Struggling against Consistent Hard Hitters

[aaron_h27]

I'm struggling beating these type of players. Especially the tall guys becuase my shots land in their strike zone. I feel so rushed and I feel like there's nothing I can do but hope they miss sometimes. I play a counter punching style but when my forehand is rushed I hit it short.

Also my friend said hitting on the rise would take some time away from them so they can't setup to hit big forehands. Would this help?

 

[Kevo]

Well, if a player has a sufficiently big forehand, then you will be in trouble if you let them hit it too often. I don't know that hitting on the rise is a great idea either when they are hitting really heavy groundstrokes. The percentage of time you can maintain control doing that is probably going to be low. Anything you leave short will be punished. I recommend you try to go high to the backhand side to open up a shot to the forehand.

One thing that can work against big hitters is to take away their rhythm. This could mean throwing in some off speed, slices, or droppers to bring them into the net. The main thing is to not let them get comfortable playing their game. As a counter puncher it's critical to know what to hit and when since your style doesn't really lend itself to taking charge.

 

[Larrysümmers]

take pace off and start slicing more. keep the ball lower so they really have to bend, and maybe they feed off of pace well. so try taking the pace off

 

[aaron_h27]

Thanks everyone. So I need to change the pace more..Are there any drills that I can do to practice using variety?

 

[JRstriker12]

This has to be a TW first - a counter-puncher complaining about a big hitter - it's usually the other way around

Maybe go for their backhand more. Also agree with keeping the ball low with slice to make them bend down. Maybe work on hitting your forehand deep on the run or under pressure.

However, if they can consistently keep crack big shots and keep it in play, they may just be a better player...

 

[dozu]

just gotta try different things.

slicing is 1
junkie floaters is 1
heavy loopy topspin is 1

whatever that throws him off.

 

[fuzz nation]

I feel so rushed and I feel like there's nothing I can do but hope they miss sometimes.

Lots of stronger hitters don't necessarily swing much harder at the ball; they swing earlier. The difference with a lower level player is usually a delay in positioning and setting up. Your feeling of being rushed may be a strong indicator that you need to dedicate yourself to developing the habit of a quicker first move on the ball. Instead of feeling rushed to get your racquet to the ball on time, you'll rush your turn and first step to the ball so that you have enough time to still take a smooth swing. Boom!

Even on the practice courts during a casual hit, you should always want to take a split-step and quick turn. If you focus on this, it will eventually become ingrained and your swing will be ahead of the ball more often.

 

[anchorage]

Also, try getting your balls consistently deep - keep the big hitters back. Once you've got that down, move them around. See if their consistency holds up.

Agree with the above comments regarding the use of slice; great way to take the pace off as well as applying some pressure.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

This has to be a TW first - a counter-puncher complaining about a big hitter - it's usually the other way around

Now hold on there partner, there is no reason giving a counter puncher reason for hope against a player that wants to hit the snot out of the ball. Let us enjoy the one counter-puncher out there who struggles with us.

 

[darthpwner]

I prefer playing pushers than hard hitters too. I could outhit the pushers and just run them side to side. When I start playing guys with huge serves who can finish points at the net, then I get into some trouble.

 

[giseppi]

Another thing to keep an eye on if the big hitters are rushing you... make sure that you are recovering to the correct part of the court to cover his/her most likely shots. An extra step in the right direction makes a huge difference and decides whether you can set up, or end up hitting on the run.

If you are covering his high percentage shots you pressure him to try more low percentage shots and closer to the lines = more errors.

And of course don't forget the splitstep!

 

[new_tennis_player]

Well, it depends.

If they are hard hitters but not good athletes in general (slow, out of shape, poor footwork): you can really confuse them with location and slices. Get them to move.

If they are hard hitters but ARE good athletes, then your challenge is tougher. You have no choice but to simply up your own game in every facet.

What helps me is by playing against hard hitters consistently. If I move back and forth between soft and hard hitters, I can get lazy and my timing is thrown off.

