Topsipn: the importance of the method
The topspin is a complex technique that must be learned through proper methodology, otherwise there is a risk to create strong frustrations that can lead the player to think about not being able to learn this technique.
That is, you cannot learn the technique of topspin in the traditional mode (in which the instructor directly addresses the entire phase of the stroke), but you have to resort to methods used commonly in other sports and physical dispipline (such as dance), such as the Isolation and Integration. And you also need to train with non-conventional methods like the bounce wall (thanks to the wall Borg invented the topspin, and Federer learned it so well), or, for example, training in “short court” (using the service line as the baseline), in which he is forced to get off the ball with very curved trajectories.
LEARNING METHOD: ISOLATION AND INTEGRATION
To learn topspin, a complex technique (made up of many parts of the arm stroke, movement, etc.) it is important to have an excellent method, otherwise you’re never able to learn properly every part and stroke will always has serious flaws (which are found in all the tennis clubs).
To learn optimally every part of the shot is then necessary to isolate each part of the stroke (opening, impact, etc.) and then, only once it is learned properly, integrate them in one fluid motion.
It is about to train yourself to perceive correctly the positions and motions of each part of the body (you must be able to imagine the shot only at the level of feelings).
At that point you are able, among other things, to understand the movements of the players you see play (this point is fundamental: it is always the example of players better than you that allow you to advance our technique – learning the technique thoroughly allow you progressing much quicker in learning because you can learn directly from viste in TV or Youtube videos).
PRACTICE ON THE WALL
To learn in the best way the topspin we recommend the use of the wall, which not coincidentally was instrumental in the formation of the players that have gone down in history for the perfection of the topspin, like Borg and Federer. Only the game against the wall makes it possible to become familiar with the various stages of stroke.
For this type of training is sufficient to find a wall high at least 3 metres, within a circle, or in a park (as we did in Tennis4Advanced).You can draw the line with chalk sizes (is important to draw besides a line line at the height of the net, even a “safety” line under which one must consider the topspin too low).
See below Federer at 15 years
Agassi’s advices:
Bijon Borg
short court
Good players will often start the heater standing at the service line: this serves not only to warm up the muscles, but to get a feel for the ball takes to make peeling the topspin.
It is very useful training in a field that forces you to make shot that gorund immediately after the net.
See the first part of this video: