

[@Javi_C]

👍

[@billybobjosh]

0:47 he had an opportunity and he did not let it slip

[@viktorbenedek868]

With a heavy racquet and good technique a seemingly slower shot would be a heavy shot on the other side. You can see on Dominik Thiem's forehand that it will be heavy, but you would be late on all Fed's forehand, cause he looks so relaxed and slow compared to Thiem, that you would expect an easy ball. But with his racquet weight and with his timing, his balls are very heavy. So it doesn't depend on spin only.

[@charlesfaure1189]

Fed can generate 3600 rpms on the forehand. Takes huuuge vertical headspeed to get that kind of spin. There's nothing slow about his swing once the racket hits the corner and changes direction.

[@viktorbenedek868]

@@charlesfaure1189 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TMeKtomtiEnrc

[@viktorbenedek868]

@@charlesfaure1189 anyway he hits a heavy ball a much relaxed way, that's what a tried to say. Not extreme leg work, not anything phisical looking. Pure technique and heavy racquet

[@gabedraper7594]

Wasn't the guy at the left in love with the Dunlop CX200 Tour..? what happens..?

[@agradina]

Spin is not what add heaviness of the ball it just make it harder to atack, the heaviness of the ball is how much energy is deforming the ball when it is hit because all of that energy based on the law of phisics is going to deflect in ur rackqet.This depend on how heavy is ur racquet and how powerful u are. I can hit with all the top spin in the world as a 16 years old but if i dont have the power its not going to be heavy.If u watch pro slow replay u actually see they are deforming the ball and the strings and this is very hard to obtain with a light racquet or by a regular player which dont have the strength of a pro

[@peterochester2320]

Finally someone mentions physics and it's a 16 yo! There is only so much energy in a swing (mass of racquet time velocity of stroke). It can go into spin or pace. The greatest energy imparted to the ball will be a racquet path that equals the incoming ball path. That way no energy is wasted on a glancing blow (which is how spin is imparted). Doesn't have anything to do with how hard it is to hit the incoming ball which is where spin (top, under, side) comes in. Think of how many baseball players can hit a fastball but strikeout on curves.

[@telquel7843]

The racquet is designed for the strings to deflect in one direction relatively easily but a spinng ball makes the strings deflect in more directions this creating more shock to the returning player's arm. Spin is legitimately the main cause for that "heavy feeling" not pure velocity. A spinning ball physically cannot travel at as high a velocity as a flat ball. You can volley a very fast flat ball (like a serve) and feel surprisingly little shock to your arm. That's because the racquet is designed to deflect the force along that axis. But when you get a reasonably high velocity ball with a lot of spin, the force is not applied perpendicular to the string bed anymore which causes irregular dispersal of force along the racquet and more shock to the arm. It's the same reason a ball struck off center on the racquet face feels so awful even if it isn't a particularly fast ball.

[@commondirtbagz7130]

Wrong. Spin is what causes the ball to deform on its way down. It’s also what allows the ball to retain more energy after the bounce creating heaviness.

[@user-yh4zx4ky9j]

From the other angle, if you can pancake the ball, it will be heavy. If your racquet and string bed can’t bite the ball hard, it will not be heavy.

[@ariwibowom1984]

you know a heavy ball when you met one

[@6thwatergateplumber]

My coach in 1976 told me I had a heavy serve. As I look back on my serve at the time, and the way the ball left my racquet I can understand what that is, but it is not easy to explain it.

[@demitriablakhad3721]

This has nothing to do with hitting heavy balls, but if I’m trying to get a multifilament feel from my strings but don’t want my strings to break so quickly what kind of hybrid should I use?

[@simi9222]

Try Prince premier control

[@goldencalf5144]

If longevity is your priority, put poly strings in the mains and multis in the crosses. The mains usually break first and poly strings last longer than multis. String the poly at a lower tension as well so the stringbed is not so stiff.

[@demitriablakhad3721]

@@goldencalf5144 makes sense, thanks

[@demitriablakhad3721]

@@simi9222 I’ll look into it

[@a2casius]

Use the same multifilament string but in a much thicker gauge.

[@ts440s]

Take your ball machine with no spin then crank up the spin keeping velocity the same its really the only way to notice .

[@iacobandrei5660]

What’s the result? I don’t have a ball machine…

[@wongjefx980]

this tennis club looks nice...

[@vijaynarsapur147]

4:35

[@sylvainbauge]

To me a heavy ball does not necessarily mean topspin. Delpo/Berdych/Tsonga do not hit their forehand with a lot of spin yet they have a heavy ball.

[@colinschmidt3475]

What does it mean to you?

[@sylvainbauge]

@@colinschmidt3475 a ball hit with power that hurts when you try to hit it back

[@dustyroot4708]

I agree. Pace is an important factor. The opposite would be a spinny topspin forehand that a lot of amateurs have. The they think they are loading their shots with topspin, but there is no penetration in the shot that would result in the ball coming at the opponent quickly and causing a lot of mishits. If you’ve ever watched this Harry guy hit forehands, that’s an example of a weak spinny shot. Coach Gu consistently hits a heavy ball.

[@fishepa]

Looks easy when you're in your 20's and 30's like these dudes.