Stick with the best players and you'll be forced to adapt.

I'm struggling beating these type of players. Especially the tall guys becuase my shots land in their strike zone. I feel so rushed and I feel like there's nothing I can do but hope they miss sometimes. I play a counter punching style but when my forehand is rushed I hit it short.

Also my friend said hitting on the rise would take some time away from them so they can't setup to hit big forehands. Would this help?

 

[aaron_h27]

This has to be a TW first - a counter-puncher complaining about a big hitter - it's usually the other way around

Maybe go for their backhand more. Also agree with keeping the ball low with slice to make them bend down. Maybe work on hitting your forehand deep on the run or under pressure.

However, if they can consistently keep crack big shots and keep it in play, they may just be a better player...

Maybe your right. Also my shots have topspin and are deep but for a taller player that's usually in his strike zone. Also these hard hitters can move pretty decently. Maybe their just better then me and I'm over analyzing this. Oh well

 

[new_tennis_player]

Maybe your right. Also my shots have topspin and are deep but for a taller player that's usually in his strike zone. Also these hard hitters can move pretty decently. Maybe their just better then me and I'm over analyzing this. Oh well

No doubt, it does take time--there's simply a lot of repetition and muscle memory involved. Enjoy the process...

One other tip: I saw a practice vid with andre agassi: instead of hitting a forehand just above waist level, he attacked the ball at a much higher point: closer to chest level.

This allowed him to hit very aggressively in a powerful downward motion.

I'm going to try this as well.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

My strategy is to go compact with my strokes. I will shorten up my backswings and use their pace against them. I focus on getting to the shot and placing it rather than ripping it. It is the same kind of strategy that is often used against big servers. Of course you want to mix in some junk and probe for a weakness you can exploit.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

Double post.

 

[Jaewonnie]

I prefer playing pushers than hard hitters too. I could outhit the pushers and just run them side to side. When I start playing guys with huge serves who can finish points at the net, then I get into some trouble.

I actually cant stand anyone who has inconsistent strokes (as in spray balls everywhere). I absolutely fail playing those kind of ppl. I actually like playing players who can actually hit hard yet have consistent looking strokes. It makes their shot more readible and rallying easier.

 

[bhupaes]

I can whack the ball really hard, but it doesn't pay off against a couple of good players I practice with. Their technique is to shorten both the back swing and follow through, and punch it back like a volley. I myself shorten my backswing to almost nothing against high paced flat balls, but stroke the ball more rather than block it, so my returns have a higher trajectory with more spin and are slower. Whatever works... just get the ball back and wait for the next one!

 

[1stVolley]

If you can hit the ball down the middle, and reasonably deep, you may motivate them to go for a winner from a position that will generate more errors. Federer did this successfully for the 1st set at the USO when he faced Del Potro. He lost the match because he switched from this successful strategy.

 

[GetBetterer]

I agree with 1stVolley.

Imagine yourself a short guy playing against someone as tall as Del Potro. If you can, hit it with more topspin so that the ball stays low upon the bounce, and maybe some underspin too to give them freaky bounce.

 

[JRstriker12]

Maybe your right. Also my shots have topspin and are deep but for a taller player that's usually in his strike zone. Also these hard hitters can move pretty decently. Maybe their just better then me and I'm over analyzing this. Oh well

Don't give up though. Keep working on your game...

Sometimes admitting that some one is the better player is the first step to getting better yourself.

 

[aaron_h27]

If you can hit the ball down the middle, and reasonably deep, you may motivate them to go for a winner from a position that will generate more errors. Federer did this successfully for the 1st set at the USO when he faced Del Potro. He lost the match because he switched from this successful strategy.

My cocah is pretty against going down the middle, he says that your opponent can change directions on it. Is there ever a situation where hitting down the middle won't put me on defense if I'm playing a decent player?

 

[aaron_h27]

Don't give up though. Keep working on your game...

