How to play against a guy with a great net game?

[goober]

I had a hard time playing against this guy last night with a 4.0 serve and 4.0 ground strokes but a 5.0 net game. He is 6'4 " with a big wing span. He is impossible to lob over unless the lob is perfect. His large wing span pretty much makes passing shots equally as difficult. As soon as he got to the net he won the point about 90% of the time. I tried to keep my shots deep, but as soon as I hit even a little short he was on his way into the net. I also tried getting to the net before he could get to the net but my net game is not very good so that tactic didn't work to well.

I'll have to face him one more time in my league so I want to be better prepared next time. I am a baseliner trying to develop an all court game.

Any suggestions?

[el_mago]

Have you tried making him hit low volleys and also try to mix things up more?

[thejackal]

Hit your shots right at him to jam him. Also, if you say his serves are average, then step into the court a bit more while returning to put pressure on him.

[el_mago]

If you have consistently good groundstrokes, try extending rallies and like thejackal said attack his serve.

[THE ANIMAL]

If your going to hit deep your going to have to really power the ball aim for his body if he’s coming in i.e. make it a body shot really unleash or his feet otherwise. Once he’s at the net aim for low over the net with allot of top so it’s dipping loads as it goes over but hit the ball hard. Also go for the corners but this wont work unless you’re hitting hard. Taking the ball early and on the up also makes it loads harder gives him less time to prepare. On the return of serve hit hard and deep to his back hand really work his back hand hard, harder for him to dominate from there. Find his weakness and use it. On your serve pull him out wide harder for him to come to the net from a wide serve. As your a baseliner keep him where you want him on the baseline your going to have to overpower him hit deep with allot of power and good top. Go for more winners.

Power Power and MORE POWER or if you can work him hard corner to corner deep.

Forget about trying to win points by lobbing him unless you can wrong foot him and you no he has no chance. Like Jackal said unleash at his body, nut shot or face Jam him hard.

For someone who is a good volleyer the return of serve is very important so really pounce on his serves.

[el_mago]

If your going to hit deep your going to have to really power the ball aim for his body if he’s coming in i.e. make it a body shot really unleash or his feet otherwise. Once he’s at the net aim for low over the net with allot of top so it’s dipping loads as it goes over but hit the ball hard. Also go for the corners but this wont work unless you’re hitting hard. Taking the ball early and on the up also makes it loads harder gives him less time to prepare. On the return of serve hit hard and deep to his back hand really work his back hand hard, harder for him to dominate from there. Find his weakness and use it. On your serve pull him out wide harder for him to come to the net from a wide serve. As your a baseliner keep him where you want him on the baseline your going to have to overpower him hit deep with allot of power and good top. Go for more winners.

Power Power and MORE POWER or if you can work him hard corner to corner deep.

Forget about trying to win points by lobbing him unless you can wrong foot him and you no he has no chance. Like Jackal said unleash at his body, nut shot or face Jam him hard.

By extending rallies, I meant what THE ANIMAL said to keep him deep. But a much better explanation then mine, THE ANIMAL.

[THE ANIMAL]

Practice this deep as in around 1 foot from the baseline with good pace and good top. You really have to be able to do this consistently practice, practice and more practice.

[Rickson]

Hit the ball with a lot of topspin and keep it low. He should be getting a lot of dipping balls that way. If he comes in closer to avoid the dippers, start lobbing him, high and deep.

[dozu]

if you have a decent volley, take the net away from him... beat him to the net by rushing first. His passing shot might be very poor.

[jun]

try to find out what his tendency is. He might like to go cross court on forehand, but down the line on backhand. Where does he like to hit low volleys? Down the middle or crosscourt?

One mistake I tend to make against net rusher is trying to go through the guy. Try to focus on placement, angles, and putting more topspin on then pace.

Also, remember to shorten your backswing a little bit, since balls will be coming back fast.

Another good advice, as someone suggested, is trying to take a net away from him. You can do this by hitting deep groundies, or by coming in for yourself.

[Marius_Hancu]

Try to slice him. He will not like it, being this tall. Both in rallies, returns (including chip and charge) and approach shots.

[andfor]

I vote for what dozu and jun suggest. Because your are trying to work on your all-court game use your matches against this guy to work on it. Get to the net before he does. If you beat him to net net next time you two play more often than he gets there you should see an improvement in your results.

[snowpuppy]

Another thing you can do if your groundies are better is to open the court with angles. The textbook approch shot is the down the line because the line traps the other guy on one side. So the angles should a) keep him busy from coming to the net b) if he does come to the net, more options to pass.

[Ryoma]

Set him up with a heavy top spin inside-out to his left hand (preferrably high and deep, but not high enough for a overhead smash). This will force him to to return the ball to you with a crosscourt backhand volley, then you will have a forehand down the line or inside-in winner.

[mucat]

I also vote take the net away from him by volleying yourself, as long as you have a decent volley. And since he is tall, he will not be a quick mover, move him around left and right with your groundies, even when hitting passing shot, always hit to the open side and trying to keep the passing shot low. If you see him coming to the net, try step up and take the ball really early to cut down the angle.

[papa]

try to find out what his tendency is. He might like to go cross court on forehand, but down the line on backhand. Where does he like to hit low volleys? Down the middle or crosscourt?

One mistake I tend to make against net rusher is trying to go through the guy. Try to focus on placement, angles, and putting more topspin on then pace.

Also, remember to shorten your backswing a little bit, since balls will be coming back fast.

Another good advice, as someone suggested, is trying to take a net away from him. You can do this by hitting deep groundies, or by coming in for yourself.

Agree with you on this subject because most good players are not bothered very much by pace. However, its been my experience, that many taller players have a tough time with balls from the waist down directly in front of them. Its also been my experience, that they have some problems with sliced balls that are kept low. Just some thoughts.

[kevhen]

Either hit more aggressive groundstrokes to keep him from getting to net or when he does come to net hit low dipping passing shots and also shots straight into the body. Use him as your target and hit fairly hard. You will get lots of good practice on your passing shots so maybe they will improve. I would avoid hitting lobs for the most part. Enjoy the challenge.

[Paunchy Gandalf]

Excellent advice, papa!

[Camilio Pascual]

Lob. 123456