[@lesWall]

Try to differentiate HEAVY vs FAST 😜

[@telquel7843]

Under-rated comment. Flat shots are logically faster because the energy to impart spin has to come at an energy cost. The 'heavy' sensation returning a spinning ball comes from the axis at which a spinning ball deflects strings compared to the relatively linear deflection of a flat ball.

[@donkeykong516]

Fast = MPH or RPM. Heavy = MPH & RPM

[@CVSylver08]

Coach Gu's calves are from the gods.

[@everettyee2049]

Heaviness: how far the ball penetrates through the court (since it hasn't been mentioned)

[@claude7473]

That is NOT the current definition. A deep ball is a very good but difficult shot, the 'heavy' ball is more controllable by the initiator and more difficult to respond to... a "Nadal ball'...

[@everettyee2049]

@@claude7473 a ball like Nadal's doesn't have to land deep and can still penetrate bc of his spin

[@diabloo28]

i think a heavy ball is the result of proper technique using the kinetic chain and transfer of weight to the ball. I hit a really flat ball without much topspin but the ball could still be considered heavy because its coming at the opponent fast and deep and pushing them back and off balanced so their ball coming back is soft and weak. There are some topspin junkies who impart alot of topspin on their shots with really high RPM and kicks up after the bounce but it doesn't have much weight or pace behind it so I could actually step in and take the ball early rather than get pushed back or be off balanced.

[@2muchdeano]

OMG!

[@honkymonky7033]

a heavy ball can also be flat

[@johncheung5358]

Heavy ball is just like someone say wrong footed, it’s behind meaning

[@noturbo]

got some heavy balls.

[@9r393]

They didn't really discuss the heavier racket being a factor.

[@djforcefield]

“A heavy ball has more heaviness to it” lol

[@martincho0116]

Correction: Eastern forhand produces heavy balls. My friend, leehyung taek who played against Sampras and Nadal. He said Sampras's ball was much heavier. You need horizental swing path to create heavy ball. For example, you will never create heavy ball when you are slicing.

[@jamesprice6381]

Right, im old school use the Eastern grip..dominantly..( 62) n use ess same swing patterns as McEnroe n Connors) My muscle memory just wont do western, altho i like it, but just cant adapt...

[@kuruptgt]

Sampras racket weighs close to 380 grams.

[@martincho0116]

@@kuruptgt thats what you need to produce heavy balls

[@goldencalf5144]

Actually, you can hit a heavy slice shot. I notice that when I play someone who's skilled at slicing, the ball comes on to me much faster and lower than I expect. Most rec players however can't do this.

[@martincho0116]

@@goldencalf5144 do you wanna see which is heavier? Forehand vs slice? Slice has a backspin which is going aginst the its direction.

[@selfhelp69]

love tennis spin best retail proshop aspect.

[@chipmarshall185]

The coiling of your body + heavy spin = a “ heavy ball”

[@Profesah_411]

Not sure you answered the question about what 'is' a heavy ball. It's simple to use the example of this....a motorbike going at the same speed as a truck. Same speed, but truck has more weight. Playing against a spinny ball versus a 'heavy' ball? You will know the difference. The heavy ball has more energy behind it. If you hit it late, it move your racket.

[@pauldydyna5599]

This didn't cover the question at all. In baseball there are certain pitchers who deliver the baseball and it feels like on contact that you are hitting a wiffleball and other pitchers the weight at contact =billiard ball.

[@jamesprice6381]

Del Potro is the EPITOMY of heavy ballzz............................

[@DanTuber]

he's a flat hitter

[@peterochester2320]

@@DanTuber Exactly. All energy is imparted to the ball's forward movement and not to spin. Gets to you faster because of that and because it travels a shorter distance (flat vs loop).

[@DanTuber]

@@peterochester2320 That's speed. Not heaviness.

[@JCole-fg3rr]

“Fededer”… he just could not say that man’s name right 😂😂😂

[@andrehalim469]

Sure its not coz a new racket new strings new shoes need to be updated to latest? 🤔😉😛🥃

[@johntesoriero3382]

Heavy ball alert at 7:16

[@ts440s]

Heavy balls are just velocity with more spin, it takes more to counteract the spin on the return. A 74 mph with 4000rpms will be much heavier so to say than a 74mph ball with 2000rpms. Its very simple.

[@peterochester2320]

Takes more energy to add spin and keep velocity same since some force is lost (to friction) in the glancing contact.

[@Lunchpgap]

harry, you burned through way too much content in 2 years. good luck to you. actual playing content has been out there for a long time.

[@butopiatoo]

Nah. Heavy ball is due to slice. Doesn’t bounce off the receiver’s strings like a ball with topspin. Also doesn’t bounce high off the court so the person returning really has to get low to get the ball up and back over the net.

[@user-be5qg7mr1s]

100percent wrong. No one describes slice as a heavy ball.

[@mavericky1543]

Isn’t a heavy ball just a very fast ball?

[@uo2230]

Great info but sadly won't help MY game. 😁

[@Contractedharry]

The looser you are when hitting the ball the heavier it will be. It´s simple as that.

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[@tennistv1094]

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[@krunchytime]

These guys are surprisingly bad at explaining such an easy topic. Especially considering that Andrew and Chris are high level players, it's kind of disappointing. It really should have been such an easy 3 or 4 minute video, rather than such a long and poorly explained video like it is now.