Tennis Tactic clips : can you review my demos

[Solat]

hello TT team,

i have been working on the idea of creating some tennis tactic clips, i have made a couple of demos of what i am thinking of doing.

If you have time I would appreciate you having a look and giving some feedback here on ideas or techniques i could incorporate.

Please bear in mind this was done with a basic freeware program so it doesnt have any fancy stuff, also the audio is recorded into inbuilt mics and there is a buzzing problem that will not happen when i get my proper mic set up.

The actual plan is to use dartfish or the like but I don't have a copy yet.

cheers for your time
Tennis Excellence Vimeo Site (http://www.vimeo.com/user1972974)

[Cenc]

nice

10 char

[mikro112]

nice

10 char

Indeed.........

[Blake0]

Great tactic tips, even though its pretty basic, it's very important for all level players to know.

Here's a couple more ideas, changing spin/pace, something on short angles, use of dropshots, passing shots/lobs, how to play out important points in a game, & attacking the stronger stroke. Not really well thought out, but hopefully it gives you some ideas :).

[Grizvok]

Attacking the stronger stroke? What do you mean by that?

Attacking the weaker stroke sounds more like it.

[MesQueUnClub]

Attacking the stronger stroke? What do you mean by that?

Attacking the weaker stroke sounds more like it.

There is 2 thoughts that go into attacking the stronger side(There might be more, but these are 2 that I think of :) ) :

1) When you are playing a very good player - especially one you know is better than you, people tend to think that they can keep attacking their weaker side and see it as the only option to win the match. Sounds like a plan...
But most often than not, we tend to focus on hitting hard on to their weak side that we lose track of the actual goal of beating the opponent by playing the best shot for the situation. We keep hitting to their weak side even when we have other options, that they cue in on the plan and intentionally move more to their weaker side leaving the stronger side vulnerable. But since we are keyed in on attacking the weaker side, we miss the opportunity to hit an easier winning shot. Also when we do hit to their strong side, it's on their terms and they rip another winner down your throat from there.

2) The best way to break down an opponent is by taking apart their best weapon. By attacking a players stronger side very hard, we give them no opportunity to hit an easy shot from there. This means they will make more errors from their stronger side than they expected to make. This shakes their confidence and they will make more mistakes on other strokes and work as an advantage for you. So make them hit tougher shots from their stronger side.

[MesQueUnClub]

By the way good videos, Solat. Watched all 4 of them. Hoping to see more.

Cheers
/JP

[Blake0]

Attacking the stronger stroke? What do you mean by that?

Attacking the weaker stroke sounds more like it.

I forgot who said this but when he was asked, why do you attack the stronger stroke? He replied, "I attack the stronger side, because once it breaks down, all they can rely on is their weaker side."

[Grizvok]

I forgot who said this but when he was asked, why do you attack the stronger stroke? He replied, "I attack the stronger side, because once it breaks down, all they can rely on is their weaker side."

Yea, Nadal goes after Federer's forehand all the time... Have you listened to Cahill and BG when they commentate? They are pretty big proponents of going after the WEAKER side of the other player and it works. Personally, I'd have a huge grin on my face if my opponent kept hitting to my forehand but that's just me.

[Bagumbawalla]

I only watched the one video about hitting to the weaker side. Since this is seems to be a series focusing on the absolute basics (at least this part), I would suggest something like- first showing Federer hitting a couple massive forehand winners. Then explain-- "that's why you want to hit to the "weaker" side"-- now see the difference in hitting to the backhand (you are also avoiding the stronger side)-- then expalin (as you did, somewhat) how the point is set up (by pushing him wide, getting a weaker/shorter response, opening the court...)

I would probably have omited the exchange with the dropshot (even though it was to the backhand side) because it was an additional and different tactic that raises other questions and could be explained later in another segment devoted to dropshots and bringing opponents to the net.

Everything else I liked, especially stopping the action at certain points and explaining what is going on-- and then showing the result.

