1BH - what do you do on a dead run?

1hbh - on a dead run. What tactic(s) would you use?

  • Slice - DTL

    Votes: 10 17.2%

  • Slice - Cross Court

    Votes: 31 53.4%

  • 1hbh - Flat

    Votes: 13 22.4%

  • 1hbh - Topspin

    Votes: 20 34.5%

  • Lob

    Votes: 5 8.6%

  • Other - please elaborate

    Votes: 2 3.4%
  • Total voters
    58
  • Poll closed .
In D Zone

In D Zone

Hall of Fame
What do you ?- ball coming at backhand side (long or angled), you are on a dead run
What's you first , second option?
Why did you go with the choice(s)?



  1. Slice - down the line
  2. Slice - cross court
  3. 1hbh - flat
  4. 1hbh - topspin
  5. Lob
  6. Other -please elaborate
 
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I don't hit a one handed backhand, but I think that if you are on a dead run, the safest shot would be to try to hit a defensive slice cross court. You have more court to work with, because a running shot isn't the most accurate shot in the world, and working with the whole court is much safer than trying a down the line shot.
 
I have a one hander and from my experience the best, most effective shot on the run is to change your grip slightly open and "carve" a slice crosscourt. Safe and very effective!!
 
It all depends on the situation of the point and whether it is singles or doubles. In singles, if the opponent is not coming in behind the shot (as he should be most likely), I would mostly likely make sure I get it back deep to get myself back into the point. What I used would depend on how high the ball was when I reached it but a nice deep floating slice would be excellent, IF they weren’t coming in. If they where coming in behind the shot my first option is a topspin drive up the line, a slice up the line and finally a defensive lob if I was really late getting there.

There are too many questions I need to know before I could give a definitive answer. I voted for a topspin shot up the line assuming in your example they were coming in behind their good shot. Hitting a one hander cross court on the run is a pretty low percentage shot in my book for almost all players. The earlier you get there the better your chances so realistically, you are probably going to have to go up the line topspin or slice. There really are no right answers without more info.

Good tennis.

TM
 
I'll assume you're talking about singles. If I'm running in a panic and can barely reach the ball, then it's a slice for sure. Usually a sharp crosscourt angle if I can make it.

If I'm on the run, but have SOME time to get to the ball, I usually hit an open stance 1HBH. I always try to get it crosscourt if I can, but if I see my opponent coming to the net, I try a winner down the line. It's tougher to do, but as long as you keep your upper body balanced, you can hit a pretty decent shot. It's more or less identical to hitting a 1HBH return of serve.

I agree that there is no "correct" answer to this. Every situation is different. But all in all, I'll try to hit a forceful shot when I have at least SOME time to get to the ball. But in a panic, I'll go with the slice. Usually a sharp, short slice crosscourt. Nothing floating and nothing really deep, because it can be easily picked off at the net.
 
Wow, everyone except TennisMan would be predictable and easy to beat!
Like TMan, it would depend totally on position of opposition, my heartbeat rate and desire to continue the groudie exchange, strengths and weakness of my opponent, and his likes and dislikes.
You give your opponent the shot he DOES NOT want to hit.
You try to hit most of the shots you like to hit.
That is tennis.
 
1HBH on the run (both sideways and forward) is much easier to hit than a 2HBH on the run since you only need to swing your arm instead of having to rotate your torso while running as with a 2HBH.
 
I actually checked all of the options. My running 1h is actually one of my better/more versatile shots. I have gotten pretty good at dictating the shot with only my wrist, so that may be why I feel this way.

Most of what I choose (at any given time) is based on where the shot came from, where I want the point to go from there, and where my opponent is within the court.

For "Other", I hit either a strong volley or a "drop volley" (not to be confused with drop shot). If I am close enough to the net I'll just whack it out of the air, chip n' charge-like, or I will completely release my hold on the grip (really, really close to net) and intentionally frame and let the racquet twist. Ball falls DEAD. Love that shot.
 
Reason for post a generic question with no specific details..... because it applies to a real match. Yes, it is not scripted.

