How to prevent low bouncing balls from winning points against me?

K

KK Partizan

Rookie
Hey all,

Have a quick question about low bouncing balls being sent from my opponent(s) [my two best friends]. We recently bought some pressureless (mesh nets) and pressurized balls (cans) and my friends have realized that one way to win some points is to abuse the fact that the balls literally don't bounce more than 8-10 inches when they 'dink' some forehands and backhands. This was never happening before this summer, when the tide shifted from them winning 99% of matches to me winning 75%+. They claim it's because they are 'mis-hitting' the ball with the frame but it happens way too frequently. They are NOT slicing it, but forehand 'smashing' the ball with no power.

Why the * are the balls not bouncing higher? Even when you dink the ball, I expect SOME bounce.
 
B

Bendex

Professional
KK Partizan said:
Hey all,

Have a quick question about low bouncing balls being sent from my opponent(s) [my two best friends]. We recently bought some pressureless (mesh nets) and pressurized balls (cans) and my friends have realized that one way to win some points is to abuse the fact that the balls literally don't bounce more than 8-10 inches when they 'dink' some forehands and backhands. This was never happening before this summer, when the tide shifted from them winning 99% of matches to me winning 75%+. They claim it's because they are 'mis-hitting' the ball with the frame but it happens way too frequently. They are NOT slicing it, but forehand 'smashing' the ball with no power.

Why the * are the balls not bouncing higher? Even when you dink the ball, I expect SOME bounce.
Click to expand...

Buy different balls.
 
Hollywood401k

Hollywood401k

Semi-Pro
Find some friends that want to learn to play, not dink. I know that's probably not easy but dinkers are only going to hold you back.
 
SpinToWin

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
1. Read the play. When they want to dink the ball, their preparation will be very different to a normal groundstroke.

2. Immediately start running for the short ball when you see them preparing the dink.

3. Finish the point by playing into a large target with a topspin groundstroke.


After doing this a few times to them, they will stop playing this shot because they lose more than they win when playing it.
 
Z

zaph

Professional
KK Partizan said:
Hey all,

Have a quick question about low bouncing balls being sent from my opponent(s) [my two best friends]. We recently bought some pressureless (mesh nets) and pressurized balls (cans) and my friends have realized that one way to win some points is to abuse the fact that the balls literally don't bounce more than 8-10 inches when they 'dink' some forehands and backhands. This was never happening before this summer, when the tide shifted from them winning 99% of matches to me winning 75%+. They claim it's because they are 'mis-hitting' the ball with the frame but it happens way too frequently. They are NOT slicing it, but forehand 'smashing' the ball with no power.

Why the * are the balls not bouncing higher? Even when you dink the ball, I expect SOME bounce.
Click to expand...

The problem isn't the ball bouncing low, it is the fact you're no good against low short balls. If I were playing you, I would slice it short constantly. Learning how to deal with short and low balls is vital, otherwise you will lose to virtually everyone, the moment they realise your weakness.
 
President

President

Legend
Bend your knees, swing quickly up the ball to give it enough height to come over the net, and enough topspin to bring it down, while having enough power to make it a forcing shot and not a sitter.
 
skiracer55

skiracer55

Hall of Fame
Bend your knees...

KK Partizan said:
Hey all,

Have a quick question about low bouncing balls being sent from my opponent(s) [my two best friends]. We recently bought some pressureless (mesh nets) and pressurized balls (cans) and my friends have realized that one way to win some points is to abuse the fact that the balls literally don't bounce more than 8-10 inches when they 'dink' some forehands and backhands. This was never happening before this summer, when the tide shifted from them winning 99% of matches to me winning 75%+. They claim it's because they are 'mis-hitting' the ball with the frame but it happens way too frequently. They are NOT slicing it, but forehand 'smashing' the ball with no power.

Why the * are the balls not bouncing higher? Even when you dink the ball, I expect SOME bounce.
Click to expand...

...or if you can't do that, take up shuffleboard...
 
RajS

RajS

Semi-Pro
Low balls, whether fast and short ones or dinks, are getting tougher and tougher for me if I have to run to them - it is hard to generate power from a very low position. I try to catch them before they get too low, but if I can't get them at least knee high, I am finding it more rewarding to slice them deep than try to power them with topspin. Age, flexibility are catching up with me... sigh.
 
B

Bendex

Professional
What court are you playing on? Is it a carpet?

Go out with a bucket of balls and practice your slice drop shots from short in the court. That's usually a good solution to that type of ball.
 
RajS

RajS

Semi-Pro
@Bendex: I play on a regular hard court. In fact, on a few different ones. The ones at Campbell where I play most often are really smooth, and the ball comes in very fast and low. Some of the faster servers do very well here when they are firing well.

Thanks for the practice tip, Bendex. I am slicing a lot more now than I used to, and I usually practice against the wall.
 
K

KK Partizan

Rookie
Guess it was the balls? Played with 4 cans of new balls (opened for first time today) and those dinks didn't work because the ball bounced reasonably. As for the trolls claiming it's because "you're no good against low balls", lol...nice try, but my jimmies remain unrustled. As for the guy who mentioned playing on carpet, that's pretty much what it felt like. Now, the 'dinks' bounce like you'd expect and allow for enough time to hit a good return shot and reset positioning.
 
moonballs

moonballs

Hall of Fame
I am wondering, when you hit the short low balls with SW grip, do you try open the racquet face a little? I don't because I am taught not to (a long time ago though). But I also hit some in the net.
 
iceman_dl6

iceman_dl6

Professional
moonballs said:
I am wondering, when you hit the short low balls with SW grip, do you try open the racquet face a little? I don't because I am taught not to (a long time ago though). But I also hit some in the net.
Click to expand...

Yes, you need to get under the ball while keeping the SW grip.

This involves some good knee bend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
How to handle high boucing balls?
Replies
13
Views
10K
Slazenger07
Slazenger07
B
Pressurized vs Pressureless green dot balls
Replies
22
Views
5K
PittsburghDad
P
T
How to hit a low ball with a Western/Semi-Western forehand grip?
Replies
8
Views
3K
arosen
arosen
MoxMonkey
Slice the low balls? OHBH question
Replies
20
Views
933
Demented
D
P
Which grip do you use to start a rally?
Replies
34
Views
3K
LeeD
L
Top