Easiest way to direct crosscourt vs DTL?

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

It just occurred to me that the easy way might be to target all my shots cross court and simply "hit late" or slightly more open posture
This way the motion looks exactly like I playing a crosscourt but fools the opponent at the last minute.
Its much harder to play to play DTL corner then at the last minute trying to "swing faster" to play the CC shot and it just ruins the timing more than the former.
Of course this applies to most normal baseline shots.
Running sideways forehand or I-O forehand have different protocols.

goran_ace · Mar 28, 2013

You're going to miss that one wide. If you're going to change the direction of the ball you should be inside the baseline (e.g. stepping in on a short ball) and have control of that rally, otherwise i'd rather see you play it back crosscourt.

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

goran_ace said:
You're going to miss that one wide. If you're going to change the direction of the ball you should be inside the baseline (e.g. stepping in on a short ball) and have control of that rally, otherwise i'd rather see you play it back crosscourt.

just to clarify my post
I aim mostly all shots crosscourt and hit it cc almost all the time
if its a slower ball than I can hit late and go dtl
for a sitter , I can runaround and and hit I-O which is different protocol than above method.

LeeD · Mar 28, 2013

I like to de facto target all shots dead up the middle.
So, CC is earlier, DTL is later....but here's the point ! The later or earlier is very small, so there is less margin for error when I alter my strikepoint.

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

LeeD said:
I like to de facto target all shots dead up the middle.
So, CC is earlier, DTL is later....but here's the point ! The later or earlier is very small, so there is less margin for error when I alter my strikepoint.

that's might be true for timing, but as far as accuracy, it's easier to use the whole court to margin of error than a fraction of the court.

LeeD · Mar 28, 2013

I think it's easier to make SMALL changes to affect ball placement than LARGE changes of delaying to hit late.
But I also don't agree with hitting late for DTL. The setup begins with shoulder turn and targetting thru the followthru direction.

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

LeeD said:
I think it's easier to make SMALL changes to affect ball placement than LARGE changes of delaying to hit late.
But I also don't agree with hitting late for DTL. The setup begins with shoulder turn and targetting thru the followthru direction.

we all have different styles of play.
you are entititled to your opinion, but just remember its not absolute.
your posts are just too irritating and self centered.
what i find easier you might find more difficult and vica versa
im not a lefty.

LeeD · Mar 28, 2013

I AM lefty, have played 2 Q's which I advanced to the 3rd round, and played in over 12 A/Open tourneys.
You just don't hit late to go DTL, period. Unless you are 3.5-4.0.

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

LeeD said:
I AM lefty, have played 2 Q's which I advanced to the 3rd round, and played in over 12 A/Open tourneys.
You just don't hit late to go DTL, period. Unless you are 3.5-4.0.

woooo, im impressed.

i dont play in the wood racket era

LeeD · Mar 28, 2013

Yes, your way is the ONLY right way to adjust direction of shot.

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

LeeD said:
Yes, your way is the ONLY right way to adjust direction of shot.

did not say that.
just said i find it easier that way FOR ME
maybe after each post you should post the same manner instead of being arrogant

TheCheese · Mar 28, 2013

This thread is interesting. I've always just aimed where I wanted to hit the ball, not thought about hitting crosscourt late to hit DTL, although technically I suppose that's what I'm doing.

LeeD · Mar 28, 2013

JimmyConnors did as OP is doing.
He'd almost always topspin his CC shots, while guiding his DTL shots with a combination of side and underspin...both sides.

KMV · Mar 28, 2013

Hitting lateto go Dtl - doesn't work for me.. Even if ball lands, will lack the punch and end up being a Dtl sitter.. Have seen players with very flat strokes pull it off but even then with a shift in body weight.

Works great on a wii though

TomT · Mar 28, 2013

LeeD said:
You just don't hit late to go DTL, period. Unless you are 3.5-4.0.

Not necessarily even if you are 3.5-4.0, or lower, like me. I agree with your statement, "The setup begins with shoulder turn and targetting thru the followthru direction."

I'm not qualified to say who's right in this discussion. But in learning how to hit inside out forehands, and DTL vs CC, I don't feel that I'm "hitting late" when I hit DTL or inside out. But then, I don't actually know what I'm doing. All I know is that at some point I was able to do it and that it does seem to have something to do with your quoted statement above.

NLBwell · Mar 28, 2013

Just hit the ball where you want it to go. Don't overthink things.

TomT · Mar 28, 2013

NLBwell said:
Just hit the ball where you want it to go. Don't overthink things.

Very good point, imho.

jakeytennis · Mar 31, 2013

all i do is adjust the angle of the strings. I still finish with wind shield wiper. before my finish, i just angle the strings to make the ball go a certain way.

