When we first start playing tennis, our natural inclination is to hit the ball as hard and flat as possible.

But in order to develop your game into a truly well-rounded one, you need to be able to hit topspin. It’s not easy and takes lots of practice, but once you’ve mastered the technique, your topspin can become a formidable weapon in your game.


The topspin backhand or forehand is often exceptionally difficult for your opposition to return because the ball bounces much higher when it lands, forcing your opponent to move far behind the baseline. This is good for you because there is more open court for your next shot.  Topspin strokes are deceptive because they travel high over the net, they appear to be heading out, but instead, the spin on the ball causes it to dip at the last minute and land in.

Here are some tips for learning how to hit topspin.

1. Your grip
Before starting your swing, it’s important you’re holding your racquet in a position that’s going to make it easier to hit topspin. Generally, the best grips for this shot are either a semi-western, eastern or full western grip.

2. Your footwork

When you’re getting ready to hit topspin, it doesn’t matter whether you’re standing in open stance, where your body is facing square towards the net or closed stance where you’re side on to the net. As long as you’re prepared and in position and ready to bend your knees before hitting.

3. Racquet preparation

As with all shots, early racquet preparation is essential. Make sure you swing your racquet back fully so you can generate enough power on the follow through. By preparing early you’ll have more time to focus on the ball.

4. The strike zone

While swinging your racquet through, you must ensure you hit the ball while your racquet is in your strike zone. This is essentially the area between your knees and shoulders. Hitting the ball above or below the strike zone won’t enable you to hit an effective topspin.

5. Hitting the ball

Your topspin shot is created by the motion you use when hitting the ball. You must swing your racquet through and brush up against the ball rather than hitting flat behind it. This upward motion whereby the strings are moving at contact point is what gives the ball its spin, not the direction of your racquet. Think of the motion of a windshield wiper or the action of peeling a potato. The direction of the racquet isn’t important in generating topspin.

6. Finishing

As soon as you’ve hit the ball, continue swinging your racquet so it reaches high above your head on the follow through. Finish the swing either over your opposite shoulder. The friction of pushing the ball high and the force of the follow through will drive the ball forward as well as creating the topspin.

The key concepts for hitting a topspin are to ensure there is a high point and a low point throughout the stroke and they’ll work equally well for either the backhand or forehand. And if you want to change the amount of topspin you hit, simply vary the amount you swing up across the ball.

As with all new techniques, it will take a lot of practice but learning how to hit topspin will be a real boost to your game. And if you want some feedback on how well your topspin is working, check your racquet strings for tennis fuzz. Great topspin hitters finish a game with lots of tennis fuzz wedged between the strings. So start practicing.