Have a Question for Me?

[vespasianvs]

Tension

Thanks, Airforce1

I'll try 57lbs in mains and 55lbs in crosses this time(I use the same set of strings for both mains and crosses). Is that what you recommend?

But how to determine to move up in tension range or move down in tension range?

Thanks

Honchao

[airforce1]

Must admit, it's a tough balancing act, especially for some. The more powerful your swing (including serves) the more "tighter" strings aid accuracy, particularly if you employ lots of spin.

And of course, Tight is a very relative term.

Then on the other hand, tighter strings can sap power, requiring you to need to swing harder, which compounds the other problem with tighter strings. They are more harsh on the hand, arm and shoulder.

For me the key is to match the tension to your normal swing. To try to find a tension where the ball does not tramp much and then mostly keep your swing closer to this speed, even when you feel the need to hit big- try not to up swing speed too much. You can see so many misses like this where a club player really loads up on one, only to miss. Have you done this?
Often what has happened to this normally consistent player is that the extra power they add has pushed the string into a major tramp, and the ball is launched long.

If you have a first serve that is way bigger than your groundies, then you can go flatter on the first serve (what most do) and save the big spin for the second serve where the swing speed is often lower or the brush is such that the strings still don't deform too much and tramp. Since I like to hit with a power serve, but lots of spin as well, this forces me to string tighter than I would like for my groundies or the serve control really suffers.

New 3rd gen polys have helped me, as they are more accurate than other types of strings, but these softer polys are not so harsh on the arm, even when strung about the same tensions as a multi. I usually go about 2-3 lbs less than what would be good with a multi.

So to answer, you must go up or down based on how your arm feels first and control as a close second. down in tension to ease up on the arm and up in tension to get more control for your power spin shots.

Hopefully your arm will tolerate a tension that give you excellent control of your strokes.

[airforce1]

Thanks, Airforce1
I'll try 57lbs in mains and 55lbs in crosses this time(I use the same set of strings for both mains and crosses). Is that what you recommend?

But how to determine to move up in tension range or move down in tension range?
Thanks
Honchao

You are welcome. The tensions you mention sound very reasonable. At least a good starting point. Understand that after 2 -3 weeks the strings will be much looser, so some string a little tighter at the beginning to have the string stay playable longer. Just depends on your arm and how often you intend to go between stringings or string breaks.

[vespasianvs]

Blister

I am suffering from a huge blister on the heel pad of my right hand -- I am using eastern gripped single backhand.

How to treat it?

And how to avoid it?

PS: I got my restrung racquet. It feels great.

Thanks

[airforce1]

If the blister is open, you can put white athletic tape right on the cleaned area as a second skin. There used to be some reaction from the tape and affected area that caused it to heal quicker. Not sure if the same chemicals are used but we have continued success with this.

Need a better overwrap like wilson Pro Overgrip or something, along with hitting the ball cleanly. Mishits causes most blisters.

Glad you liked your string tension. Looks like you got it right or close on first try!

[vespasianvs]

Chalk

Does the chalk (Magnesium Carbonate) which used in gynastics and climbing help preventing blister?

[vespasianvs]

Physical Training and Backhand

Hi, John and Airforce1,

I am planning to do some upper body training in the gym to help me hit better and more powerful single-handed backhand and avoid injuries because of it.( I am using 1/1 grip on backhand.)

Please give some advice on this physical training.

Thanks

Hongchao

[oliensis]

See Pat Etcheberry's upper body training at:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/physicaltraining/pat%20_etcheberry/Etcheberry_PSCT_Weighs_Upper_Body_1_images/Etcheberry_PSCT_Weighs_Upper_Body_1.html

[johnyandell]

Ditto and also the work in the same section by Paul Roetert.

[vespasianvs]

Forehand and Serve

Hi, everybody,

I have two questions from my recent games,

1. How to hit a fast and powerful forehand without making the ball go over the baseline? (I am expecting some tennis physics here)
Will stringing the racquet in higher tensions help?

2. What is the best way to start learning serve? I find it hard and frustrating to start by imitating the full motions of the pros. Is there any simple version of serve that I can start with?

Thanks

Hongchao

[johnyandell]

There are dozens of forehand articles on the site. It's less a matter of physics than swing technique. There is no point in recapitulating the site here in a post.
Scott Murphys' for example:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/classiclessons/scott_murphy/scott_murphy_forehand_preparation_images/scott_murphy_forehand_preparation.html

Or Welby's:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/teaching_systems/welby_vanhorn/true_master_forehand_balance_checkpoints/true_master_forehand_balance_checkpoints.html

When it comes to your stroke, though unless we have video of your forehand it's impossible to tell what the problem might be. So you can post a clip.

Sometimes tighter strings help with control, but again that can be more or less irrelevant if you have basic technical flaws.

On the serve I would say the same thing. Look at some of the basic articles, for example, Scott Murphy's article in classic lessons or Welby's in teaching systems. The racket drop position in Chris Lewit's kick serve articles can be a great position to work from for all serves.

[vespasianvs]

Serve

Chris Lewit rocks.

Thanks, John.

[airforce1]

1. How to hit a fast and powerful forehand without making the ball go over the baseline? (I am expecting some tennis physics here)
Will stringing the racquet in higher tensions help?

2. What is the best way to start learning serve? I find it hard and frustrating to start by imitating the full motions of the pros. Is there any simple version of serve that I can start with? Hongchao

For your goals I would work on driving topspin, with the emphasis on the TS first. My idea on the FH is to pick a height over the net ( I call a window) that will insure great consistency for not putting my shots into the net. I pair the objectives of blasting the ball thru that window, but with as much topspin (to get the ball down as quick as possible) as I can get without sacrificing most of my power.

#2- serving sock drill. put 2 tennis balls in a sock and hold the top of the sock as the handle to do a serving motion. You practice the serving motion with trying to keep the sock extended, with no slack. If you get a slack or floppy during the motion, it shows you where you are losing the motion in several respects.

[uspta3577514567]

John...question on Fed forehand

John, I hear a tennis pro friend of mine say the reason why Fed hits so big on the forehand is because he's moving into the forehand (towards the net) when he hits it. However, it also appears that he hits some huge inside-out forehands moving literally sideways along the baseline towards the alley. He is certainly not moving "foreward" towards the net in these cases, yet still hits huge. What is creating the huge shot in those cases? Is it the rotational force? Any thoughts?

[johnyandell]

Because he is Roger Federer and because he has that complex combination of technical elements--classic/extreme that I talk about in the Advanced Tennis section articles on his forehand.