Larrysümmers · Mar 31, 2013

if you hit late youre going to hit a foul ball, but in tennis we call that an unforced error. as others have said, you want to position your body so that your force is going DTL.

Bagumbawalla · Mar 31, 2013

I, also, am more of a "just hit it where you want to" kind of guy. I just focus on the ball and imagine a racket path through the ball that will make it do what I want- and then I do exactly that, without thinking about all the details.

Note: Thinking about details/mechanics is fine and necessary in practice, but can get in the way during a match.

PhrygianDominant · Apr 1, 2013

TheCheese said:
This thread is interesting. I've always just aimed where I wanted to hit the ball, not thought about hitting crosscourt late to hit DTL, although technically I suppose that's what I'm doing.

I do the same thing, but I hit pretty flat, so my followthrough is indicative of the direction the ball goes in.

I have a tendency to be late on my forehand, so I usually hit more towards the line than I mean to.

p.s. I used to think I get a lot of spin on the ball, but I was wrong. I now realize I hit with a minimum of spin for a topspin drive. (around 2 feet net clearance)

ATP100 · Apr 2, 2013

dlam said:
It just occurred to me that the easy way might be to target all my shots cross court and simply "hit late" or slightly more open posture
This way the motion looks exactly like I playing a crosscourt but fools the opponent at the last minute.
Its much harder to play to play DTL corner then at the last minute trying to "swing faster" to play the CC shot and it just ruins the timing more than the former.
Of course this applies to most normal baseline shots.
Running sideways forehand or I-O forehand have different protocols.

Easy Answer: A lot of practice.

thecode · Apr 3, 2013

dlam said:
It just occurred to me that the easy way might be to target all my shots cross court and simply "hit late" or slightly more open posture
This way the motion looks exactly like I playing a crosscourt but fools the opponent at the last minute.
Its much harder to play to play DTL corner then at the last minute trying to "swing faster" to play the CC shot and it just ruins the timing more than the former.
Of course this applies to most normal baseline shots.
Running sideways forehand or I-O forehand have different protocols.

It might be easier to do this, but sort of in opposite. Imo it's easier to train to hit the ball straight or even with a slight I/O fade, but then when you go cross court, just get an extra bit of acceleration to take the ball a bit more in front, like when you go inside in. Even though you likely hit way more cross court shots in matches, imo that is a bit easier and takes less practice time, plus the fact that you hit more of them in the match gives them more work. By focusing on the dtl along with the I/O (or dtl fade), you develop excellent control and timing for the more demanding shot and have more confidence in it when you need it. Do practice the inside in and cross court some though.
Either way, you are correct. It is about timing and controlling your contact point.

Tennis_Monk · Apr 3, 2013

I kinda have an opposite issue i guess.
I dont exactly know how it happens but i can hit very good DTL shots (FH and BH). my money shots if you will. I struggle cross court. I hit them OK but they dont sting as much as my DTL and the weight /angles arent that great either.

thecode · Apr 3, 2013

Tennis_Monk said:
I kinda have an opposite issue i guess.
I dont exactly know how it happens but i can hit very good DTL shots (FH and BH). my money shots if you will. I struggle cross court. I hit them OK but they dont sting as much as my DTL and the weight /angles arent that great either.

Maybe you need more right to left weight shift and a contact pt more in front for the cross court?

mightyrick · Apr 4, 2013

Who ever said they just aim it and hit the shot... that is exactly how to hit any ball in any direction... in any sport. This is also how you aim the serve.

As long as the strokes are fundamentally consistent and maintain their form, all you do is aim and let your body do the rest. Aiming is a very individual and personal thing.

With practice, the mind will adjust and become more accurate. The mind will recognize the physical nuances that are necessary to ensure a successful shot. It just takes practice.

As long as you don't abandon the fundamentals of the shot -- in whatever the sport is -- you should do whatever your body and mind find natural for aiming.

anubis · Apr 4, 2013

There was an old tennis pro that was once asked "how often do you change the direction of the ball?" he replied "only if there's a very good reason to do so".

I subscribe to the above idea: unless there's a very good reason to do so, there's usually no reason to make a huge change to the direction of the ball. It's easier to send the ball back where it came from.

it's an old-school mentality, yes, and its sometimes referred to as a "directionals" theory. There's a few threads on it somewhere in the TT archives. I think its name after an old coach or school or something.

Suffice it to say, if I'm in the deuce court near the alley, and my opponent hits a cross-court shot to me and it crosses in front of my body, I'm going to send it right back to him.

If, instead, it lands to my back hand (as a righty), then I CAN change the direction of the shot if i want. it's easier to hit the backhand DTL because its a less extreme angle.

But if it comes to my forehand as it crosses my body, that's too extreme of an angle to go DTL. It's such a low % shot that I'm more than likely going to miss it.

Easiest way to direct crosscourt vs DTL?

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