Court positioning for the baseline game

dlam

Semi-Pro
It just occurred to me that the optimal position during the rally is just left of the center hash mark
Reason is the it easier to run around the backhand and hit IO forehand or inside -inside forehand plus option to stay with either a cross court BH or DTL BH
However positioning right of the hash mark it s not strategical
As there is really just two shot options ( no one runs around their FH)
Where do like to position yourself during the rally ?
 
Middle of the court, I don't want to give the opponent any patterns and be predictable. Also, leaning towards one side can suggest you're masking a weakness.
 

Cheetah

Hall of Fame
Ouch.

So let's say you hit a forehand cc... you are going to recover to just left of the hash mark?

This is good only for ball machines or a wall. This is not effective against humans.
 

Limpinhitter

G.O.A.T.
What if you hit a forehand cross court within 5 feet of the corner, are you still going to position yourself left of the centerline?
 
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slowfox

Professional
Doesn't court positioning vary according to your last shot and the angle possibilities it gives your opponent?
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Head for the center of your opponent's possible return angles. You dno't need to be there, only headed there in time to cover the other side.
 

boramiNYC

Hall of Fame
not really center of the possible return angles because the reach for bh and fh are different. Also running fh is much easier than running bh. A slight bias toward backhand side due to reach.
 

dlam

Semi-Pro
not really center of the possible return angles because the reach for bh and fh are different. Also running fh is much easier than running bh. A slight bias toward backhand side due to reach.

I tend to recover quicker from the ad side as my initial crossover move is much better with my left leg
From the deuce side I tend to shuffle initial
Just doesn't feel right to cross my right leg over
 

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
Middle of the court, I don't want to give the opponent any patterns and be predictable. Also, leaning towards one side can suggest you're masking a weakness.
Yeah, na. Most good players will generally be slightly to the opposite side of the court in a cc scenario and masking a relative weakness on one wing is standard right up to the current number one player in the world. The position is based also on where the ball is when the opponent strikes it.

Standing slightly on one side (your weaker wing) is generally good tennis at all levels - it says to your opponent that you intend to hit 60% forehands for example and if they're good enough to make it otherwise then go for it. You're forcing them to play your game.

99.99% of players in the world are not good enough to usurp that strategy enough to make it not worth doing. If they go for a big shot down the more open side of the court they wont hit winners enough to mask that they'll also be hitting to your favoured wing more often too. Unless of course they can hit winner at will - which is unlikely.
 
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Mahboob Khan

Hall of Fame
Well, it also depends on the quality of your shots:

If you hit a great FH cross court, deep and high, the return is likely to be cross court;

If you hit a normal shot cross court, the return could be down the line;

If you hit a great down the line shot, deep and high, the return will be cross court;

If you serve a great serve out-wide, the returner will think twice to return down the line.

Know your shots and position yourself accordingly.

Mahboob Khan
MKTA, Islamabad Club
Director, Cardio Tennis, Pakistan
Mobile: 0092 300 8568403
 
Yeah, na. Most good players will generally be slightly to the opposite side of the court in a cc scenario and masking a relative weakness on one wing is standard right up to the current number one player in the world. The position is based also on where the ball is when the opponent strikes it.

Standing slightly on one side (your weaker wing) is generally good tennis at all levels - it says to your opponent that you intend to hit 60% forehands for example and if they're good enough to make it otherwise then go for it. You're forcing them to play your game.

99.99% of players in the world are not good enough to usurp that strategy enough to make it not worth doing. If they go for a big shot down the more open side of the court they wont hit winners enough to mask that they'll also be hitting to your favoured wing more often too. Unless of course they can hit winner at will - which is unlikely.

Maybe it's a habit for me. I used to run around most of my backhand, and hit forehands instead. I used to have an abysmal backhand.

The problem was, if my inside-out/in forehand wasn't good enough, the entire deuce court would open and I'd have to make a mad dash to cover any down the line shots.

Since those days, I keep telling myself to not give away the court easily.
 

