Sidespin Chops

Alois, just to clarify, you can't actually do a top/side spin chop can you. A chop is always a downward movement that will impart varying degrees of backspin but never top spin.  To get topspin would require a loop (topspin), drive, counter hit or lob correct?

Thanks Alois :)

@Rohan I Am

He doesn't chop downwards for the side/top. He chops in a similar motion as a backhand serve

Hi Jack and Rohan,

Yes it is a sidespin chopping action that is similar to a backhand serve.  That is a good comparison Jack.  He is hitting it later in his swing as the racket starts to go upwards in the arc.

OK, I can visualise that.  But it is actually a deceptive stroke, just like making a topspin serve look like it's going to be a backspin serve (either backhand or pendulum), rather than an actual chop, right?

While it may initially look like a chop (starting high and moving down toward the ball), it ceases to be one prior to contact because you are not continuing the downward stroke past the point of contact (is this not the definition of chop) but rather you are swinging up at the time of contact.

If you can do a topspin chop, I'd love to see a video of it.  Thx

@Rohan I Am

Allow me to explain. Imagine a normal chopping stroke. Now imagine that person tilting his/her body more to the side and contacting the side of the ball during the stroke instead of the bottom of the ball. It's a very awkward stroke, but that's how he does it. And do note that it is not topspin. It's purely side with abit of top. I hope this clears things up c:

Jack, two things to try (if you haven't already) either try to play the ball short to draw him right in before you play the ball long, or if he is lobbing or fishing then standing further back in antcipation of your attack, then you play a drop shot. If he is in close when you play the ball long he will have less time to play his spin shots and so be less effective. If you do get in a rally where he is stood right back you should also vary the pace of your returns. You need to mess him up before he gets into a rhythm.

Sounds awkward, and intriguing Jack.  I'll have to give it a try and see what happens.  Is it only on the backhand chop stroke or does he do the same thing on the forehand side?

@Nigel C

Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try.

@Rohan I Am

Yes, he only does it on the backhand stroke. He chops normally with his forehand

Jack,I think I understand what he is doing since if I understand it well I use the same principle with my pendulum serve.
Normal backspin pendulum is that I swing the bat under the ball from back to front,the ball flies off,and then I redraw the bat back in exactly reverse trajectory.
But when I want topspin,I simply use the exactly same action but with different timing,so that the ball is hit with the reversely moving swing.
I imagine your opponent's stroke similarly,that he allows the ball to drop to the lowest point of his stroke where he already can start the upwards movement.
Am I right?