Which stroke breaks down the easiest during an important match?

[Golden Retriever]

Is it the serve that breaks down the easiest?

[dlesser13]

your head.

[LeeD]

Wouldn't that depend on WHO the player is?
Any stroke can fail over and over again for most players. The good ones have less failures, so you think they've got it wired.
Serves can fail, since it's onus is upon YOU.
Forehands can fail, because you rely on it to work strong and forcing.
Backhands can fail, because the opponent picks on it.
Overheads can fail, because it's the mechanics of the serve with someone else tossing the ball...and you gotta chase it.
Volleys can fail, because you might start to look at the target in anticipation of a clean clear winner.
Your brain can fail, and get caught up in the moment, get shellshocked, and react in all different ways to pressure and intimidation, weather, fans, sleep, breakfast, future girlfriends, how to get home, what's for dinner........

[GuyClinch]

My strokes don't fail but I get all tense and start hitting dink shots. It sucks.

[Bud]

Is it the serve that breaks down the easiest?

As LeeD stated... it's different for everyone. Although, when most people get tight... their serve usually suffers to some degree.

For me... I have a tendency to overhit my 1HBH, long. I really have to concentrate on brushing up on the ball and keeping my head still to prevent overhitting it.

[Blake0]

When i get tight...my consistency breaks down :(. It all depends on who the player is, and what are there weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes your strengths can break apart, but it tends to be weaknesses that break apart faster.

[herosol]

the forehand, just because with the modern stroke it depends on such a relax arm, that tense moments tend to tighten most people's "best" shot.

[ms87]

drop volley

[Cindysphinx]

My serves start going into the bottom of the net.

And then my partner tells me the solution: "Just get it in!"

[adams_1]

My serves start going into the bottom of the net.

And then my partner tells me the solution: "Just get it in!"

Oh, you have to love that.

Clearly putting them into the net is a silly idea on your part, and you should hit them in instead. Right?

[wihamilton]

My serves start going into the bottom of the net.

And then my partner tells me the solution: "Just get it in!"

Heh. The better solution is to take a little off your first serve and get it in... that way you don't have to worry about a second serve. On big points I'll typically hit an aggressive kick serve to my opponent's backhand -- granted, being a lefty makes this a more effective play than usual.

[imalil2gangsta4u]

Always my forehand.

[LeeD]

For me, actually it's also the forehand.
My serves can go great after I've choked.
But my forehand tends to shift to conti after I've broken down, and a weak slice over and over again is a formula for disaster (for me).
I can start out 4.0, but a broken forehand drags me right down to a top level 3.5 in no time.:):)

[Gmedlo]

I'm very surprised no one has said overhead yet.

[Dedans Penthouse]

I'm very surprised no one has said overhead yet.

Overhead; excellent call.

THAT (the overhead) at the 'club' level (4.0-5.0 level) is imho the shot that separates the wheat from the chaff. Many times you'll see "Player A" win the warmup and display his/her flashy stokes.....but then it comes down to crunch time (3-all in the 3rd set) and "Player B" (e.g. a baseline retriever) starts throwing up lobs.......

If "Player A" has a money-in-the-bank overhead, Player A wins.

Again: IF "Player A" has a "clutch," put away overhead.

[Golden Retriever]

My strokes don't fail but I get all tense and start hitting dink shots. It sucks.

I think that actually means your strokes are failing big time.

[Golden Retriever]

I am a baseliner and I suck at the net. However when I get tight my volley and overhead are the last to break down. So ironically, I always find myself going to net when I get tight.

[(Blank)]

Overheads are automatic for me. After losing a doubles match several years back in high school to this team who lobbed it back deep constantly, my partner and I spent a lot of time on overheads from the baseline.

My forehand can go to crap pretty quickly though when I get tight.

[chess9]

My forehand.

The forehand stroke is a fairly complex stroke and the slightest timing error, tightness, or swing plane anomaly can drive mine off the charts. Normally, when I'm playing well, my forehand is a very strong shot, however. It's odd, that....

Overheads and serves are easy....

-Robert