Sometimes admitting that some one is the better player is the first step to getting better yourself.

Thanks I won't give up even though it seems easier to play like them I want to work on my game and my strengths.

Also I'm going to work on some fookwork drills more often I'm a fast mover but sometimes I don't take little steps when balls are close to me. Also split stepping more so it becomes automatic. Thanks everyone for the suggestions

 

[1stVolley]

My cocah is pretty against going down the middle, he says that your opponent can change directions on it. Is there ever a situation where hitting down the middle won't put me on defense if I'm playing a decent player?

I think it is very difficult to make a major change in direction to a shot hit down the middle and reasonably deep. To try to do so really means to go for the lines and that invites more unforced errors.

Of course a short ball down the middle allows the opponent to attack with, e.g., a well-angled chip or topspin drive. But because it is closer to the net the opponent has access to more angles than a deep ball would give him

 

[5263]

I take them on the rise as your friend suggest, treating them like returning serve. Yes, this requires shortening of the swing just like when I return big first serves.

 

[rice&tennis]

are net rushers like me that not of a threat to you people?

D':

 

[Devilito]

First off there is a big difference between a pusher and a counter puncher. A counter puncher is fast, has great stamina, can mix up balls, hit good angles, is consistent and has great passing shots. If you don’t have those skills you’re not going to be effective as a counter puncher. It sounds to me like you’re just being out played.

Best advice I can give you is always keep a power player moving. If you’re hitting back to them so they have time to set up and just stand in the same spot without exerting any effort the entire rally you’re just going to keep getting worked by these players.

 

[Purist]

I consider myself a bigger hitter and I can tell you what one of my friends does that drives me nuts: he added a forehand to his repertoire that is very loopy PLUS has a little sidespin to it. Think of the sidespin as if you were hitting a passing shot down the line and trying to wrap it around the pole.

He taught me how to hit this shot and he made it so simple: visualize hitting a little more of the right side of the ball and most importantly (to add more spin than you're used to), catch the ball a little more out in front.

To repeat the simplest yet effective tip I ever heard: for more topspin just hit the ball a little farther out in front.

When he does this, it takes a few game to get to me but eventually my arm gets tired from generating my own pace PLUS catching the ball just a little farther away from my body from his side spin.

Like the other posters said, mix up the pace and spin. You don't have to think of this as junk balling but just think of it as alternating the amount of topspin you give him. It takes practice to mix up alternating balls but you can start with alternating pace per point.

 

[Purist]

Dang, I can't edit my posts. To be clear, it's a little easier to put the side spin on the ball when it's lower, but even without the side spin varying the height and spin that your opponent has to hit the ball from can prevent him from getting into a rythym.

 

[new_tennis_player]

Ha, great idea purist!

I consider myself a bigger hitter and I can tell you what one of my friends does that drives me nuts: he added a forehand to his repertoire that is very loopy PLUS has a little sidespin to it. Think of the sidespin as if you were hitting a passing shot down the line and trying to wrap it around the pole.

He taught me how to hit this shot and he made it so simple: visualize hitting a little more of the right side of the ball and most importantly (to add more spin than you're used to), catch the ball a little more out in front.

To repeat the simplest yet effective tip I ever heard: for more topspin just hit the ball a little farther out in front.

When he does this, it takes a few game to get to me but eventually my arm gets tired from generating my own pace PLUS catching the ball just a little farther away from my body from his side spin.

Like the other posters said, mix up the pace and spin. You don't have to think of this as junk balling but just think of it as alternating the amount of topspin you give him. It takes practice to mix up alternating balls but you can start with alternating pace per point.

 

[Recon]

There is nothing you can do. If your opponent is banging away consistently there is nothing you can do, You can try to weather the storm untill it passes and hope they lose concentration and pounce on them, but even Federer couldn't stop del potro in the us open, the guy was just absolutely throwing bombs. So if their on, their on, weather it out, the first few mistakes, try to aggrivate them so more, and hopefully you can pull it out, like haas and fed in the french open 2010, 1 forehand turned it all around. Good luck.

