Tip of the Week: Racquet Head Speed

February 1, 2021 | By Steve Annacone
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I have stated previously that each player has a comfortable speed for their swing. Some players swing on the high-end (faster) and some swing on the lower-end (slower). It is very important to generate enough racquet head speed so that the racquet face stays level at the point of contact.

If the speed of the swing is too slow, the ball making contact with the strings can change the angle of the racquet face at contact, resulting in a shot that “pops up”, or sometimes a ball that does not clear the net. The high ball happens more often since the ball tends to hit the racquet rather than the racquet hitting the ball. This phenomenon tends to put some stress on the player’s wrist and grip resulting in an open racquet face. Hitting the ball late can add to this problem. Try to find a speed that is comfortable for you, but keep in mind that you may have to increase your racquet head speed a bit if the balls seem to be floating or are higher than you were intending.

If your racquet head speed gets too fast, you are likely to have less consistency and varying shots-some low, some high, and many different unintentional directions.

As with many other aspects of tennis, it is great to be somewhere in the middle as far as racquet head speed is concerned. Use this moderation idea!

 

 


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