Don't apologize too quickly.

J_R_B · 05-12-2012, 03:13 PM

I had a somewhat surreal moment in a USTA doubles match this afternoon. When I see an opponent preparing to hit an overhead, I don't run from it. Rather I try to read/guess where he's going to hit it and get there to try to get a racquet on it. So my partner throws up a somewhat short lob and one of the guys gets under it for an overhead. As usual, I'm reading where he's going to hit it and jumped over there as he hit it. Apparently, he didn't see that I was actually trying to get in the way of his shot and as soon as he hit it towards me, he started raising his racquet and saying sorry because he was not actually trying to hit at me (again *I* jumped in the way...).

Well, since I was actually playing the ball, I got a racquet on it and blocked the shot back into the alley behind him as he was apologizing for hitting "at me". His partner, who was pretty fast, was closing the net as he was hitting the overhead but was able to hit the brakes and chase down the ball that I bunted into the opposite alley and hit a shot back to my partner, who had now also closed the net, which he put away. So, you had this scene where this guy was apologizing for a shot as I was in the process of returning in the court while his partner was running all over the court behind him trying to save the point.

Moral of the story, don't apologize for a shot at a person until you're sure the point is actually over. LOL.

dizzlmcwizzl · 05-12-2012, 05:53 PM

MrCLEAN · 05-12-2012, 06:39 PM

That's a good way to get hurt, depending on who you're playing.

kimbahpnam · 05-12-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCLEAN

That's a good way to get hurt, depending on who you're playing.

it's okay. once he gets a ball in the eye, groin or general face area then he'll learn.

J_R_B · 05-13-2012, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCLEAN

That's a good way to get hurt, depending on who you're playing.

I back up on it now. In high school, I used to charge the net and try to volley overheads, but that resulted in a couple points from the other guy getting flustered, but not many from me actually hitting the shot. Now I'm trying to guess where it lands and volley or half volley it around my knees or ankles. That way, if I do get plunked, it's somewhere that won't hurt. I returned 2 overheads (and almost a 3rd) doing that just in yesterday's match, so it gets me points. That could be critical.

jk175d · 05-13-2012, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_R_B

Now I'm trying to guess where it lands and volley or half volley it around my knees or ankles. That way, if I do get plunked, it's somewhere that won't hurt.

that only works if it's a given that your opponant has really good control of his overheads. Most guys short of at least 5.0+ don't

DANMAN · 05-13-2012, 08:52 AM

I play 5.0+ and if you stood in there I would hit you. Hitting away from you gives you a chance while hitting directly at you makes for the toughest shot for you. Standing in can get dangerous.

BHiC · 05-13-2012, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimbahpnam

it's okay. once he gets a ball in the eye, groin or general face area then he'll learn.

Yep, I was watching a USTA local playoffs match, and one of the guys had an easy sitter. His opponent then charged the net, and got hit by the overhead, directly in the groin. I doubt that guy is charging the net anymore.

mucat · 05-13-2012, 11:30 PM

I don't know. Some overheads are so mean and fast, as the blur zipped pass me, I saw my life flash before my eyes.

LuckyR · 05-15-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimbahpnam

it's okay. once he gets a ball in the eye, groin or general face area then he'll learn.

Obviously it works for him, so why wouldn't he do it?

MrCLEAN · 05-15-2012, 12:09 PM

It worked for him once. I put a guy in the ER once by accidentally hitting him w/ an overhead. He'd snuck in and I didn't see it, hit it out of the air, and it hit him in the chest, but he fell backwards and popped his head on the court. It's a play with way too much risk and little potential reward. Now if you're playing someone w/ a powderpuff "overhead", then that's another story.

lvuong · 05-15-2012, 12:14 PM

IT IS NOT WORTH IT !!! you are not playing ATP master 1000 final

NLBwell · 05-15-2012, 12:34 PM

Just a warning (even though I will stand in on SOME overheads), in college a friend of mine lost some vision in his eye - uncorrectable - from being hit by a thrown tennis ball. An good overhead would be even faster.

J_R_B · 05-15-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCLEAN

It worked for him once. I put a guy in the ER once by accidentally hitting him w/ an overhead. He'd snuck in and I didn't see it, hit it out of the air, and it hit him in the chest, but he fell backwards and popped his head on the court. It's a play with way too much risk and little potential reward. Now if you're playing someone w/ a powderpuff "overhead", then that's another story.