I just noticed how many commas I used, I need sleep. Too lazy to go back and fix. Peace and Tennis.

 

[Purist]

Recon, I respectfully disagree. And I sure as heck don't want to be in tennis matches (nor life for that matter) and thinking "there's nothing I can do".

Yes, sometimes people get hot but your job is then to do things to cool them off as soon as possible, be that inside one game or a few games. Slow down between points, serve and volley, bring them to the net with short angles, vary your pace and spin, your trajectory over the net, etc etc.

 

[JRstriker12]

Recon, I respectfully disagree. And I sure as heck don't want to be in tennis matches (nor life for that matter) and thinking "there's nothing I can do".

Yes, sometimes people get hot but your job is then to do things to cool them off as soon as possible, be that inside one game or a few games. Slow down between points, serve and volley, bring them to the net with short angles, vary your pace and spin, your trajectory over the net, etc etc.

If the guy is just plain better than the OP, then there may be nothing he can really do.

Sure, you can try tactical changes, but if the guy is a better player he will win.

 

[krizzle]

I confess that i'm a big hitter for my level. There are two ways that can beat me. One: hit every shot to my backhand. It's decently consistent but attackable. Two: junkball me. Bring me into the net and lob. Third, but a lot less likely: hit harder than me and put all of the pressure on me.
My favorite play is actually a low bh slice so that they attack the ball to my forehand and I pull off an easy passing shot. I can also move well and move the opponent, so they get frustrated pretty fast.

 

[Recon]

For example, fed is a way better player than del potro, and he still got smacked. If the best player ever can't stop it, why can you? Look all im saying is, when someones hot...you can't do much. I can guarantee you, in his mind, you were no threat, you were a standing target. Have you ever been in the zone? i'm sure everyone has been, you dont even consider the opponent on the other side of the court, you couldn't care less about how long hes taking between points, all you see is the ball, and all the opponent feels is pain. Like I said, all that change tactics bring him to net blah blah blah, falls under the same category, WEATHERING THE STORM. Your reacting to his hitting, you have NO choice but to change tactics if you want to be competitive. Because I'm sure when the storm is over you will revert to your comfortable playing style and hopefully pull it out.

Also mixing life with tennis is not nearly the same. In life we can make choices that lead to better or worse options. In tennis, we are reacting as said above, you wouldn't change tactics if you were winning, your only doing so because hes smacking you around. We have a limited amount of choices, Lob, topspin, slice, flat, Cross court, DTL, down the middle, (dink is considered a flat ball, a very slowly hit one...) Remember, I'm just going by your choice of words, big hitting--consistently. If i'm hitting 70mph groundstrokes and their not missing, sorry, your not going to be doing nothing except trying to truck them down, you can accept this now as the game of tennis (im sure the recieving end of sampras serve in his prime wanted to believe they can do something...) or you can try to deny what this game is about, percentages. Of course no one can play 100% for the entire match, so once again, weather the storm, dont lose your focus. you should be able to pull it out.

Don't misinterpret this, i'm not trying to put you down, but how many pros and teaching pros have said, he was better today, he got hot, I couldn't do anything...Feel me bro?

 

[Bud]

I'm struggling beating these type of players. Especially the tall guys becuase my shots land in their strike zone. I feel so rushed and I feel like there's nothing I can do but hope they miss sometimes. I play a counter punching style but when my forehand is rushed I hit it short.

Also my friend said hitting on the rise would take some time away from them so they can't setup to hit big forehands. Would this help?

Are you trying to outhit them/match their power? If so, stop.

Loop some balls to them (especially the BH side).

 

[Purist]

I'm struggling beating these type of players. Especially the tall guys because my shots land in their strike zone. I feel so rushed and I feel like there's nothing I can do but hope they miss sometimes. I play a counter punching style but when my forehand is rushed I hit it short.

