Do slow players need to hit hard strokes more often?

[Duzza]

Hey guys i'm a really slow player, not bad footwork but really slow from one corner to another. Just wondering because i hit the ball quite hard and try to because i know if i just hit good topspin shots i wouldn't be able to keep up with the game. Should i stick with the hard shots or go for deeper topspin but slightly weaker shots, or just work on my court speed heaps?

[nickowns]

Hitting hard on a shot that doesn't threaten your opponent is going to cut your time in reacting to the next ball, remember the faster you hit the ball, the faster it comes back if your shot can be easily handled by your opponent.

For slow players, I think top spin shots that stays deep so you have time to recover is adequate, use a hard shot to threaten your opponent or finish off the point.

my 2 cents.

[Duzza]

yeh i agree with what you said, its just if i hit topspin deep and high i will become my worst enemy

[astra]

I think you should play fast, not to give a time to your opponent to get you running. You must dictate the game. If you play a high topspins, you will prolong rallies and need to run a lot.
Moreover, I do not like players with high topspins only, it is exteremely boring to play against.:)

[EMestizo]

I'd seriously work on your court speed. Court drills, sprints, etc...it only makes you better. Just be dedicated to getting faster around the court. Just think, if you get faster, you'll be in better position to hit harder shots more often.

[jackson vile]

Hey guys i'm a really slow player, not bad footwork but really slow from one corner to another. Just wondering because i hit the ball quite hard and try to because i know if i just hit good topspin shots i wouldn't be able to keep up with the game. Should i stick with the hard shots or go for deeper topspin but slightly weaker shots, or just work on my court speed heaps?


You should keep with what you are doing and look to improve unpon it.

Spend more time on your serve and serve return, but you should never try to end a point if you are out of position, but if you are in position feel free as long as you are not erroring your self out.

Why change?

[snoflewis]

if you cant play too defensively and run around the court, it's probably wise to be in a more offensive stand than a defensive one.

[mucat]

You need to find out why you are slow first.

Footspeed? Anticipation? Poor court position? Poor shot selection?

[kevhen]

Avoid angles unless going for winners. Hit up the middle and go straight in to net and volley if you can't rally. Half of tennis is being able to move so do what you can to improve your movement or you will struggle to keep up playing the game. Play lots of doubles where court coverage is less critical.

[lucky leprechaun]

Avoid angles unless going for winners. Hit up the middle and go straight in to net and volley if you can't rally.

That's what I do right there. I used to go for angles and that's not a good idea if you're a slow player because you can expect another angle from your opponent which will be harder for you to deal with. Cross court shots have become change-up shots more for me as I really rely on NOT giving my opponent a chance to hit angle shots. I concentrate on depth and waiting for a short ball to come in on.

[ralphtifftennis]

That's what I do right there. I used to go for angles and that's not a good idea if you're a slow player because you can expect another angle from your opponent which will be harder for you to deal with. Cross court shots have become change-up shots more for me as I really rely on NOT giving my opponent a chance to hit angle shots. I concentrate on depth and waiting for a short ball to come in on.


I agree with several other posters. You should look to be aggressive with your game. Whether that incorporates heavy spin and then flattening it out, attacking short balls etc. But don't let errors lose it for you.

Do work on you footwork and anticipation skills. This will help regardless if you were doomed to be slow afoot.

Also work on your defense. When you are caught out of position just look to get it back in and deep. Loopy topspin or low slice up middle. Give yourself time to recover.

Good luck.

[siber222000]

all those facts that other people said will work, but don't relie on those things because it will hurt u someday, so i would suggest start training ur stamina right now, but use those techniques that other people posted so you could replace your slowness until you get more stamina

[tennus]

Hitting hard on a shot that doesn't threaten your opponent is going to cut your time in reacting to the next ball, remember the faster you hit the ball, the faster it comes back if your shot can be easily handled by your opponent.

For slow players, I think top spin shots that stays deep so you have time to recover is adequate, use a hard shot to threaten your opponent or finish off the point.

my 2 cents.

