Keys to "the game"

eman70 · 10-25-2007, 06:38 AM

Furthermore....the way to play this game is to examine your opponent....determine what you feel his weaknesses may be, consider your strengths and then develop 2-3 different game plans that utilize this information......start with one plan...if it works....great....if not move to a different plan.....use that until it doesn't work anymore.....then perhaps go to a third plan.......and don't be afraid to go back to an earlier strategy that didn't work then.......it may work later in the match due to your opponent being tired, arm being wore down....not having the same "feel" they had earlier or you even hitting stronger or moving better........it's also important to mix up several of your "plans" from time to time.....you don't want to become predictable.....the key is to go into a match with several different ideas of how you can beat your opponent....and be ready to adapt "on-the-fly".......you must make adjustments throughout a match unless you are grossly over or under matched.........

raiden031 · 10-25-2007, 08:45 AM

I often find that attacking an opponent's weakness often leads me nowhere. For instance, against 3.5 players, most opponents have a pretty weak backhand. However their backhand is consistent enough to get the ball over, and while I have a very good forehand and volleys now, I can not consistently take advantage of a weak backhand shot by my opponent. Therefore by attacking my opponent's weak backhand, I might get more opportunities to be offensive, but I am also going to hit more errors and overall I end up losing more points than I win.

I find that more often than not, I am better off just trying to consistently hit the ball deep without really going for too much or attacking any particular weakness.

With that being said, I do play with alot of variety (S&V, drop shots, slices, etc.) in order to improve all aspects of my game, but I must honestly say it has cost me a number of matches.

Cindysphinx · 10-25-2007, 08:58 AM

In my 7.0 mixed match, my 4.0 partner and I were playing another 4.0 guy and his 3.0 partner. The opposing guy had a big, big forehand. Backhand was good, but not as dangerous. Their guy played the deuce court.

Each time it was my turn to serve, my partner and I discussed serve placement. The plan was to go up the T to his backhand. Serve after serve, game after game, I tried to go up the T to his backhand. It's just not my favorite serve. I either missed wide, or went up the middle to his forehand. Or I hit my target but I had taken off some pace so he stepped around it. He also started cheating to the middle because that was where I was serving. His return was way more than I could handle or my partner could reach, so I kept getting broken.

Finally, I was serving to consolidate our break in the second set and go up 5-3. I decided to go ahead and hit my best serves (slice out wide) to him. He missed his first return on my serve all night, and I was able to hold.

From now on, I'll be playing to my strengths before I consider attacking my opponent's weakness. After all, people with a weakness can be awfully good at protecting it.

Geezer Guy · 10-25-2007, 11:51 AM

I always start out by going with my strengths - even if that means playing to my opponents strengths. If I can beat him strength to strength - that's the strategy I stick with. I only change if I start losing, or if I'm winning way too easily.

JRstriker12 · 10-25-2007, 12:07 PM

I think the top strategy should be to put your strength against thier weakness.

I have a decent forehand, serve, and volleys, so I am going to play as many of those shots as possible.

In raiden's case, sounds like you are doing the right thing man, but have to be a bit patient. At 3.5, the guy may be able to get the backhand back, but won't be able to hurt you with it. That's an advantage for you. I bet if you stay consistent and don't take too much of a chance and go for the outright winner, that backhand will eventually break down (I should know, it happens to me).

I think Cindy also makes a good case for not changing your game. I think an opponent who makes you change your game and do something uncomfortable or not in your bag of tricks has already established a leg up on you. Make you opponent beat you when you are playing your best shots - if they do then "too good," but I think you'll make it a lot harder for them.

10-25-2007, 06:38 AM	#1
eman70 New User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 93	Keys to "the game" Furthermore....the way to play this game is to examine your opponent....determine what you feel his weaknesses may be, consider your strengths and then develop 2-3 different game plans that utilize this information......start with one plan...if it works....great....if not move to a different plan.....use that until it doesn't work anymore.....then perhaps go to a third plan.......and don't be afraid to go back to an earlier strategy that didn't work then.......it may work later in the match due to your opponent being tired, arm being wore down....not having the same "feel" they had earlier or you even hitting stronger or moving better........it's also important to mix up several of your "plans" from time to time.....you don't want to become predictable.....the key is to go into a match with several different ideas of how you can beat your opponent....and be ready to adapt "on-the-fly".......you must make adjustments throughout a match unless you are grossly over or under matched.........

10-25-2007, 08:58 AM	#3
Cindysphinx G.O.A.T. Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14,191	In my 7.0 mixed match, my 4.0 partner and I were playing another 4.0 guy and his 3.0 partner. The opposing guy had a big, big forehand. Backhand was good, but not as dangerous. Their guy played the deuce court. Each time it was my turn to serve, my partner and I discussed serve placement. The plan was to go up the T to his backhand. Serve after serve, game after game, I tried to go up the T to his backhand. It's just not my favorite serve. I either missed wide, or went up the middle to his forehand. Or I hit my target but I had taken off some pace so he stepped around it. He also started cheating to the middle because that was where I was serving. His return was way more than I could handle or my partner could reach, so I kept getting broken. Finally, I was serving to consolidate our break in the second set and go up 5-3. I decided to go ahead and hit my best serves (slice out wide) to him. He missed his first return on my serve all night, and I was able to hold. From now on, I'll be playing to my strengths before I consider attacking my opponent's weakness. After all, people with a weakness can be awfully good at protecting it. __________________ -- Random Error Generator, Version 4.0 -- Master Moonballer

10-25-2007, 12:07 PM	#5
JRstriker12 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,286	I think the top strategy should be to put your strength against thier weakness. I have a decent forehand, serve, and volleys, so I am going to play as many of those shots as possible. In raiden's case, sounds like you are doing the right thing man, but have to be a bit patient. At 3.5, the guy may be able to get the backhand back, but won't be able to hurt you with it. That's an advantage for you. I bet if you stay consistent and don't take too much of a chance and go for the outright winner, that backhand will eventually break down (I should know, it happens to me). I think Cindy also makes a good case for not changing your game. I think an opponent who makes you change your game and do something uncomfortable or not in your bag of tricks has already established a leg up on you. Make you opponent beat you when you are playing your best shots - if they do then "too good," but I think you'll make it a lot harder for them. __________________ Ludacris: My chick bad! Tell me if you seen her. She always brings the racket like Venus and Serena!

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