Plan b or just too good?

ark_28 · Dec 28, 2011

So I played this steady guy a few weeks back and lost in 3 sets 6-2 2-6 7-5.

I felt that while he was steady and could counter punch he didnt really have any big shots.

I love coming to net but I hardly did that day.

So today I serve volleyed on every first serve and in the 1st set it worked a treat I was getting lots of high balls and easy put aways I won it 6-2.

2nd set I lost 7-6 although I was 5-1 down, but he started to read my serve and decided he had to go for a lot more, and without taking too many risks he seemed to put it very low at my feet. they are always difficult volleys I did not make too many from there and the ones I did make I set him up for an easy pass or finish.

Third set I also lost 7-6 I just kept coming to the net and he read me like a book in the end having looked all at sea at the start.

From the back he is way more steady and I didnt like my chances in the long rallies, but should I have stayed back once he was reading my net play or is there a way to mix it up more at the net?

thug the bunny · Dec 28, 2011

If you were coming in behind your 1st serve and he was returning them at your feet, I'm guessing they were around or in front of the service line? Low volleys on the run are indeed hard to hit with any authority, so I would have backed off, waited for the bounce, and then started to construct points, probably starting with slice angle shots, or maybe drop shots towards the sidelines, depending on where he was located.

ark_28 · Dec 28, 2011

thug the bunny said:
If you were coming in behind your 1st serve and he was returning them at your feet, I'm guessing they were around or in front of the service line? Low volleys on the run are indeed hard to hit with any authority, so I would have backed off, waited for the bounce, and then started to construct points, probably starting with slice angle shots, or maybe drop shots towards the sidelines, depending on where he was located.

Hey, thanks for you reply and tips

yes his returns were just in front of the service line by the time I was getting to them and at my feet so he was in perfect position the few times I did make those low volleys he had an open court.

I think backing off would have been a good move, you can still be aggressive but its a more controlled aggression!

Ballinbob · Dec 28, 2011

I think that variety is over rated. In the first set you did the right thing. You came to the net, and once you saw that worked you stuck with your plan and won the set. You didn't do anything crazy, but stuck with what worked. You did well there

However, once your strategy stops working and your opponent figures you out you don't want to stick to the same strategy. Like the other poster said I would have stayed back and waited for a shorter ball you can approach on. The problem is you say he is a better baseliner than you, so that doesn't work in your favor.

Were you serving the same in the second and third sets or did the quality of serving drop ? Do you think your level dropped or was he really dialing in on your serves ? I mean S&Ving obviously worked really well in the first set and it seems strange that he just figured you out like that. And yes, those low volleys are very hard so dont feel bad haha

sunof tennis · Dec 28, 2011

ark_28 said:
Hey, thanks for you reply and tips yes his returns were just in front of the service line by the time I was getting to them and at my feet so he was in perfect position the few times I did make those low volleys he had an open court.

I think backing off would have been a good move, you can still be aggressive but its a more controlled aggression!

I agree. You can mix it up. Don't serve and volley every point. Serve, get ready for his return that lands about the service line, smack it for a winner (see Lendl or Federer) or treat the shot as an approach shot and get to net. Either way, you are bieng agressive, but you are mixing it up so he can't just get by by hitting short, low returns.

ark_28 · Dec 28, 2011

Ballinbob said:
I think that variety is over rated. In the first set you did the right thing. You came to the net, and once you saw that worked you stuck with your plan and won the set. You didn't do anything crazy, but stuck with what worked. You did well there

However, once your strategy stops working and your opponent figures you out you don't want to stick to the same strategy. Like the other poster said I would have stayed back and waited for a shorter ball you can approach on. The problem is you say he is a better baseliner than you, so that doesn't work in your favor.

Were you serving the same in the second and third sets or did the quality of serving drop ? Do you think your level dropped or was he really dialing in on your serves ? I mean S&Ving obviously worked really well in the first set and it seems strange that he just figured you out like that. And yes, those low volleys are very hard so dont feel bad haha

Thanks for your reply and tips!

Good question I have to say it is a bit of both to be honest. He certainly was going for more I could see the intent just in his swings alone.

But I also feel that my pace may have dropped sa fraction I was trying to mix it up a bit and in the end of the 3rd set when I did try to go for some big serves the pace seemed back to the 1st set!

1st I was in that kind of grove where I was serving pretty big without feeling like I was and I guess in my mind I thought I was still in that rhythm when I had probably dropped off and needed an extra push! add to that he was taking bigger cuts!"

