Your most successful style/ strategy for wins in tennis?

[2ManyAces]

I tend to take the ball early with high trajectory topspin balls into the corners. I just rally it out until I get a short ball, then rip it and come to net.

defense is easier for me but offense will help me win more.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by TomT

Post some vids. I would love to see your game, and feel sure that I could learn something.

As for your question, well, check out my sig. I actually do play 4.0 and above players from time to time. The warmup usually goes quite well. After that it's pretty much downhill for me.

Recently played a solid 4.0 guy. Actually won a couple of games, and I think I made him work a bit in a few other games. How did I win the games I won? Hard first serves went in, was hitting some really hard, slightly undercut driving approach shots that were clearing the net by inches, landing deep and skidding real low, and didn't screw up the volleys. But of course I can't do that consistently on most points.

Should have made some vids of that match, but didn't anticipate playing as well as I did. As it turned out my level of play was elevated by my opponent's level of play. In the end we were both pleased with the result. Me, because I thought I played pretty well, and him because he won pretty decisively. The old stuff seems to be steadily, but slowly, coming back.

Here you go - this is just some hitting practice with a friend and my strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottAYQ0BABY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkB-gjq_4Q

[vil]

Nice hitting mate, I like your forehand, looks effortlessly dangerous.

[LeeD]

Can't wait for the match play vids, to show alley to alley, and short court coverages and hitting.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by vil

Nice hitting mate, I like your forehand, looks effortlessly dangerous.

Thanks! Its coming along rather decently now. Always has been my main stroke. My backhand has a little hitch I need to work on.

Originally Posted by LeeD

Can't wait for the match play vids, to show alley to alley, and short court coverages and hitting.

Same here. We have some real nice rallies in match play. Especially on har-tru, which makes his shots even tougher to get on top of.

[Djoker91]

Hitting flat and on the rise, but with enough restraint to keep it in and place it. Approach shots are much better. Volley away the winner at net. Rinse and repeat. Pretty soon confidence grows, as the match goes on further, I hit clean winners from baseline.

[TheCheese]

Originally Posted by ATP100

This is the reason I teach start out with "B" game against strangers.
Let's see what we are up against.

Really interesting tactic. I like it.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Here you go - this is just some hitting practice with a friend and my strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottAYQ0BABY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkB-gjq_4Q

Thanks much for the vids PP. Now I know what you're talking about. Very nice, fluid modern strokes. Especially forehand. Great movement and preparation. Yes, I can definitely learn from this. Whether I would ever be able to hit like you do is doubtful. Ok, pretty much impossible -- but still a good example. You're very strong.

I got the impression from reading some of your posts that you were older than you seem in the vids. How old?

Anyway, yes, I would have to say that your strokes are better than anybody I hit with or have played against, except maybe one or two guys.

A pleasure to watch. Post more vids PP. You're really good and I bet lots of people here can learn by your example and what you have to say about how you play and how you learned it. Thanks.

And of course, my usual solicitation, please, everybody post more vids.

[anubis]

For me, my biggest bump in win/loss records happened when I finally figured out my own "magic combination" of the proper equipment: racquet, strings and tension. Once I was able to keep the ball in play more often, that allowed me to move the ball around more on the court. In the past, I could never hit more than 2 balls in a row during a match. I'd have 40+ UE's per singles match.

now that I'm using the right equipment, I have 10 to 15 per match. I haven't changed the way that I play. My forehand/backhand and serve are all the same.

[kiteboard]

Originally Posted by anubis

For me, my biggest bump in win/loss records happened when I finally figured out my own "magic combination" of the proper equipment: racquet, strings and tension. Once I was able to keep the ball in play more often, that allowed me to move the ball around more on the court. In the past, I could never hit more than 2 balls in a row during a match. I'd have 40+ UE's per singles match.

now that I'm using the right equipment, I have 10 to 15 per match. I haven't changed the way that I play. My forehand/backhand and serve are all the same.

