Help with this type of player!

[GhostLigre]

I'm going to play a tournament match with this guy who I've already seen play. He has a big first serve, but his groundstrokes are mostly high balls that do not have much pace to them (especially on the backhand wing). Occassionally, he flattens it out on his groundies, but he'll miss some. He is EXTREMELY consistent and likes to come up to net. I am afraid that I might play bad that day and just totally break in to his consistency.

My strengths include my serve, and groundstrokes.
My weaknesses are my net game (not too confident about them) and my mental side. I tend to choke a lot..

Any help with being able to play my game?

[Z-Man]

You can try to outlast him, but if he's more consistent and keeps the ball deep, that could get you in trouble. If he floats the ball high, but not too deep, you could try sneaking in to the net. If he's consistant but can't pass well, you could try coming to the net, but sounds like that isn't your strong suit. Does he have a western forehand? You could hit him lots of low slices. It's difficult to hit a loopy topspin shot off of a low ball. Try mixing it up. Don't try to blow him off the court--that's what a consistent player wants. Can you beat up on his backhand with your forehand? If you're afraid you'll choke, give him the Borg treatment. Don't show any emotion whatsoever. It could rattle him, and it will keep you cool.

[GhostLigre]

My game isn't really built around outlasting someone. I mean, I can try to do that, but usually everytime I try to outlast someone I end up being so erratic on my shots.

Yeah, coming up to net isn't really something I enjoy doing. The only time I usually come up to net is from a weak return off a good serve, or after an approach shot on a short ball.

He uses a semi-western forehand grip, I think..But if he did use a western grip, I could try using slices. I don't slice too often, but I like slicing just to change the pace of the point.

Yeah, I could try attacking his backhand with my forehand. I'm a southpaw so it'll definitely be easier for me to attack his backhand. Haha, the Borg treatment? The thing is, I choke on my own. Most of the time, my opponent has nothing to do with me choking. Do you think I should get in his face a little? Maybe pumping the fist after winning a point just to show some confidence will help me?

[Mick]

to defeat an extremely consistent player who likes to come up to the net, you would need a big serve and powerful groundstrokes. If you don't have those weapons, it would be mighty hard to defeat this guy.

[Rickson]

I'm going to play a tournament match with this guy who I've already seen play. He has a big first serve, but his groundstrokes are mostly high balls that do not have much pace to them (especially on the backhand wing). Occassionally, he flattens it out on his groundies, but he'll miss some. He is EXTREMELY consistent and likes to come up to net. I am afraid that I might play bad that day and just totally break in to his consistency.

My strengths include my serve, and groundstrokes.
My weaknesses are my net game (not too confident about them) and my mental side. I tend to choke a lot..

Any help with being able to play my game?
If he likes hitting moonballs and coming to net on them, kill him with passing shots. You might have some problems on your backhand side, but if you have time, run around and blast a forehand. You said your specialty was groundstrokes so passing shots on high balls should be easy. If he stays in the backcourt, hit some short shots to draw him and pass him once again. I love facing opponents who use poor approach shots because they either hit short approaches or high ones to the forehand and consequently make it easy to pass them.

[Swissv2]

I'm going to play a tournament match with this guy who I've already seen play. He has a big first serve, but his groundstrokes are mostly high balls that do not have much pace to them (especially on the backhand wing). Occassionally, he flattens it out on his groundies, but he'll miss some. He is EXTREMELY consistent and likes to come up to net. I am afraid that I might play bad that day and just totally break in to his consistency.

My strengths include my serve, and groundstrokes.
My weaknesses are my net game (not too confident about them) and my mental side. I tend to choke a lot..

Any help with being able to play my game?


Rickson had some good advice..and you can also move him around a bit. Don't go for extreme angles, just keep the ball in play left, right, short, long. Hit the ball deep then hit short. Mix it up.

[GhostLigre]

If he likes hitting moonballs and coming to net on them, kill him with passing shots. You might have some problems on your backhand side, but if you have time, run around and blast a forehand. You said your specialty was groundstrokes so passing shots on high balls should be easy. If he stays in the backcourt, hit some short shots to draw him and pass him once again. I love facing opponents who use poor approach shots because they either hit short approaches or high ones to the forehand and consequently make it easy to pass them.

Ah, good idea. Yes, I'll try to bring him up to net with some droppers and short balls and I'll beat him by passing him. During the first few points, I'll try keeping a rally with him and see if I can probably force some errors. If I'm making errors from going for too much, then I'll try the passing tactic. Thanks, Rickson.

Rickson had some good advice..and you can also move him around a bit. Don't go for extreme angles, just keep the ball in play left, right, short, long. Hit the ball deep then hit short. Mix it up.

Oh, I also forgot to mention he is quick. Very, very fast. Would moving him around really help? I mean it works for players who tire out quick, but this guy probably likes running around. But, yeah, I should probably try not to go for too much angle. Just enough to bring him out of position and enough for me to attack to the open court? But, yes, I'll mix it up a lot.

Thanks for the advice guys. The tournament starts tomorrow, but I play him on the second day since I got a bye. I'll update then as to what happend during the match.

[LuckyR]

How tall is this guy? Are is groundstrokes difficult for you to return, you mentioned he was very consistent, sounds like he isn't going for winners or very deep shots.

[Bagumbawalla]

Your weakness is your mental side. You tend to choke a lot.

That is the thing you need to work on most. A player who is confident in his own game does not usually wory about the particular style of the guy on the other side.

Recommendation: Work on your game until you believe in yourself.

How to do that: Practice against a wall or ball machine. Hit until your perfection becomes boring-- then-- practice with players that push you, so that in a tournament there is nothing new thrown at you.

Can you achieve this by your up coming match. Possibly not-- try to keep the ball in play.

Good lucl,

B

[Trinity TC]

Bagumbawalla is onto something here. It has less to do with your opponent's game and a lot to do with your state of mind on court. Hey GhostLigre...NEWSFLASH...everybody chokes. Don't let it bum you out so much. Learn to recover from those nervous moments. The good ones can. minimize the damage and do it within two points.

[The Prodigy]

If his shots are high, run up, take them off the rise and keep attacking his backhand. If he likes to get up to net, keep him at the baseline by hitting shots deep and crosscourt. Kick out wide, keep him off the court. If he's good at running, keep him running, he'll get tired eventually. Like some have said before, mix up your shots and keep him guessing.

[GhostLigre]

How tall is this guy? Are is groundstrokes difficult for you to return, you mentioned he was very consistent, sounds like he isn't going for winners or very deep shots.

He is fairly tall. Taller than me, for sure. But his groundstrokes are not overwhelming. He just pulls the trigger at times.

Your weakness is your mental side. You tend to choke a lot.

That is the thing you need to work on most. A player who is confident in his own game does not usually wory about the particular style of the guy on the other side.

Recommendation: Work on your game until you believe in yourself.


I think you're right. Everytime I play someone tough, I don't feel like I have confidence in myself. I'm so competitively challenged. I mean, it's like I'm playing against myself out on the court. Trying to fight my nerves.

Like you said, I just gotta believe in myself. I'll keep telling myself that during the match.

Don't let it bum you out so much. Learn to recover from those nervous moments. The good ones can. minimize the damage and do it within two points.

True, I'll keep that in mind.