How fast should I do my topspins?

Hi again Jeff and Alois,

My question today is about the speed of my topspins.

What factors should I have in mind to decide play a fast topspin (80% of my power) or a slower topspin (65%)?, of course, with more power I will be less consistent.

Im getting a lot of better those days, and I want to make one step more, I was very agresive, good topspins but a lot of mistakes too, do you think I should be that agresive or slower a bit?, and how do you think I would improve more in a long term? 

Thank for your response!, I really apreciate it.

Hi Francisco,

Great question. There are a few things to consider. The first is your opponent. Which type of topspin do they struggle with? 

Next you need to think about consistency. As we talk about in our Most Important Skill video, you need to keep the ball on the table. In a match i'd much prefer to see you putting a high number of balls on the table rather than playing too fast and missing 50% of your shots.

The type of ball you are returning is also a factor. If its an easy ball it's usually best to use your full power. If you're out of position you can try a slower loop to get yourself back in the rally. If you are desperately out of position you might try to go for an outright winner.

To get better in the long term, you need to improve the consistency of your topspin plus the ability to play the ball faster. You can make this a focus in some of your training sessions where it is OK to push the boundaries a little. You'll find your training sessions more productive if you are forced to reach just past your current level.