Bagumbawalla · Dec 28, 2011

The, above, comments are good and helpful.

It seems that the opponent has just a very slight edge. I would think that if you would work on your groundstrokes to the point where you did not fear getting into rallies, and practice your half-volleys-- say a month of serious practice- the edge might turn in your favor.

Of course "practice/get better" may not be what you want to hear, but in my opinion you can play with much more confidence if you don't have to work around (however slight) weakensses in your game.

Kam2010 · Dec 28, 2011

I would of tried and slowed the tempo with slices and gradually trying to either come into the net and finish off the point or hitting some angled shots don't have to be much pace to it but if you can take him out wide point is yours to loose.

If that failed I would of faked an injury

Ballinbob · Dec 29, 2011

Bagumbawalla said:
The, above, comments are good and helpful.

It seems that the opponent has just a very slight edge. I would think that if you would work on your groundstrokes to the point where you did not fear getting into rallies, and practice your half-volleys-- say a month of serious practice- the edge might turn in your favor.

Of course "practice/get better" may not be what you want to hear, but in my opinion you can play with much more confidence if you don't have to work around (however slight) weakensses in your game.

I think this sums it up nicely. He might be just a tad better than you, which is good. Your going to want to practice with this guy as much as you can. I would work on your ground strokes and go from there. Just make sure your practicing the right way. Go for deep cross court shots and play high percentage tennis

Nostradamus · Dec 29, 2011

ark_28 said:
So I played this steady guy a few weeks back and lost in 3 sets 6-2 2-6 7-5.

I felt that while he was steady and could counter punch he didnt really have any big shots.

I love coming to net but I hardly did that day.

So today I serve volleyed on every first serve and in the 1st set it worked a treat I was getting lots of high balls and easy put aways I won it 6-2.

2nd set I lost 7-6 although I was 5-1 down, but he started to read my serve and decided he had to go for a lot more, and without taking too many risks he seemed to put it very low at my feet. they are always difficult volleys I did not make too many from there and the ones I did make I set him up for an easy pass or finish.

Third set I also lost 7-6 I just kept coming to the net and he read me like a book in the end having looked all at sea at the start.

From the back he is way more steady and I didnt like my chances in the long rallies, but should I have stayed back once he was reading my net play or is there a way to mix it up more at the net?

Here is how to beat a pusher. I actually tried this and won 6-2 6-2, easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILwKH83Pz5c&feature=relmfu

ark_28 · Jan 6, 2012

Played a practise match last night and served and volleyed again here is a clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLvNs0GwLnw

any tips would be great

Bagumbawalla · Jan 6, 2012

Plusses- You seem moderately athletic and you have potential.

minuses- almost everything else.

Suggestion- you need to just quit playing matches for a while and work on, well, just about everything in a systematic way-- if you are really serious about improving and developing an all-round game.

5263 · Jan 6, 2012

ark_28 said:
So I played this steady guy a few weeks back and lost in 3 sets 6-2 2-6 7-5.

I felt that while he was steady and could counter punch he didnt really have any big shots.

I love coming to net but I hardly did that day.

So today I serve volleyed on every first serve and in the 1st set it worked a treat I was getting lots of high balls and easy put aways I won it 6-2.

2nd set I lost 7-6 although I was 5-1 down, but he started to read my serve and decided he had to go for a lot more, and without taking too many risks he seemed to put it very low at my feet. they are always difficult volleys I did not make too many from there and the ones I did make I set him up for an easy pass or finish.

Third set I also lost 7-6 I just kept coming to the net and he read me like a book in the end having looked all at sea at the start.

From the back he is way more steady and I didnt like my chances in the long rallies, but should I have stayed back once he was reading my net play or is there a way to mix it up more at the net?

Mixing things up some can always help, but sounds like a great and fun matchup for you!

5263 · Jan 6, 2012

ark_28 said:
Played a practise match last night and served and volleyed again here is a clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLvNs0GwLnw

any tips would be great

I think you could improve the split step and that 1st volley and make a big difference.
Serve looks pretty strong! but maybe needs better placement for S&V? cant tell from the vid except his returns look strong even though your serve has good pace.

ark_28 · Jan 7, 2012

Bagumbawalla said:
Plusses- You seem moderately athletic and you have potential.

minuses- almost everything else.

Suggestion- you need to just quit playing matches for a while and work on, well, just about everything in a systematic way-- if you are really serious about improving and developing an all-round game.