KenC

Hall of Fame
Head for the center of your opponent's possible return angles. You dno't need to be there, only headed there in time to cover the other side.

This is the textbook answer and I think it should be modified a little to give bias to what is your opponents highest percentage shot and lowest percentage shot. So, if on one side the shot is way more difficult than the other, give more priority to his better percentage shot. In this way you encourage him to go for more risky shots.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
As a general rule...

From the baseline position yourself slightly on the opposite side of the court to the ball (i.e. ball on opponent deuce side, you recover slightly to your deuce side and vice versa).

At the net you position yourself slightly to the same side of the court to the ball (i.e. ball on opponent deuce side, you recover slightly to your ad side and vice versa).

cheers
 

dlam

Semi-Pro
As a general rule...

From the baseline position yourself slightly on the opposite side of the court to the ball (i.e. ball on opponent deuce side, you recover slightly to your deuce side and vice versa).

At the net you position yourself slightly to the same side of the court to the ball (i.e. ball on opponent deuce side, you recover slightly to your ad side and vice versa).

cheers

I'm the OP and I approve of this post
Thank you
I like this advice the best do far
 
the correct answer is the bisector of the angle between his best possible shots (short cross and DTL-well at least the likely best shots since you are probably not covering a marcelo rios super angle).

that means on a CC shot you stay slightly on the side of the court you hit from and on a DTL you have to go over a little more.

but this depends on your strategy and the opponent too. if you are running around a lot of your opponent is hitting 80% to one side you might consider shifting your position a little.
 

Fuji

Legend
Man you guys over think it sometimes! :razz:

Nawh, all I do is attempt to get as close to centre as possible. I hit an okay backhand and a pretty good forehand for my level, so I know roughly 60% of shots are going to my backhand (even more if I'm playing a good opponent) so I keep grinding the backhand until I get an opening to hit a forehand. It's not optimal of course, but it definitely works.

-Fuji
 
then you can drive those 200s through the ball and end it!!

I can't get those strings for a reasonable price, btw, he is gonna have to rethink if he wants to sell them in any quantity
 

Fuji

Legend
then you can drive those 200s through the ball and end it!!

I can't get those strings for a reasonable price, btw, he is gonna have to rethink if he wants to sell them in any quantity

Haha exactly!

I somehow deleted your email and was meaning to message you back! Yeah, I can't see a lot of people switching to them unless they offer better pricing. I'll still probably end up trying some eventually, but I would want to do a gut/poly hybrid and that ain't cheap! Hahahahaah!

-Fuji
 

Cheetah

Hall of Fame
Man you guys over think it sometimes! :razz:

Nawh, all I do is attempt to get as close to centre as possible. I hit an okay backhand and a pretty good forehand for my level, so I know roughly 60% of shots are going to my backhand (even more if I'm playing a good opponent) so I keep grinding the backhand until I get an opening to hit a forehand. It's not optimal of course, but it definitely works.

-Fuji

I don't know what level you are but this is not good tennis for anything above 3.5. If you're in the center of the court after hitting cross court or dtl a decent player's eyes will light up at the huge hole you are leaving. If someone is playing me and they do this the point is over or at the very least they are in trouble for sure. That extra step you are leaving open is enough. Not bragging but I would be able to win every point (barring unforced errors) against you by hitting at 40% pace if you do this. If I were you I'd consider tuning up your positioning sense because if you do what you say here then most likely you have other positional problems in other situations too.
 

Vlad_C

Semi-Pro
Maybe it's a habit for me. I used to run around most of my backhand, and hit forehands instead. I used to have an abysmal backhand.

The problem was, if my inside-out/in forehand wasn't good enough, the entire deuce court would open and I'd have to make a mad dash to cover any down the line shots.

Since those days, I keep telling myself to not give away the court easily.

It reminded me of this video I saw a while ago, it talks about court positioning in more detail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTQWw8I9sBE

It's a bit long, but if you have time watch it, it's useful.
 
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