Maybe Can't Always Play to Win

[herosol]

I've been having this problem, and the truth is that I don't know how to play to win. It's has been my hugest match-playing problem thus far.

You ask: "Then what do you play?"
I feel and my coach tells me I play a "not to lose" game.
i.e: Michael Chang (My actual name as well) and Lleyton Hewitt

My coach keeps telling me I won't be able to play as well, if I keep playing my "not to lose" style of playing. What is "not to lose"? Pretty much this style, played at a higher degree is not Pushing. It is more like you have directional control, and at times can hit a good shot/winner, but you attempt to out-rally your opponent and have them make a bad shot.

Sounds pretty good? The negatives of being "not to lose", is having this mentality makes you struggle at taking advantage of leads, and being able to end-points well, and close-out matches smoothly.

Can anyone help me out here? I realy want to play to play to win, and not play to not lose. But also, I don't want to be some baseline basher with inconsistent strokes. I really need help on having a balance, of just knowing when to be aggressive, neutralizing, and defensive depending on the situation.

any tips greatly appreciated.

 

[HyperHorse]

Try watching some videos of Marat Safin or other aggressive pure ball strikers....

 

[downdaline]

Well, i started out as a counterpuncher myself, and i progressed to all-courter, to serve&volley. So i got more and more aggressive as i got better.

I think from your definition, u want to be more aggressive and not just wait for someone to lose the point.

One thing that i did as i progressed was to concentrate on weaknesses and constantly up the ante on my strokes as a point progressed. As a counterpuncher, i'd just hit left and right and left and right, but as an allcourter and s&v-er i attacked certain wings, drew my opponent out of the court, hit more dropshots and lobs... etc... more variety. Confidence is also key.

I also started to come in to the net more, especially if i see that a shot i made puts the opponent in a bad position, or if he floats one short.

 

[downdaline]

Try watching some videos of Marat Safin or other aggressive pure ball strikers....

Yeah u could do that. Inspiration from the pros is always nice.

I'd recommend federer actually as his game is aggressive but still subtle. Also try sampras(attacking s&v), nalbandian (attacking from baseline) and to some extent, roddick. These are players who like to take control of a point and end it on their terms.

 

[HyperHorse]

Sounds like it'd also be a good idea if you changed coaches...
Sounds like you're stuck in a rut mentally and you're being boxed in by your coach's limited point of view....

 

[rosenstar]

first of all, Hewitt and chang, although they are counter punchers, do not "play not to loose" Though they do play a defensive game, if they get a weak reply they would not hesitate to take control of the point.

I believe attitude also has alot to do with preperation. When you're getting ready for a big match, you should be ready to do battle. You should start preparing a couple days in advanced by changing your diet; eating more carbs and drinking more water. The night before the match make sure you get a good sleep.

I also recommend a "pre-match ruetine." For example, before every match I put on my ipod and listen to music to get pumped. I do this before EVERY match. You can do something else, whether it's reading a book or a stretching reutine or whatever. It just has to be a consistant activity (similar to the ruetine yuo do before every serve).

This is what I do before every match. Of course the intensity of your training and preporation depends on your level of commitment. (for example, a club player will prepare differently from a college player)

Finally I recommend the book Vision Tennis. I forget the author's name, but it's a book about mental toughness and match attitude. It's written in a narrative form, and it's kinda cheesy, but it has some great tips. it reads easy and I think it's pretty cheap.

 

[rosenstar]

Here's a link to that book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0912083972/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-4465416-6559252#reader-link

As I said, it's kinda corny but very helpful and easy to read.

 

[rosenstar]

I'd also like to add that there's nothing wrong with counter punching and you still need a strong mental attitude.

If your S&Ving, your attitude should be: "I'm going to get to the net every point and I'm going to make my opponent try as hard as he can to pass me. I'm going to make sure he feels pressure every single point"

If your counter punching, your attitude should be: "I'm going to make every return and get every ball back in play. My opponent is going to be exhausted after every point, causing him to allow me to take control of the point."

both strategies require a very strong mental game. Neither is more effective than the other when executed corectly.

 

[Loco4Tennis]

Well, i started out as a counterpuncher myself, and i progressed to all-courter, to serve&volley. So i got more and more aggressive as i got better.

I think from your definition, u want to be more aggressive and not just wait for someone to lose the point.

One thing that i did as i progressed was to concentrate on weaknesses and constantly up the ante on my strokes as a point progressed. As a counterpuncher, i'd just hit left and right and left and right, but as an allcourter and s&v-er i attacked certain wings, drew my opponent out of the court, hit more dropshots and lobs... etc... more variety. Confidence is also key.

I also started to come in to the net more, especially if i see that a shot i made puts the opponent in a bad position, or if he floats one short.

downdaline - i liked what you said here, this was going to be my advise

OP-vary your game, try something new, even if you loose the point, it will put you in a agressive mind set, after hitting a couple of baseline shoots do a drop shot and charge the net
like the poster said, try varying your game

 

[Bagumbawalla]

I have an old Rubik's cube that has been sitting in my drawer for about 20 years and is 80% solved. At that point, I realized that I would have to undo much of what I had already done to progress to the next step. The idea of risking what I had already acomplished caused me to stop completely. So, now I am left with an old, dusty cube.

