- 1). Make sure you're using the correct grip. More than likely, you'll be using either an eastern or semi-western grip. The more extreme, full western grip will give you the most topspin of all, but it can be a little limiting, especially when trying to hit low shots.
- 2). Make sure your feet are moving. Your positioning is crucial, so you need to be mobile in order to make any necessary quick adjustment steps before setting up for the swing.
- 3). Assuming you're a right-hander, plant the left foot so that you're in a semi-open stance and make sure that your knees are bent to give you a lower center of gravity. Pointing at, or tracing the incoming ball with your nonracket hand, turn your shoulders and take back the racket until it's pointing directly behind you.You can also hit from an open stance (directly facing the net) depending on your preference. You'll still be turning the shoulders to generate the power, but it's more of a static shot that favors baseliners. Conversely, a closed or semi-closed stance will probably give you a little more forward momentum with the stroke, which helps if you're an attacking player who likes to get to the net quickly.
- 4). Bring the racket forward with a low to high swing and try to brush up and over the top of the ball. As you swing, try to lead with the butt of the racquet handle forward, letting the head trail behind but accelerating to the point of contact for more racket-head speed. The strings should be angled down somewhat as they move toward the ball. This, combined with the upward motion of the swing is where the spin comes from, and the more racket-head speed you have, the more spin you'll generate.
- 5). As you hit the ball, transfer the weight forward and onto the other foot as you follow through. The follow-through should be pronounced with the racket ending up high. You then need to quickly resume your foot movement, with your weight on the balls of your feet so that you're ready to move into position for the next shot.
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