Also my friend said hitting on the rise would take some time away from them so they can't setup to hit big forehands. Would this help?

LOL - Recon, we're both right. Tennis matches have momentum and sometimes their high level of play will last awhile. But from what I interpret he wasn't describing someone in the zone, but an ongoing match up issue.

I think the OP was asking what he could DO to help himself. Your point of implying that he not panic is correct. Matches have swings in them. But the intention of the question is what can he DO. That's what I was attempting to contribute to.

It's also true that they may be better overall, but where's the growth in his game in him just stopping with that realization? Not only should one try to learn how to disrupt people in the zone, but to get better one needs to (and LEARN how to learn) how to shift the momentum back to their side and PRACTICE doing it. This is of course best practiced and put to the test during these kinds of matches - be they practice sets or tournament/league matches. Playing at a high level entails a lot more than mere execution of shots and God knows when I was younger I had been beaten plenty of times by people that were less athletic but smarter on the court.

PS: The last time that I was playing tennis was about 2001 or 2002 and I don't remember any place like this to have these kinds of discussions. Man am I excited to be playing again partly because a tennis forum like this.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

Beef up the serve. Can't lose a rally that doesn't start. A big serve will keep you in every match.

 

[Power Player]

I confess that i'm a big hitter for my level. There are two ways that can beat me. One: hit every shot to my backhand. It's decently consistent but attackable. Two: junkball me. Bring me into the net and lob. Third, but a lot less likely: hit harder than me and put all of the pressure on me.
My favorite play is actually a low bh slice so that they attack the ball to my forehand and I pull off an easy passing shot. I can also move well and move the opponent, so they get frustrated pretty fast.

Dude..are you me? LOL, I am 100% just like you even down to point construction.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

Dude..are you me? LOL, I am 100% just like you even down to point construction.

That is one of my go-to tactics as well. Did you guys steal that from Fed too?

 

[Power Player]

That is one of my go-to tactics as well. Did you guys steal that from Fed too?

I just figured it out after playing lots of tennis.

 

[ubermeyer]

i also have trouble with these guys, playing style similar to Del Potro. I just slice a lot so that it is not in their strike zone.

 

[krizzle]

How do you steal an idea from yourself?
To beat baseline bashers you've got to hit to their backhand but watch for the inside forehand. Or, I guess another strategy is keep playing out wide but you have to be careful with that.
@Powerplay do you prefer inside-in forehands to inside-out forehands, cross court passing shots to down the line forehands, and short angled forehand winners?

 

[ProgressoR]

This is great advice, and is what i am working on now, as i seem to play more guys who take my time away, and rather than the mechanics of my strokes letting me down, its that fraction of a second less i have to prepare properly. I think solving that alone will increase everyone's game significantly.

Lots of stronger hitters don't necessarily swing much harder at the ball; they swing earlier. The difference with a lower level player is usually a delay in positioning and setting up. Your feeling of being rushed may be a strong indicator that you need to dedicate yourself to developing the habit of a quicker first move on the ball. Instead of feeling rushed to get your racquet to the ball on time, you'll rush your turn and first step to the ball so that you have enough time to still take a smooth swing. Boom!

Even on the practice courts during a casual hit, you should always want to take a split-step and quick turn. If you focus on this, it will eventually become ingrained and your swing will be ahead of the ball more often.

 

[Power Player]

How do you steal an idea from yourself?
To beat baseline bashers you've got to hit to their backhand but watch for the inside forehand. Or, I guess another strategy is keep playing out wide but you have to be careful with that.
@Powerplay do you prefer inside-in forehands to inside-out forehands, cross court passing shots to down the line forehands, and short angled forehand winners?

yeah, love inside outs to inside outs. I like crosscourt shots as much as possible. They set up a DTL winner that can be safely tucked a few feet inside the line.

I love short angled forehand winners too. Did not really start hitting those until I switched to the low powered, thin beam Dunlop player's sticks.

 

[athiker]

oops...deleted...posted in error