I wanted to see how's everyone's mind set when the situation presented itself............ I am talking singles play.

Against a Steady baseliner....
Against an All court Player....
Against a S & V player.....
 
That was a tough decision, and like some of you have said; it really depends on the situation and your opponent. Sometimes I'll get aggressive and come up with a top-spin CC with a flick of the wrist. If I want to get a little fancy and I know I won't make it to the ball in time to roll it over, I'll slice to change up the pace of the game and buy me some time to get into a better position.
 
Slice cross court is the easiest shot you can make if you're on a dead run. In that case, you don't run through but stop and reach out at the last moment. It won't be easy to make a topspin unless you're Federer. Second option would be lob or slice down the line. This depends on how your opponent is reacting to your slice cross court.

OK, you're somewhat predictable but that's tennis is all about. Under pressure, you can't make a lot of things. It's good to have those options set in your mind because you'll only have a couple of moments during the run.
 
What should you do if you are really late getting there ? and you see your opponent bearing down on the net.?? and it looks to you like the Lob is covered by your opponent.
 
Fedace said:
What should you do if you are really late getting there ? and you see your opponent bearing down on the net.?? and it looks to you like the Lob is covered by your opponent.
Click to expand...

for me, i would never consider using the lob option because the people i play with are experts at putting away lobs :)
 
Mick said:
for me, i would never consider using the lob option because the people i play with are experts at putting away lobs :)
Click to expand...

I have seen the pro go for that acute Angle crosscourt with heavy slice. If you can execute this shot, then your opponent has only one option. go for a drop shot. otherwise they have to pop it up.

and i have seen Roddick today pass Stepanek with slice backhand down the line. i thought this was impossible. ?
 
Fedace said:
I have seen the pro go for that acute Angle crosscourt with heavy slice. If you can execute this shot, then your opponent has only one option. go for a drop shot. otherwise they have to pop it up.

and i have seen Roddick today pass Stepanek with slice backhand down the line. i thought this was impossible. ?
Click to expand...

for me, i think it's tougher to hit a delicate slice than a hard topspin shot when i am on the run and has to make a do or die shot.
furthermore, if i hit it hard enough, there is a possibility that my opponent could make an error in trying to block the shot.
with a delicate slice, the possibility of this happening would be less.
 
I'm an "other"

If I'm out of position but have time to recover, most likely I'll throw a lob (the more so the lower the ball is when I get to hit it).

If I don't think I'll have enough time to recover, or if the lob is not a good option unless it's absolutely perfect (like, against a tall player with a good overhead), then the more likely I'm to go for a "glory shot". Here, if the ball is low I will probably play a low sliced cross-court over the lowest part of the net, to force the opponent to go down low himself to pick it up. But if the ball is higher, I will probably go for a topspin down-the-line pass; unless what's sent me running out of position is an approach down the line and the opponent is coming into the net that way (and therefore has it covered), in which case it's got to be topspin cross-court.
 
I say one word. PRACTICE. It is very strange but running backhand is a shot you don't see people practicing. It is the Toughest shot in tennis but you rarely see guys practice it. Maybe it is too depressing to practice ???
 
I like the slice like most others when really pressed, but I might use any of those shots. One of my favorites is the topspin ripper DTL, and if I'm not too tired and have a little extra energy, I will work very hard to get an extra step or two in so I can setup and hit that shot. It's like tennis magic when it works. :-)
 
I have tried the 5 options depending on the position and the type of opponent I play with.

Against a baseliner - Slice CC or Topspin CC would be my choice. then it would be DTL slice or topspin against lefty opponent.

Against an S&V and All court player - ah, this is where it gets very tricky! For the one, these guys like to come to the net. They will feast on the Slice CC or Topspin CC, but it does not mean I won't use it. I tried to change and vary my shots to keep the opponent honest.
If the opponent is closer to the ad side , hitting dtl slice or topspin would be my first option.

If I noticed the opponent sneaking in to the net after his shot - I will not think twice of lobbing the ball back to the ad side.

