Having Trouble Playing Opponents That Hit With No Pace/Power

[soggyramen]

Unfortunately my mind seems to go to hell when I play players like this. Don't get me wrong, i'll still whoop these guys but the only way I end up doing it is by playing better than them at their own game. I wanna be able to win on my own terms playing my own game. When I play these guys, I decellerate my swing, I don't return as well, and I'm just plain lazy. On the other hand when I play players in my area that do hit with power and play with pace in every area of their game, I play much better and 9/10 times, destroy them. Is there any times anyone can give me to help me on this issue. I wanna be able to play my aggressive game against them.

[cl76]

Doesn't sound like you have a problem as you seem to "whoop" these guys no matter what their pace.

[soggyramen]

Doesn't sound like you have a problem as you seem to "whoop" these guys no matter what their pace.

the problem is that i have to lower my level of play to win for some reason when the hit with no pace or power i can't unload on my shots and hit flat or really deep like i usually do. i end up have to hit short topspin balls back and just angle them for winners.

[cl76]

Are you really lowering your level of play or are you simply adjusting to counter their pace?

These guys who hit slow feed off players who hit hard and fast. I think you've gotten more skills by being adaptive than just doing the same old strategy.

[soggyramen]

Are you really lowering your level of play or are you simply adjusting to counter their pace?

These guys who hit slow feed off players who hit hard and fast. I think you've gotten more skills by being adaptive than just doing the same old strategy.

i never thought of it that way. i'm probably just adjusting and because it's not the way i perfer to play, i feel like i'm lowering my level.

[cl76]

I really don't think you're lowering your level at all. Because playing this way is different to your normal game, all your shots "feel" different and maybe even a little awkward. You will get used to this with experience and it won't play on your mind as much. You'll just think of it as "countering" a certain style of player.

Be happy you can change it up to beat these "slow" players. Some guys I know are so turned off by slow hitters they actually lose to them in a match! They then go and make every excuse under the sun as to why they lost: "Too slow I fell asleep", "I wasn't trying", "it's not real tennis" etc. They're too stubborn to adapt.

[LeeD]

Take from a different side....
You know how I always brag I'm 4.0 big hitter and all that nonsense?
Yesterday played an admitted 3.5 tourney player, big and strong, really quick and fast thous overweight a bit. Maybe 30 or so, 6'1 and easy 200lbs.
Anyways, he hit BIG. Strong topspin both wings, maybe 100mph spin serve to my backhand, and strong, low passing shots hit with tons of topspin.
Faster than my brain could react after working 7 hours pushing sailboats around...anyways.
Guess? I had to sorta PUSH to come out ahead. Used lots of hard angles slices, lots of short angles, lots of S/V and angles, to counter his pure hitting power and speed.
So, some players want to win, so do what they gotta do !!
Hit ONE total topspin forehand in two sets, and NO topspin backhands, both my normal shots.

[larry10s]

would you consider fabrice santorno level of play as "inferior". your ability to change tactics and win and play a winning style even if its not your #1 choice is something to be proud of and testimony to a nice level of mastery of strokes and tactics.

[Puma]

Take from a different side....
You know how I always brag I'm 4.0 big hitter and all that nonsense?
Yesterday played an admitted 3.5 tourney player, big and strong, really quick and fast thous overweight a bit. Maybe 30 or so, 6'1 and easy 200lbs.
Anyways, he hit BIG. Strong topspin both wings, maybe 100mph spin serve to my backhand, and strong, low passing shots hit with tons of topspin.
Faster than my brain could react after working 7 hours pushing sailboats around...anyways.
Guess? I had to sorta PUSH to come out ahead. Used lots of hard angles slices, lots of short angles, lots of S/V and angles, to counter his pure hitting power and speed.
So, some players want to win, so do what they gotta do !!
Hit ONE total topspin forehand in two sets, and NO topspin backhands, both my normal shots.

No offense Lee, but from your description your opponent is way better than a 3.5.....

[LeeD]

Yeah, with old age, comes all sorts of wierd hitting habits, seen and employed thru the ages....:)
Warming up, we were close to even, him hitting harder, me more consistent. Neither warmed up volleys, my strength, his weakness.
So I worked on volleys even from the baseline, he blasted topspiners to both sides of me. Fun two sets, we'll do it again hopefully next week.
It's nice to have a first serve that intimadates even the big strong guys.

[LeeD]

I think he's a real tournament 3.5 in a big metropolitan area. I consider myself a 4.0, so even thos I didn't really hit any forehands or real shots (me reacting only to his shots), the overall play reflected about correctly.
The local 4.5's I play are much more consistent from the baseline, have excellent net games, and move the ball around better, but most don't hit nearly as hard off both wings.
Nice to play a good, strong, up and coming player who has the power, movement, and reactions. Now if I can get his volleys up to par, some more variety on his serves, and a touch more consistency on his forehand, he'd wipe me right off the court. :):)

[tennisboy777]

Unfortunately my mind seems to go to hell when I play players like this. Don't get me wrong, i'll still whoop these guys but the only way I end up doing it is by playing better than them at their own game. I wanna be able to win on my own terms playing my own game. When I play these guys, I decellerate my swing, I don't return as well, and I'm just plain lazy. On the other hand when I play players in my area that do hit with power and play with pace in every area of their game, I play much better and 9/10 times, destroy them. Is there any times anyone can give me to help me on this issue. I wanna be able to play my aggressive game against them.

well it sounds like your vsing a pusher.. when your up against these "things" try to keep your mindset composed and stop ripping out your hair. try to play your own game and if you can rush the net more often to put the ball away with a volley and keep your opponent moving to encourage short balls and maybe some mishits. you shouldn't have problems with these kind of people if you remember to keep your own strokes and dont cave in to his type of game. besides pushing battles are so frickin boring... REMEMBER YOU > PUSHER

[topspin92]

If your net game is good, it will help you a lot. For pushers, you need to put a lot of pressure on them. Many of them don't have it in them to hit passing shots. Either they are gonna start missing shots, or you are going to have a lot of easy volleys.