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Launch Angle
Master ball trajectory control and how racquet setup affects shot angles.
Simple Explanation
Launch angle is how steeply the ball flies off your racket compared to the court. If it goes up a lot to clear the net, that's a high positive angle. If it goes down toward the ground (like a slice), that's a negative angle. Players use a higher launch angle when they want more arc (like on a topspin shot) and a lower (or flatter) angle when they want the ball to go faster and flatter.
Launch Angle Types:
- • Above 45°: Ball goes up - topspin, lobs, high clearance
- • Around 45°: Ball travels flat - power shots
- • Below 45°: Ball goes down - slice, drop shots
Technical Relationships
Swing Speed vs Launch Angle
For a given racket and swing, faster swing speed requires a lower launch angle to land in court, because a faster ball needs more forward drive to land in.
Key Relationship:
Faster swing speed → (all else equal) lower launch angle needed to land in court
String Effects on Launch Angle
Higher Launch Angle
- • Stiff strings (pop the ball up more)
- • Higher string tension
- • Polyester strings
Lower Launch Angle
- • Soft strings (let ball come off flatter)
- • Lower string tension
- • Natural gut or multifilament
Launch Angle Applications
High Launch
- • Topspin groundstrokes
- • Defensive lobs
- • High net clearance
- • Safe rally shots
Medium Launch
- • Aggressive topspin
- • Approach shots
- • Passing shots
- • Most groundstrokes
Low/Flat Launch
- • Power groundstrokes
- • Serves
- • Slice shots
- • Winners
Optimization Tips
- • Match launch angle to your swing speed and playing style
- • Adjust string tension to fine-tune launch characteristics
- • Practice different angles for various tactical situations
- • Consider court surface - clay allows higher angles, hard courts favor flatter shots