Yeah, if your opponent is far better than you, try to shorten the points by hitting hard struck crosscourt balls down the line and slower loopy balls hard cross court. The better player will usually be attempting to recover so if you're capable of hitting winners this may be your best bet. I've seen this tactic used in juniors with an occasional amazing result !:)

[Mahboob Khan]

Hitting hard on a shot that doesn't threaten your opponent is going to cut your time in reacting to the next ball, remember the faster you hit the ball, the faster it comes back if your shot can be easily handled by your opponent.

For slow players, I think top spin shots that stays deep so you have time to recover is adequate, use a hard shot to threaten your opponent or finish off the point.

my 2 cents.

Yes, I agree. Hard/penetrating shots will get to your opponent early and because of the pace the ball will come back to you early. You want more time so that you are able to move from one corner to the other. Heavy (and deep) topspin shots where the ball will clear the net by high margin, will give you enough time to recover. However, when the ball is short and easy go for a winner.

[Duzza]

You should keep with what you are doing and look to improve unpon it.

Spend more time on your serve and serve return, but you should never try to end a point if you are out of position, but if you are in position feel free as long as you are not erroring your self out.

Why change?

I'm known for going for too much at the wrong times, which is what i need to work on. Thanks guys

[x Southpaw x]

Hey guys i'm a really slow player, not bad footwork but really slow from one corner to another. Just wondering because i hit the ball quite hard and try to because i know if i just hit good topspin shots i wouldn't be able to keep up with the game. Should i stick with the hard shots or go for deeper topspin but slightly weaker shots, or just work on my court speed heaps?
decently good players I know that are very slow on footwork are spinmeisters, so aim to be a spinmeister!

[jackson vile]

I'm known for going for too much at the wrong times, which is what i need to work on. Thanks guys


It's called practice and experience, there really is nothing you can do except get your court and game time.

You can read everything and it won't help, at some point you just have to go out there play observe, correct end of story.

I don't come here for advice anymore, why? Because I am too busy working on my game, to me there just really is nothing here that can't be found working on the court?

Sure there are somethings here and there, but IMO not much.


But I suggest you never change your game and anyone that suggests so is just a newbie.

In some extreme cases perhaps, but a person usually does what is natural to them.

What is natural , it is what you body finds easiest to do, because that is what best suits you.

It is very rare you will find some one that fliped thier game.


But like I said if you can serve, serve return and volley you won't have to think all that much, if that is your type of play then do it and quit listening to people telling to do this and that.

You have a game plan just improve on it, practice is the only way you get better reguardless of having information of not, it is will and time, observe and corrct.

Only time can help, not the internet:mrgreen:

[AngeloDS]

It's a matter of knowing your opponent and knowing when to pull what shots. On the run I tend to put more topspin and have it higher than normal so I have time to stop and get back into position. Unless he comes into the net, then you go and try to rip it past him or go for the lob.

Hitting very hard down the middle is a good way to stop your opponent from running you around since it puts him in either a defensive or neutral position. From which you can start to move him around or come into volley.

[Duzza]

It's called practice and experience, there really is nothing you can do except get your court and game time.

You can read everything and it won't help, at some point you just have to go out there play observe, correct end of story.

I don't come here for advice anymore, why? Because I am too busy working on my game, to me there just really is nothing here that can't be found working on the court?

Sure there are somethings here and there, but IMO not much.


But I suggest you never change your game and anyone that suggests so is just a newbie.

In some extreme cases perhaps, but a person usually does what is natural to them.

What is natural , it is what you body finds easiest to do, because that is what best suits you.

It is very rare you will find some one that fliped thier game.


But like I said if you can serve, serve return and volley you won't have to think all that much, if that is your type of play then do it and quit listening to people telling to do this and that.

You have a game plan just improve on it, practice is the only way you get better reguardless of having information of not, it is will and time, observe and corrct.

Only time can help, not the internet:mrgreen:

Good advice dude. I officially resign from the Tennis Tips/Instruction section ;)