Other shot - is nothing really special but very risky shot (I've only done it if I am really late)... I would wait for the ball to drop and would hit a hard slice dtl (close to the line) - I'd say I've made it 50/50.
 
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Fedace said:
I say one word. PRACTICE. It is very strange but running backhand is a shot you don't see people practicing. It is the Toughest shot in tennis but you rarely see guys practice it. Maybe it is too depressing to practice ???
Click to expand...

I am with you Fadace.

After getting schooled by opponents attacking my bh side, I've decided to focus on strengthening my bh game. It is very hard, honestly it takes alot of practice and patience. It's more harder than hitting a forehand on the run as there is alot more movement involved.

I am not saying I have the best bh - but the hours spent on practice is finally paying dividends. Funny thing is when I responded to their on slaught attack to my bh and often get shocked that I can do all this shots. I've showed my opponents that I got some tricks under my sleeves.

We are talking about opponents who are 3.5 to 5.0.
 
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In D Zone said:
I am with you Fadace.

After getting schooled by opponents attacking my bh side, I've decided to focus on strengthening my bh game. It is very hard, honestly it takes alot of practice and patience. It's more harder than hitting a forehand on the run as there is alot more movement involved.

I am not saying I have the best bh - but the hours spent on practice is finally paying dividends. Funny thing is when I responded to their on slaught attack to my bh and often get shocked that I can do all this shots. I've showed my opponents that I got some tricks under my sleeves.

We are talking about opponents who are 3.5 to 5.0.
Click to expand...

We used to practice shot when i was a Junior but i never see adults practice shot. but it is difficult to hit running backhands consistantly deep. though Pros seem to do it routinely.
 
if u still can drive, it means u still have time.
if we are talking about a dead run, u hardly have the power and time to drive a 1HBH, unless u are federer.

I either slice it or lift a high lob.
 
I'm a lefty, so the best shot for me is a DTL slice. Usually I'll try to get it as deep as I can, as my slices really pick up that crazy spin when they land deep.
 
Depends on if my opponent is at net. If he is, I usually go flat/topspin down the line; but if he isn't, I loop it crosscourt or slice it crosscourt.
 
Wow,

Quite a few opinions listed. I find these types of threads very interesting. The choices tell a lot about how someone plays and gives quite a few clues to as to their level and/or strategy sophistication. Very interesting thread.

As a lefty and assuming I am playing a righty, we have a few more viable options because our up the line shot is going up the backhand of the righty. So a lob up the line, or a slice floating up the line to the ad corner will be a good play as few can hurt us with a high backhand shot or a lob over the backhand side. A few choices mentioned would be certain losers IMHO. I will elaborate if asked but don't want to step on any toes.

Good tennis to all

TM
 
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A short topspin cross court backhand. Just enough to land in the serving box on the ad side, if you were a righty.
That's my 2cents and I'm sticking with it
 
flat down the line when im consistent but usually i try to attempt a slice which is my less consistent shot on the bh and sometimes it goes off when im nervous
 
It really depends on the construction of the point.. It's hard to say a rule of thumb strategy given the "position" of the ball. I'd probably say your best bet is to hit to the middle of the court either high/deep (drive) or low/deep (slice) or low/short (slice).

If you hit CC, your just asking to run sidelines for another round or two. If you hit DTL, you might hit a winner or you might leave an open court for opponent to hit into.

Too many variables, I'll side with keeping the ball alive and reasserting a neutral position in the point when possible.
 
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1bh on the run and hitting it DTL is one of the toughest shot to do.

I think a slicing would the best shot going DTL.

ANy thoughts?
 
BreakPoint said:
1HBH on the run (both sideways and forward) is much easier to hit than a 2HBH on the run since you only need to swing your arm instead of having to rotate your torso while running as with a 2HBH.
Click to expand...

I slice on the run as well (I play two handed with an improving one handed slice).
 
1bh on the run is very difficult. Some of my friends hit the ball flat and heavy, and I have trouble generating the topspin (often doesnt clear the net), let alone controlling the pace. I just slice it.
 
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