How to hit a tennis ball with spin

Tennis beginners rarely hit the ball with spin, unless they do so as the result of a happy accident, which means their returns are usually easy to read. Developing techniques to hit the ball with spin will make a vast difference in your ability to win key rallies and more matches. If you develop the ability to hit the ball with all three types of control, you may be surprised by the amount of points you win. These tips will show you how to get started.

To play a ball with top spin, rotate the wrist as the connection is made with the ball. Right-handed players hitting a forehand short, for example, should make a counterclockwise rotational movement with the lower arm. By hitting the ball with a thick angle and snapping the wrist over quickly, more top spin is generated.

Because it takes time to learn how to time this well, beginners should just try to hit with a little top spin and build up the amount of spin as their control improves. Top spin is great for shots that are played with a lot of speed because these shots cause the ball to dip once they've passed the net, making it less likely that they will be hit long. Once a return with top spin has bounced, the ball gathers speed, which makes it harder for the opponent to reach.

Side spinning balls are hard to hit with any power, and most advanced players only use them once in a while. They are good for well-placed winning shots when accuracy is more important than power. They can also be valuable when you make a drop shot, as they turn a good shot into an unplayable one for your opponent.

To apply side spin in either direction, flip the racket around the left or right side of the tennis ball as a shot is played. The resultant force on the ball means that when it lands, it should move sharply one way or the other, depending on which way the spin has been applied.

Known as a slice to many tennis coaches, a back spin stops the natural bounce of the tennis ball, which means that an opponent can be out of position to a hit a good return at the highest part of its arc.

A back spin keeps the ball low, which helps prevent your opponent from playing a return with spin. Use a chopping motion with the racket head at an angle so that rotational force is applied to the ball. To generate more back spin, use an under-exaggerated follow through. This sort of shot is easy to play with a backhand because less power is usually desired. However, good players will develop back spin shots for their forehand, too.