Answer for Tension holding bat to get spin

Hey Dan, thanks I’ve been working hard on my game and backhand the last year so it’s good to see some improvements coming in now, still a long way to go but I’m getting there. I’m a danger haha definitely potential in there to beat them and make them eat their words like you said! 🙂   Great to hear you are enjoying the TTD Team videos, it’s a lot of work but good fun! 
 
Ok so on your question of tension I think it’s a bit of a personal thing and how you feel comfortable. For sure most of the time it’s important to be relaxed and not grip the bat too tightly, however in the exact timing of when you contact the ball it’s good to then try to squeeze the bat and create that tension through the contact point. This gives you that sudden bite on the ball which generates a lot of spin. If you are totally relaxed all the way through on shots like the open ups or serves you can still get spin of course but to really get big amounts I think you do need that element of tension right on the contact. So I would say keep focused on being relaxed in general play but on the open up shots or when you want a lot of spin and on serves, try to squeeze your first finger and thumb slightly on the contact for that bit of tension and then relax off again. It does’t need to be really hard but I think this is the balance you are looking for. Hope this helps. 
 
Dan 🙂