Why am I lobbing, when yesterday I could hit straight over the net with topspin?

Question

Today, I just seem out of it. I can't seem to put any topspin on my ball, or it just flies up into the air....

This really sucks, and I have no idea why it's happening? Am I just having a bad day, I dont think I changed anything in my playing style.

Also, when you follow through with your forehand, do you have your weight on your front foot or back foot?

Answer 1

You should ALWAYS be moving forward through the ball. Your weight should always be going from toward the net on any shot.

I'm a tennis teaching professional and if you're ever leaning back hitting a shot you're in trouble right away. Even moving laterally your last step should always be towards the ball into the court cutting off the angle.

Try keeping the butt (bottom of the grip where the symbol of the racker manufacturer is) and point it towards the net as you start your stroke, your forearm will be flexed and tense. DO NOT move your wrist from this position through the entire stroke. Your shoulders opening through the shot is what will orient the racket face forward at the contact point. Start your swing a foot to a foot and a half below the ball and swing from your knees to a follow through that should end with your elbow pointed towards your target after completion.

This should help you get more topspin. Make sure you're using the proper forehand grip as well, put your right palm on the face of the stringbed (assuming you're righty) and slide it all the way down the racket to the grip and that should be your forehand grip. You can also find it by putting the racket face down on the ground and picking it up with an open palm. If you're not using the proper grip topspin will be much more difficult.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Transfer weight to  the front foot if possible,  but it's not always possible. Sometimes you have to hit off balance, like leaning  backwards. Even pros have to do this sometimes. When you do your backswing, bring your other hand that's not holding the racket back with the racket head,, then swing through and let the racket head end up going over your your left shoulder, if you're right handed. This will help impart some topspin to the ball.  Don't be too preoccupied with topspin, it'll come. Nothing wrong with hitting the ball flat either, every so often.  When I play with my son, I can't put too much topspin on the ball, because he can't return balls with a lot of topspin  yet, but it allows me to practice  other aspects of the game.

Answer 3

I think you're just having a bad day, maybe your feel for the ball today is bad, and you're frame hitting the ball alot.

As for your forehand follow-through weight, It should be on your front foot, as it isn't very effective to lean back in a shot.