I don't "sneak in". I said I used to do that in high school, and I got drilled a lot more than I made shots, but I didn't care, I was a stupid kid then. Now I try to read where it's going to land or at least get to a spot where I think the ball will be about ankle height, which is usually somewhere around the service line or a couple feet behind, so I'm actually backing up on it if I am at the net, but I am not backing away from where I think it will be hit, I'm backing towards that spot to get a racquet on it.

And it's worked more than once. I successfully returned that shot twice in that match and had a third that went in the net (all without getting hit once). I probably average one a match, and they're usually free points because not many people are expecting you to return their overheads.

mucat · 05-15-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvuong

IT IS NOT WORTH IT !!! you are not playing ATP master 1000 final

Even if he was, it is still not worth it.

J_R_B · 05-15-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimbahpnam

it's okay. once he gets a ball in the eye, groin or general face area then he'll learn.

I've been playing tennis for 35 years. If I were going to "learn a lesson", I would have already by now. It's a shot I use regularly and successfully.

Rui · 05-15-2012, 01:44 PM

I try to position myself to hit the overhead back. That means retreating from the net and setting up a defense. I think rushing the overheader is only good for distracting him into an error. That may work sometimes at the lower levels. But more often, it hinders your ability to return the overhead.

LuckyR · 05-15-2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_R_B

I've been playing tennis for 35 years. If I were going to "learn a lesson", I would have already by now. It's a shot I use regularly and successfully.

Exactly what I predicted...

MrCLEAN · 05-15-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyR

Exactly what I predicted...

If he's pulling it off w/ regularity in every match, he's not seeing very high quality overheads. No offense meant to the OP, in all sincerety. An 80-100 mph overhead, hit from the service line or inside, cannot be read and picked off at ankle height from your own service line by an above average player on a regular basis.

sportsfan1 · 05-15-2012, 06:56 PM

Safety first, any overheads from opponents, I retreat backwards, beyond the baseline and try return from there. You have no idea if someone's gonna really connect with that overhead well, even if it's a fluke.

05-12-2012, 03:13 PM	#1
J_R_B Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: West Trenton, NJ Posts: 1,554	Don't apologize too quickly. I had a somewhat surreal moment in a USTA doubles match this afternoon. When I see an opponent preparing to hit an overhead, I don't run from it. Rather I try to read/guess where he's going to hit it and get there to try to get a racquet on it. So my partner throws up a somewhat short lob and one of the guys gets under it for an overhead. As usual, I'm reading where he's going to hit it and jumped over there as he hit it. Apparently, he didn't see that I was actually trying to get in the way of his shot and as soon as he hit it towards me, he started raising his racquet and saying sorry because he was not actually trying to hit at me (again I jumped in the way...). Well, since I was actually playing the ball, I got a racquet on it and blocked the shot back into the alley behind him as he was apologizing for hitting "at me". His partner, who was pretty fast, was closing the net as he was hitting the overhead but was able to hit the brakes and chase down the ball that I bunted into the opposite alley and hit a shot back to my partner, who had now also closed the net, which he put away. So, you had this scene where this guy was apologizing for a shot as I was in the process of returning in the court while his partner was running all over the court behind him trying to save the point. Moral of the story, don't apologize for a shot at a person until you're sure the point is actually over. LOL.

05-12-2012, 05:53 PM	#2
dizzlmcwizzl Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: DE Posts: 1,707	__________________ "You should be playing linebacker, not singles."

05-12-2012, 06:39 PM	#3
MrCLEAN Rookie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 341	That's a good way to get hurt, depending on who you're playing. __________________ Head LM Radical OS 4.0

05-15-2012, 12:09 PM	#11
MrCLEAN Rookie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 341	It worked for him once. I put a guy in the ER once by accidentally hitting him w/ an overhead. He'd snuck in and I didn't see it, hit it out of the air, and it hit him in the chest, but he fell backwards and popped his head on the court. It's a play with way too much risk and little potential reward. Now if you're playing someone w/ a powderpuff "overhead", then that's another story. __________________ Head LM Radical OS 4.0

05-15-2012, 01:44 PM	#17
Rui Rookie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 288	I try to position myself to hit the overhead back. That means retreating from the net and setting up a defense. I think rushing the overheader is only good for distracting him into an error. That may work sometimes at the lower levels. But more often, it hinders your ability to return the overhead. __________________ If you cannot set a good example, you will have to serve as a sad reminder.