Listen to this guy. The voice of reason. Why do you think every pro is so focused on exactly what he just typed?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by TomT

Thanks much for the vids PP. Now I know what you're talking about. Very nice, fluid modern strokes. Especially forehand. Great movement and preparation. Yes, I can definitely learn from this. Whether I would ever be able to hit like you do is doubtful. Ok, pretty much impossible -- but still a good example. You're very strong.

I got the impression from reading some of your posts that you were older than you seem in the vids. How old?

Anyway, yes, I would have to say that your strokes are better than anybody I hit with or have played against, except maybe one or two guys.

A pleasure to watch. Post more vids PP. You're really good and I bet lots of people here can learn by your example and what you have to say about how you play and how you learned it. Thanks.

And of course, my usual solicitation, please, everybody post more vids.

Thanks for the kind words. I learned from the videos myself. Saw my backhand hitch I was feeling once I slowed the video down. I need to point the buttcap at the ground on the take back before swinging to contact. In shadow swinging, this already feels much more natural.

I agree about equipment as well. I am using a stock Blade 98 with a tight pattern. even though I hit with a lot of spin and conventional wisdom would say to hit with an open pattern, I find that I have much more control with this setup. I also can string at solid tension of 49/52 poly/syn gut. The lighter weight still gives me a lot of spin, but the ball kicks at the opponent more instead of straight up. When you hit an approach that kicks forward, it many times becomes a winner, as opposed to having it kick straight up and hang in the same spot longer.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Thanks for the kind words. I learned from the videos myself. Saw my backhand hitch I was feeling once I slowed the video down. I need to point the buttcap at the ground on the take back before swinging to contact. In shadow swinging, this already feels much more natural.

Well your backhand looked very good to me also. Wish I could hit like that. Watched another vid of yours at YouTube ... camera behind Craig. He looks good too, but I like your strokes better. I imagine you guys have some pretty good matches together.

Another question: what grip do you use on your forehand?

[Greg G]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Here you go - this is just some hitting practice with a friend and my strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottAYQ0BABY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkB-gjq_4Q

Nice forehand PP! Picked up some tips for my own forehand..need a bit more PTD, like yours

[watungga]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Here you go - this is just some hitting practice with a friend and my strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottAYQ0BABY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkB-gjq_4Q

Your starting feed is very stiff.

You may have volleying problems with it. Opponents will break you by putting you on the net.

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Here you go - this is just some hitting practice with a friend and my strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottAYQ0BABY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkB-gjq_4Q

pretty good.
I like how your not lazy on your feet.

Want a good tip that will help you?

[LeeD]

You mean besides losing some weight, and staying down on 1hbh slices?

[floridatennisdude]

I test my opponent from the first point to figure out how I can get them to hit me short balls. Once I figure this out, I do it for 2-3 sets.

[LeeD]

I guess there is the theory side talkiing here, and also the practical application side.....
As an injured, slow, blind, old, weak fart, I cannot ever beat someone who outruns every ball I hit, so I have to hit it better and better, until I beat myself.
Same me, young big hitter, I cannot match power and speed, so have to with better placement and smarter placements, until I beat myself hitting too close to the lines.
Against another 63 year old slow guy, I can hit 60% on my shots, and win most of them, so why try to play at 90%, and beat myself?
In tennis, as in life, you have to analyse, adapt, and perform the shots you need to win, and it's different for different opponent's and situations.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by watungga

Your starting feed is very stiff.

You may have volleying problems with it. Opponents will break you by putting you on the net.

Thats a really interesting observation that i agree with. I have never had an opponent really put me at the net though. I get to my approaches well.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

pretty good.
I like how your not lazy on your feet.

Want a good tip that will help you?

Sure. I already see that i am letting go of the racquet a little early sometimes and i have fixed that. Fire away with what you got.

I really want to see your strokes. When are you going to post some vid?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by LeeD

You mean besides losing some weight, and staying down on 1hbh slices?

My body fat is around 12% right now.. Hw much weight do i need to lose? I am fast around the court, have visible abs and eat well. Basically i will have to drop muscle and for some reason that is not very easy to do.