The TopSpin Pro is, like the name suggests, a tool to help players generate topspin. The game of tennis has evolved into a sport that is mainly centered around the topspin shot, but it is not a technique that comes naturally to a lot of players. The idea of the TopSpinPro is to teach players how to naturally angle their racquet to create more topspin. This will, in turn, allow for a greater margin of error. If you learned way back when tennis balls were mainly hit without a lot of spin and underpin [slice] was more popular than topspin, this tool might actually help you, but I think it is mainly intended for new players to the sport. So the short form of this TopSpinPro review would be to say that this is a great teaching tool for coaches.
I got interested in this tool for personal reasons. Over the course of a year or so, I’ve tried to transition from an Eastern [almost Continental grip] towards a Semi-Western forehand. The reason being that I could hit flat shots well, especially on the rise, but I often struggled with consistency in matches when the arm got tight. I am not a hundred percent there yet and the struggle “has been real”, but I’m finally getting closer to a more solid and reliable forehand. If I had this tool at the beginning of my forehand transition journey, it would probably have been a lot easier.
I’m actually so impressed by this training tool that I have signed up to be an affiliate of TopSpinPro [I only do this with products I believe in]. So if you’re interested in the product, please consider purchasing it through this link where a small commission goes towards supporting Tennisnerd. Thanks.
TopSpinPro Review
Let’s look at some practical details of the TopSpinPro.
- It’s portable and easy to assemble but weighs enough [4kg] to be stable when hitting.
- If something breaks on it after wear and tear, you can buy replacement parts.
- It costs €129 [buy it here]
- It has a 5-star review average from 127 reviews.
I really find it useful for getting my technique back together after switching racquets all the time and playing around with the technique. I’m sure that building a solid foundation of topspin will help you hit fewer errors and enjoy tennis more.
Have you tried this product? What are your thoughts?
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The Topspin Pro aims to teach people how to hit the tennis ball with more topspin. If you’re a tennis player who wants to learn topspin groundstrokes, or a coach teaching your students how to hit with topspin, this training aid can help.
Below, we will review the Topspin Pro, explain how it works, and help you decide if this product is right for you.
Before we review the Topspin Pro, let’s first discuss why you should learn topspin.
When people first learn to play tennis, they often have a flat swing that allows them to hit the ball over the net. This creates backspin or no spin at all. As a result, beginners usually struggle to control the height, depth, and direction of the ball.
Topspin fixes that problem, helping players hit with more control. Topspin is difficult to learn because it requires you to find the right combination of a forward and upward motion with your groundstrokes.
The key to hitting with more topspin is mastering the proper swing path. You need your racquet to move in a low to high path, and your tennis strings to brush the ball in an upward motion.
For beginner tennis players, this is not easy.
Historically, topspin is one of the most difficult skills for tennis coaches to teach. The Topspin Pro is changing that.
All the best tennis players in the world use varying levels of topspin on their groundstrokes. Roger Federer uses some topspin, while Rafael Nadal uses even more.
Learning topspin is a requirement to become an intermediate or advanced level tennis player. The Topspin Pro can help you learn topspin on both the forehand and backhand groundstroke.
The Topspin Pro helps players find the ideal swing path and racquet angle, teaching them how to hit with more topspin faster than other teaching methods.
It uses two screens placed above and below the tennis ball creating a 75-degree plane that your tennis racquet must follow to hit the ball correctly. The ball sits on a metal rod a few inches in front of the screens so that you can make contact and let the racquet continue its follow through with the right upward angle.
If you make contact correctly, the tennis ball on the Topspin Pro will continue spinning forward. This feedback is how you can tell if you are hitting correctly.
You can practice the rhythm, timing, and swing path on either your forehand or backhand by swinging repeatedly with the Topspin Pro.
The ball is set up on a horizontal metal rod that it spins around. The angle of the screens help you create the ideal swing path to improve your topspin.
If you’re trying to learn a topspin forehand, for example, you can bring the Topspin Pro to the tennis courts.
- Set it up next to the court.
- Swing for 2 or 3 minutes on the Topspin Pro to feel the rhythm and swing path of a correct topspin forehand.
- Go hit forehands on a tennis ball machine or with a playing partner.
You will find after using the Topspin Pro, that your forehand will naturally have increased topspin.
You can also use the Topspin Pro in your home to practice your topspin forehand or backhand. I recommend hitting 250 groundstrokes, for example, 50 forehands five times per day.
Do this for a week and you will improve your topspin.
My Topspin Pro came in an easy to carry box. It’s relatively lightweight as well.
After opening the box and reading the step by step instructions, it took me about 5 minutes to set up. They have paper instructions that come with the training aid, and how-to videos on their website that show you the setup.
- First, you’ll set up the legs of the device which stand like a tripod.
- Second, you’ll insert the head unit, which has the tennis ball on the end, into the stand.
- Last, you add the screen panels and adjust the resistance of the ball.
You can find detailed setup, assembly, & how-to instructions at the TopspinPro website.
Here are a few questions you might have about the Topspin Pro.
Yes. The Topspin Pro works for all skill levels. Beginners who don’t know how to hit with topspin yet will get the most out of the Topspin Pro by learning this crucial tennis skill faster.
Yes. I played college tennis and still use the Topspin Pro to refine my topspin groundstrokes. I’ve always had an inconsistent backhand and find that this device helps me hit it with more confidence.
Yes. I know several coaches who use the Topspin Pro and tell me “it’s the best training device they’ve ever used.”
My high school coach, for example, is using it to teach topspin to kids transitioning from beginner to intermediate level tennis players. He said that using the Topspin Pro is helping his students learn to hit with topspin faster than ever before.
The Topspin Pro comes with a carrying case making it easy to take home or to the tennis courts. You can break it down and set it back up in just a few minutes. Also, it is not very heavy.
Obviously, the Topspin Pro helps you hit the ball with more topspin, but what does that do for your overall tennis game?
- You will control your shots better. You can hit the tennis ball deeper in the court since the topspin will make the ball dip faster. You will also be able to hit better angles and dip the ball to an opponent’s feet if they are at the net.
- You will be a more consistent player. Topspin allows you to hit higher over the net, while still keeping the ball in the court which creates better consistency.
- You will force more errors from the opponent. Topspin makes the ball jump off the court creating a difficult shot for your opponent. It also makes for a difficult volley.
Overall, the Topspin Pro provides the best solution for learning topspin that I’ve seen in the tennis market.