Trick shots

[chadw01]

Anyone know of any websites that show you how to hit trick shots (i.e. between the legs drive/volley, behind the back volley, etc.)? I remember reading a while back an article in TENNIS magazine that showed you how to hit them - I think Vic Braden wrote the article, but I'm not sure.

While we're on the topic, I'd like to hear some of your experiences in using trick shots effectively.. whether you won the point or not.. it would be interesting to hear what kind of shot you attempted and the outcome of the point.

I have hit the between the legs shot a few times in match play, but never for a winner or anything.. it was just out of desperation more often than not. Yeah, I guess it's more hot dog tennis than anything else, but just to lighten things up here, let's talk about some of your experiences..!

[chadw01]

For anyone interested, I found a link here for the between the legs shot:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/tennis/skills/newsid_3413000/3413055.stm

[spress]

i play high school tennis at #1 doubles and i learned how to hit the through the legs shot from the #1 singles player. at first i just thought it was a sweet looking shot but after a couple matches when i could actually do it consistintly i relised how useful it is. I started using for lobs over my head that were to the corner so my partner couldnt get there in time the first 2 i did i just shanked down in to the ground. the next match i hit on of the top of the frame and accidently sent up a perfect lob for a winner the other two i have hit in matches were both crushed somehow i can hit that shot at about the same speed as my forehand. its a fun shot at first i way over used it at practice but now i actually know when to use it and it works preety well

[Cypo]

I haven't been able to play this shot in a long time (the people I play seem to have improved their dropshots - or the matches are closer and I'm not willing to risk it) but hitting almost straight down on a ball near the net and above it will give it enough backspin to come back over to your side.

[kreative]

I've seen 2 guys rallying crosscourt, 1 guy who would hit behind the back groundstrokes, the other guy would return w/ lefty forehands (normally a righty). They kept the rally going for a while, was pretty fun to see.

[Rickson]

Not really a trick shot, but it was a good winner; my opponent in doubles tried to lob me on my backhand side, but I jumped and hit a bh volley winner. My doubles partner almost fell on the floor in disbelief.

[Rickson]

I haven't been able to play this shot in a long time (the people I play seem to have improved their dropshots - or the matches are closer and I'm not willing to risk it) but hitting almost straight down on a ball near the net and above it will give it enough backspin to come back over to your side.Be careful not to hit an illegal volley. If the ball bouces on your side, you can cross the net on the hit, but you can't hit a ball on the fly until it crosses the net onto your side.

[TennsDog]

I'd have to agree with Rickson with the whole diving volley thing. I hit two for winners this year and one failed attempt. The first one was all frame and it nearly stopped on the net, fell over, and while the other guy could easily have played it, he put it into the net, I guess because I didn't think he would have to play another shot. The second one was even harder. I scraped up my hand and grip a little, but it was worth it to hit a lob winner that hit both doubles lines.
Somehow, my hitting partner is amazing at lobbing me and I can do nothing about it. So I wanted to learn the between the legs shot, but I have had no success with it yet. I went to that site that describes how to hit it, but I can't seem to get the timing and positioning right.

[Cypo]

Be careful not to hit an illegal volley. If the ball bouces on your side, you can cross the net on the hit, but you can't hit a ball on the fly until it crosses the net onto your side.

Not quite sure I follow you. To have the ball bounce back over to your side, the swing is almost vertically down. Or do you mean if you get a ball like this you're allowed to reach over the net to hit it ?

[Rickson]

Not quite sure I follow you. To have the ball bounce back over to your side, the swing is almost vertically down. Or do you mean if you get a ball like this you're allowed to reach over the net to hit it ?

I mean you're allowed to reach over the net to hit any ball that has already bounced on your side. I'm sure you already knew that rule, but many people don't. I commented about watching out for reach volleys because you said if you hit the ball almost straight down, it would cause the ball to spin back on your side; I thought you were speaking of a spike volley that causes you to reach for the ball on your opponent's side of the net which is illegal, although you can reach over the net on the follow through.

[Cypo]

Hitting straight down wasn't too clear, was it ? Thanks

[@wright]

I can hit the between the legs shot in consistently. It takes tons of practice and the ball has to be going slow enough for you to out run it, so you can have it between your legs in the air when you hit it. It's also hard to hit the shot straight back, many times I've sliced it one way or another. I encourage anyone to learn this shot, it impresses the hell out of people when you do it in a big match. I was practicing doubles with my USTA team and my teammates that I was playing that day in doubles hit a nice lob going to the back corner, I ran it down and hit it between the legs to their baseline for a clean winner. That is the only time I've done it for a clean winner, but I can usually run down the lob and keep it in play using this shot.

[TennsDog]

Anyone know where to get a good video of the between the legs shot?

[shissncg]

I went between the legs in the finals of a tournament. My opponent was so surprised that he shanked the volley into the net. Its a fun shot, but usually not the best option. Hitting enough backspin to get the ball to come back to your side of the net is cool. I pulled that off on a lunging volley once. But the most amazing version I have seen was a friend who took a full swing at an overhead just inside the service line. He got all frame, right at the top. The ball had so much spin from the speed of his swing that it hit 4 feet inside the service line and bounced back to his side.

[nyu]

The legger is a desperation shot, but is a surefire way to get a gasp from the crowd, even if you miss. I've hit it a few times in tournaments, winning the point about half the time. Sometimes it's the only option.

[joebedford]

Not sure if this counts as a trick shot or if y'all do this routinely, but I have successfully returned quite a few lobs (including one today) "blind". In other words, got lobbed over, ran back to get it but didn't have time to turn around, and hit it back with by back to the net (but over my head, not between my legs).

[Hawaii 5.0]

Come on guys I leave the boards for a few months and this is all you can come up with. Do none of you guys remember my famed between sabatweeny drop shot or sabatweeny lob.On clay the sliding between the legs dropper or the behind the head(or rather wrap around) volley.

[Cypo]

How's that leaping one-handed backhand with the left leg kick coming Hawaii ?

[Rickson]

Not the flashiest trick shot around, but my opponent hit what would have been a clear winner to my backhand side. I simply let go with my bottom hand and hit a powerful forehand with the opposite hand back at him for a winner. Switching hands is sometimes a good alternative to a backhand if you have to stretch extra wide.

[joe sch]

For the ultimate statement shot, I like the Sampras jumping overhead including a scissors kick in synch with the slam putaway. The ball should be put over the fence or 50 rows up into a stadium. The scissors kick let your opponent known you are also capable of a knockout karate kick :wink:

[kevhen]

Yes, the jump overhead with scissors kick would be a nice shot to have. Is there any controller combination that let's you do that when you play as Sampras on those tennis video games?

[joe sch]

Sampras did not really do that scissors kick with his 2 ft+ leap. Its basically for show but does help you rotate your shoulders into the slam. It would be a neat combination to add, I may have seen it on mortal combat :)