Playing in super slow conditions, what would you do?

[Mikael]

Hi guys,

imagine you are playing on a slow court with very fluffy balls versus a fit opponent who doesnt make UEs and plays good defense.

You usually win points with the pace of your shots and are not very patient when it comes to digging trenches and slugging through 20+ shot rallies.

What gameplan would you use? How would you go about winning points consistently?

[Gee Willikers Batman!]

Had this happen to me just yesterday. Had to play a school challenge match against a pusher for ladder rankings. He played very good defense and anytime I came to net he would lob. What I eventually did was, in a way, push BACK and he eventually hit an error. I didn't give him any real pace to work with and he got as frustrated as I did in the 1st set.

By the way:i won 7-5 6-0


EDIT: Also, if your playing a guy who is NOT a pusher, throw in some slices and drop shots. Some defensive players like pace.

[the wise wizard]

Had this happen to me just yesterday. Had to play a school challenge match against a pusher for ladder rankings. He played very good defense and anytime I came to net he would lob. What I eventually did was, in a way, push BACK and he eventually hit an error. I didn't give him any real pace to work with and he got as frustrated as I did in the 1st set.

By the way:i won 7-5 6-0


EDIT: Also, if your playing a guy who is NOT a pusher, throw in some slices and drop shots. Some defensive players like pace.

he said it all

[Rickson]

Go to his backhand a lot if it's his weaker side. Get the balls back deep and with a ton of topspin because you'll usually get an unpredictable bounce on a slow court. Only volley when you can hit a very deep approach and make sure you angle the volley away from him.

[Il Mostro]

Had this happen to me just yesterday. Had to play a school challenge match against a pusher for ladder rankings. He played very good defense and anytime I came to net he would lob. What I eventually did was, in a way, push BACK and he eventually hit an error. I didn't give him any real pace to work with and he got as frustrated as I did in the 1st set.

By the way:i won 7-5 6-0


EDIT: Also, if your playing a guy who is NOT a pusher, throw in some slices and drop shots. Some defensive players like pace.

Ahhhh... using the concept of the *breaking point*. Smart and disciplined.

[Mikael]

Actually the situation I'm describing happened to me yesterday in the 2nd round of an Open tournament... The opponent was definitely not a pusher. I think we were both frustrated with the conditions (very fluffy balls) and ended up playing defensive tennis, because attacking wasnt really paying off for either one of us. Lots of successful passing shots and retrieving from both sides, due to the slow conditions.

Essentially it became a grinding contest with points being decided by determination more than anything else.

I guess I will work on mixing things up more, on being more consistent with drop shots, angle shots and the like. For the moment I can hit them but it never feels super natural.

I guess I just have to practice that kind of situation more... Like trying to win practice sets without being allowed to hit big shots.

[Headshotterer]

when you get a nice soft ball, angle it out through the service boxes, then if he gets it hit it down the line

[Moz]

Great question and with the courts, balls and strings these days this happened a couple of times with me. Particularly in the UK where you don't get new balls for a third set.

The tactics suggested are all great but there is nothing better than stepping on court knowing two things:

a) You have the higher mental shot tolerance. You're willing to get one more ball in than your opponent.
b) You have the physical fitness to be able to execute a).

Some of your training shoudl be focused on being able to do a and b - because sometimes that is the only thing that will get the win.

[tennisfreak15347]

Mix up your shots a bit. add a cuople of drop shots, and slices out of no where. This will throw off your opponent. I'm imagining "slow court" as in the court really grabbed the biggest of your forehand winners and just sat the ball up, allowing your opponent to hit it.

[Mikael]

Great question and with the courts, balls and strings these days this happened a couple of times with me. Particularly in the UK where you don't get new balls for a third set.

The tactics suggested are all great but there is nothing better than stepping on court knowing two things:

a) You have the higher mental shot tolerance. You're willing to get one more ball in than your opponent.
b) You have the physical fitness to be able to execute a).

Some of your training shoudl be focused on being able to do a and b - because sometimes that is the only thing that will get the win.

Good point, and I can see myself resorting to that approach if:

a) Opponent appears prone to frustration
b) Opponents technique seems weak on one side
c) Opponent goes for a lot of risky shots
d) It's a match I'm really really desperate to win, like my life, or a date with Anna Kournikova, depends on it

However in other cases... just waiting for something to happen during an uneventful 30 shot rally is not fun enough, and I play tennis primarily because it's fun!

[Moz]

Good point, and I can see myself resorting to that approach if:

---d) It's a match I'm really really desperate to win, like my life, or a date with Anna Kournikova, depends on it

However in other cases... just waiting for something to happen during an uneventful 30 shot rally is not fun enough, and I play tennis primarily because it's fun!

Ha ha - fair enough. It's like condoms - good to have in your pocket just in case.

[[K]aotic]

when you're playing slow conditions there is ONE thing that you ALWAYS have to keep in mind if you are playing a competent player. This one thing is to keep things mixed up. You do NOT want a person who doesn't make unforced errors to get into a rhythm? you feeling me? every once in awhile give him a dropper and go for the pass or something like that... remember... DON'T let that player get in a rhythm.

[TennisTrainee]

Ha ha - fair enough. It's like condoms - good to have in your pocket just in case.

Epic quote.