Tennis : can anyone explain top-spin?

[SSSandy]

Missed one tennis lesson where they apparently dealt with forehand top-spin. None of the other ladies seem to have got the hang of it, at least I couldn't make sense of their explanations (we're a group of 4). They seemed very discouraged and muttered that it didn't work.

Is it really so difficult and is their a trick to it?

bump!

It's quite simple really. Instead of hitting with the racket head flat to the ball (ie facing the net) you angle the head so that the strings are pointing at the ground somewhere between you and the net. The more top-spin you want, the nearer to horizontal you hold the racket. You also need to start your swing lower to the ground, and finish higher. Think upward chopping action, if that makes any sense!

Thanks Nivvy,
it really does make sense! Tennis lessons tomorrow , so I'll try it out

My instructor said today we need to flick the wrist when we do this so the racket faces the other way when you draw it up to your shoulder. I can't get my head around that at all but otherwise it works fine, following your instructions. Thanks!