Jon Crim Demonstrating a Forehand Showing Ball Pocketing

What Is Ball Pocketing in Tennis?
Explanation + Video

Ball pocketing occurs during the brief moment when a tennis ball sinks into your strings before rebounding off your racquet. Although it lasts only a fraction of a second, this subtle effect directly influences the feel of your shots, including attributes such as control and comfort.

Despite its relevance to a racquet’s performance, it’s a nuanced phenomenon that can be hard to detect and isn’t always well understood. Yet, it can exert a subtly meaningful influence on your game and, in some cases, elevate your performance. In this guide, I’ll provide an example of ball pocketing in slow motion, then explain what it is, why it matters, and how different racquets, strings, and tensions can influence the way it feels on the court.

Example Video

Visualizing ball pocketing is tricky, unless you have a high-speed camera, as the ball only embeds into strings for a millisecond. However, I was able to record a video at 240 frames per second to provide a rough example.

In the following video, I show two separate shots, each at full speed and then slowed down to help visualize the concept. For this example, I was using the Yonex VCORE Pro strung with Babolat Touch VS.

Meaning

Ball pocketing describes the moment during contact when a tennis ball compresses into the string bed before rebounding off the racquet. While this interaction happens in just a few milliseconds, it’s an essential part of how energy transfers from your swing into the ball. Pocketing is subtle. Think of it like a slight cradling of the ball, which many players associate with a softer, more connected feel on impact.

Although pocketing is nearly impossible to see with the naked eye, high-speed video and lab measurements show that both the strings and the frame flex and compress under the pressure of impact, allowing the ball to sink in slightly. This deformation absorbs some of the shock of impact and helps control the ball’s trajectory as it leaves the string bed.

The depth and duration of pocketing vary depending on factors such as string material, tension, racquet stiffness, and swing speed, all of which contribute to the strength or faintness of the sensation during play.

Why It’s Beneficial

Ball pocketing isn’t just about feel; it can have practical benefits for your game. When the ball sinks into the strings, the contact can feel softer and more forgiving, helping to reduce the shock and the harsh vibrations that travel through the racquet into your hand and arm. This extra cushion is especially valuable for players who are sensitive to impact shock or who struggle with arm discomfort over long sessions.

Pocketing can also improve control by slightly extending the contact time between the ball and the strings. Even though the difference is measured in milliseconds, this momentary cradle of the ball helps stabilize the ball’s trajectory as it leaves the racquet face. Some players find that this extra feedback and stability on contact enhance a connected feel, making it easier to place shots with precision and generate consistent depth.

Influencing Factors

Several elements work together to determine the extent of pocketing you feel when you hit the ball, but one of the biggest influences is your string choice. Softer strings, like natural gut or multifilaments, flex more easily, allowing the ball to sink deeper into the string bed while providing a more cushioned impact. On the other hand, firmer polys tend to resist compression, producing a more crisp, less forgiving feel. One isn’t better than the other; they’re simply different, and it’s entirely a matter of personal preference when deciding which one you prefer.

Tension also plays a significant role, as lower string tensions allow the strings to flex more and absorb the ball deeper, increasing pocketing. Meanwhile, higher tensions tighten or stiffen the string bed, reducing how much the ball sinks in and resulting in a firmer response.

Your racquet also contributes to ball pocketing. For example, a racquet with a larger head size or a more flexible frame will generally allow more pocketing compared to a smaller, stiffer design. Even grommet systems, which influence how the strings pass through the frame, can affect how freely the strings move and the extent to which they can cradle the ball.

Finally, swing speed and technique can make a difference. Players with faster swing speeds will sink the ball deeper into the strings, exaggerating pocketing. Slower or more compact swings may not generate enough force to create the same sensation, even with a softer setup.

Enhancing Ball Pocketing

If you’re looking to increase your setup’s ball pocketing, the first and most impactful place to look to modify is your strings, as some types and constructions are better at enhancing this feel.

Natural gut stands out as the benchmark. Its uniquely elastic fibers compress easily and rebound smoothly, creating a deep, plush pocket that many players describe as unmatched for comfort.

Multifilament strings are the next best option. Constructed from hundreds or thousands of microfibers bound together, this category of string aims to mimic the softness and elasticity of natural gut, offering reliable pocketing and vibration dampening while being more affordable.

For players who prefer polyester strings, some softer co-polys can still deliver a noticeable pocketing sensation, especially at lower tensions, which softens the string bed. This type of string often blends different materials or incorporates proprietary additives to reduce stiffness and enhance feel without compromising too much control. Here are a few of my favorites.

String	Type
Babolat Touch VS	Natural Gut
Wilson Natural Gut	Natural Gut
Wilson NXT	Multifilament
ecnifibre X-One Biphase	Multifilament
Solinco Hyper-G Soft	Co-poly
Yonex Poly Tour Pro	Co-poly

Dropping your racquet’s tension by 2-3 lbs (0.91-1.36 kg) can also help accentuate ball pocketing, but you’ll also find that power increases with it, so there’s a tradeoff you have to make in this scenario.

Keep in mind that your experience will also depend on your racquet choice, swing style, and level of play. However, starting with a softer string or lower tension is an effective way to enhance pocketing.

Alternatively, you might consider a hybrid string setup, where you blend a poly in the mains with natural gut or a multifilament in the crosses, which will help soften the string bed without swinging too far in one direction.

Relationship to Dwell Time

Ball pocketing is closely related to dwell time, which refers to the amount of time the ball stays in contact with the strings during a shot. While they’re not exactly the same, the two often go hand in hand. For example, a string bed that pockets the ball more deeply usually holds it for a fraction of a millisecond longer, increasing its dwell time.

Even though these differences in dwell time are tiny, many players can feel them. A slightly longer contact can create a sensation of increased control and give the impression that you have more time to guide the ball, which is why you’ll find players discussing the topic online.

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