Thanks for the feedback

I appreciate itI agree I need to work on getting a lot of things nailed down and will cut back my practise matches and work on practise sessions with guys I hit with, I will never be a great player but I think I can be a decent club player and just want to be the best I can be so that I can get the full enjoyment from playing the game

ark_28 · Jan 7, 2012

5263 said:
I think you could improve the split step and that 1st volley and make a big difference.
Serve looks pretty strong! but maybe needs better placement for S&V? cant tell from the vid except his returns look strong even though your serve has good pace.

Thanks for your advice buddy, yes I do need to work on a split step, will try and practise on this.

Good point to about mixing up my serve the guy I was playing has strong groundies but I do tend to get stuck on a rhythm on my serve and am so comfortable with it that I forget to mix it up and all of a sudden the guy I am playing starts to read the pace and placement of my serve I will work on switching it up better too

thanks for the comments and for taking time out to offer me some help

ark_28 · Jan 7, 2012

before the practise match I got a video of me hitting a few forehands here too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCIJA2SD4Pk

thug the bunny · Jan 7, 2012

Just IMO, but you're kinda lunging at the ball cause you don't quite get there. Use yer feet to get into better position. And, can you sustain a baseline rally? Can't really tell your serve velocity, but is it really fast enough to keep coming in behind it all the time?

ark_28 · Jan 8, 2012

thug the bunny said:
Just IMO, but you're kinda lunging at the ball cause you don't quite get there. Use yer feet to get into better position. And, can you sustain a baseline rally? Can't really tell your serve velocity, but is it really fast enough to keep coming in behind it all the time?

I wont say my serve is the quickest but its decent pace on my 1st serve! I can stay back but a lot of these young guys are better off the ground than me and my volleys have always been a strength relatively speaking so I try and come in and mess up their rhythm.

Very valid point about moving my feet better to get into net.

Thanks for your feedback

TheBoom · Jan 8, 2012

If I were you I'd work on two things
1. sprinting it seemed like you were kinda slow getting to the net and I think if you got there quicker it would be easier for you to hit the volley because it would be a little more above the net
2. It doesn't look like there is mug of a split step to your volley prep (something I need to wok on as well) I have found exaggerating the action helps or even taking little steps helps

Hope this helps a bit

ark_28 · Jan 8, 2012

TheBoom said:
If I were you I'd work on two things
1. sprinting it seemed like you were kinda slow getting to the net and I think if you got there quicker it would be easier for you to hit the volley because it would be a little more above the net
2. It doesn't look like there is mug of a split step to your volley prep (something I need to wok on as well) I have found exaggerating the action helps or even taking little steps helps

Hope this helps a bit

Thanks mate I certainly need to work on both of these things, strangely enough my sprinting in rallies is ok, as you can probably see in one of the points there, but pushing off from the serve has never been as explosive as it should be I will work on this!

I use the same raquet as you btw

TheBoom · Jan 8, 2012

Yeah I did see that! And I think that if you worked on your knee bend during your serve you could explode more into the court. The roddick is a great racket for serving and volleying don't ya think?

ark_28 · Jan 8, 2012

TheBoom said:
Yeah I did see that! And I think that if you worked on your knee bend during your serve you could explode more into the court. The roddick is a great racket for serving and volleying don't ya think?

It is a great racket for serve volley mate, I feel very comfortable with it

Fay · Jan 10, 2012

TheBoom said:
If I were you I'd work on two things
1. sprinting it seemed like you were kinda slow getting to the net and I think if you got there quicker it would be easier for you to hit the volley because it would be a little more above the net
2. It doesn't look like there is mug of a split step to your volley prep (something I need to wok on as well) I have found exaggerating the action helps or even taking little steps helps

Hope this helps a bit

Good advice.

I think 50% of your time playing matches and the other 50% working on practicing excellent technique.

You look like you are having a lot of fun and that is very important.
So many people I watch playing tennis are so intent on being competitive they lose their joy in playing.

Your serve is solid and if you keep tweaking it it will be a weapon for you.

I wish every one I played next to was having as much fun as you!

ark_28 · Jan 11, 2012

Fay said:
Good advice.

I think 50% of your time playing matches and the other 50% working on practicing excellent technique.

You look like you are having a lot of fun and that is very important.
So many people I watch playing tennis are so intent on being competitive they lose their joy in playing.

Your serve is solid and if you keep tweaking it it will be a weapon for you.

I wish every one I played next to was having as much fun as you!

Thanks Fay, I love playing tennis I love watching it just love the game and you are so rigght so many people sadly forget that ultimately we play because we love the sport!

Thanks for your tips and kind words much appreciated!

Plan b or just too good?

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