In tennis, unless you take some risks and make necessary changes, you will stagnate while others bybass you on the road to glory.

So, what do you need to do?

First of all ,make a list (really, write them down) of your assets- speed, anticipation, strokes, types of serve, technique, stamina, and so forth and compare them to what you lack or need to improve.

Then, starting with those assets, determine how to get the most out of them. EVERY ball you hit should be hit to a definite location for a definite purpous-- even if it's just to make the other guy run, keep the ball in play, catch him moving the wrong way, give him a junk ball that he dislikes-- whatever-- there should be a reason.

If you are steady, can hit the ball deep, keep it in play-- then work out some plays that will make use of those skills. For example, with each stroke, move the opponent farther and farther to the backhand, then, when the court is opwn hit a "winner" into the opposite corner.

Possibly you could hit a short ball or dropshot- bring the opponent to the net-- then pass or lob. None of these tactics requires walloping the ball and overpowering the opponent.

Also, you should, at this point, begin studying the game, if you are serious about progressing to another level. Buy some tennis books on strategy, percentage play, drills... Just go to the book store and see what they have that will help you. You don't even have to buy them, you can read them there.

Your next step, then, involves the negative half of the list. What you need to work on. Get with a partner and DRILL. work on serve and volley drills. Work on setting up a point and putting away the ball.work on approach shots. Work on making your serve a weapon so you can win some easy points. Perfect your topspin lob and overhead smash. Run 5 miles every other day. Work on strengthing with light weights (all this will vary depending on your actual weaknesses).

Now, combine your consistancy with improvements to your weaker areas, and I see success in your future. Continue without change and I see a dusty cube.

 

[WBF]

Perhaps your coach was trying to say something along the lines of

"If you aren't as consistent as them, you need to be more aggressive."

You can't outlast a player who has better fitness and consistency, you need to attack their game.

 

[rosenstar]

First of all ,make a list (really, write them down) of your assets- speed, anticipation, strokes, types of serve, technique, stamina, and so forth and compare them to what you lack or need to improve.

Then, starting with those assets, determine how to get the most out of them. EVERY ball you hit should be hit to a definite location for a definite purpous-- even if it's just to make the other guy run, keep the ball in play, catch him moving the wrong way, give him a junk ball that he dislikes-- whatever-- there should be a reason.

If you are steady, can hit the ball deep, keep it in play-- then work out some plays that will make use of those skills. For example, with each stroke, move the opponent farther and farther to the backhand, then, when the court is opwn hit a "winner" into the opposite corner.

Possibly you could hit a short ball or dropshot- bring the opponent to the net-- then pass or lob. None of these tactics requires walloping the ball and overpowering the opponent.

Also, you should, at this point, begin studying the game, if you are serious about progressing to another level. Buy some tennis books on strategy, percentage play, drills... Just go to the book store and see what they have that will help you. You don't even have to buy them, you can read them there.

Your next step, then, involves the negative half of the list. What you need to work on. Get with a partner and DRILL. work on serve and volley drills. Work on setting up a point and putting away the ball.work on approach shots. Work on making your serve a weapon so you can win some easy points. Perfect your topspin lob and overhead smash. Run 5 miles every other day. Work on strengthing with light weights (all this will vary depending on your actual weaknesses).

very good advice.

just posing a question for the OP:
just wondering, where you looking for on court advice, or mental advice?

 

[herosol]

very good advice.

just posing a question for the OP:
just wondering, where you looking for on court advice, or mental advice?

hmm probably almost a blend of both.
And thanks Bawumbagalla? lol.
That helps, I'm definitely going to try that. I was definitely playing a little better today, and tried to have purpose in my shots, and tried to vary my shots.

Perhaps, it's just a matter of more practice on certain weaknesses, and then learning how to use my strengths in match-play.

 

[Moz]

We are in a similar position it sounds. What I have started to do is to write up a full summary of each match that I have played after each match - win or lose.

As part of this I identify parts of my game that failed or parts of my game that I wish I could have invoked but do not have.

For example today in the match I lost I was playing a guy who was more or less equal to me in every way. I came away with 4 things:

1) My footwork was sloppy as the match wore on due to the fact I was really sore from the previous day's matches. Solution: incorporate some weight training and spend more time with the ball machine.

2) I wasn't forcing my opponent into tough situations from the back of the court but was hitting deep. This was an occasion when a dropshot would have been useful, but I have never hit dropshots. Solution: focused practice.

3) My backhand crosscourt topspin (my meat and potatoes) wasn't progressing the point for me - more of a stalemate. I wish I had a backhand slice! I'll practice that along with my dropshots.

4) Inside out forehand down the line. I was getting quite a few half court balls to the backhand side which were ripe for a forehand approach. Every forehand down the line I hit (which would have set the point up for me) went in the net. I'll have to get the ball machine out and hit a few hundred of these over the next week.

I am at the point where the basics of my game are good and consistent and this match has given me a lot to work on. Today I got to the point where doing my normal thing pretty well just wasn't good enough and I had nothing else to draw upon.

Sorry this was so long winded.