[Grizvok]

There is 2 thoughts that go into attacking the stronger side(There might be more, but these are 2 that I think of :) ) :

1) When you are playing a very good player - especially one you know is better than you, people tend to think that they can keep attacking their weaker side and see it as the only option to win the match. Sounds like a plan...
But most often than not, we tend to focus on hitting hard on to their weak side that we lose track of the actual goal of beating the opponent by playing the best shot for the situation. We keep hitting to their weak side even when we have other options, that they cue in on the plan and intentionally move more to their weaker side leaving the stronger side vulnerable. But since we are keyed in on attacking the weaker side, we miss the opportunity to hit an easier winning shot. Also when we do hit to their strong side, it's on their terms and they rip another winner down your throat from there.

2) The best way to break down an opponent is by taking apart their best weapon. By attacking a players stronger side very hard, we give them no opportunity to hit an easy shot from there. This means they will make more errors from their stronger side than they expected to make. This shakes their confidence and they will make more mistakes on other strokes and work as an advantage for you. So make them hit tougher shots from their stronger side.

No, you are wrong. When you are playing a very good player they will make you pay over and over and over again for hitting it right to their strong side no questions asked. My forehand doesn't break down, period.

Not to mention #2 totally destroys the point you just made in #1. If you attack the strong side, then you may miss easy winners going the opposite way will you not? How is that different at all from attacking the weak side?

[Blake0]

Attacking the stronger side means to break down their weapon, so the only thing they have left is their weak side. You don't use this tactic against someone better then you..that's just asking to get killed :). You use it against people your level or lower, and break down their stronger side by changing pace, hitting harder, heavier, or flatter, skidding slices, side spin slices, or even looping balls to that side. Once they lose their confidence on their stronger shots, they're broken and you can go for the kill :twisted:.

[MesQueUnClub]

^^ @Grizvok and Blake0

What you guys said might be true in case higher rated players playing. I'm a 3.5 player who started playing tennis a year back and steadily improving. So I'm in the learning phase still.

1) When I tried attacking the weaker back hand side of some of my opponents, I noticed that I am not consistent enough to relentlessly attack it. I could almost consistently hit balls there, but not all of them were quality balls and as a result got punished - people running around to hit inside out flat cross-court forehands.
2) B'cos of this thought in my head to hit to their backhand, I sometimes kept hitting to their backhand side when it was easier to hit a forehand(not a winner, but just a rally shot)

Soon they started expecting it to the backhand and started running around my weaker shots to the back hand and I got a few losses following this strategy and that's where I modified it a bit.

What I came up with was to initially hit balls with varying pace, spin to their forehand. I have a very good slice, even if I say so myself :) . So I use them in the first few games of a match to the forehand side of my opponents. I also hit a topspin balls that falls deep but with not a whole lot of pace. I also bring them running in with a few drop shots after that. This strategy has got a few people I have played against recently very frustrated and I have seen them over-hitting forehands and missing them when they should have easily got me on the run with a better stroke and finished off the point later. Also I have noticed that they go for the one shot winner on one of my first loopy balls after a couple of my low skidding down the line slices, so I am a bit more prepared.

So I have been using this strategy and it's been working for me for the last few weeks in matches. And as a result of them missing these forehand shots, I have escaped a few times later in the match when they get an easy put away ball on the forehand side but hit a safer shot as they are not confident enough.

So that's what I was trying to say with my earlier post.

I also think that this has been working b'cos my down the line back hand slice is faster, deeper, skids lower and consistent than my cross-court slice.

I would like to hear from you guys on how you would play against this strategy so that I can mentally prepare for it when someone figures it out.

Thanks
/JP

[MesQueUnClub]

To add to the above post :
I got this idea from one of the commentators during the french open match between nadal and soderling. They said that soderling, instead of steadily attacking nadal's weaker back hand attacked his forehand and gave him no easy balls on his forehand side to put away. And this they say made it harder for nadal in the match.

I might have interpreted it the wrong way though:oops: