Another Match Strategy Thread

[athiker]

I'm playing a Compass Draw finals match, probably this weekend if the weather cooperates. We are both 3.5s so this isn't 115 mph serves and laser angled shots for winners from the back 1/3 of the court.

In general he has a 4.0 forehand and a 3.0 1HBH and I have a 3.5 forehand and a 3.5 1HBH.

His FH is very consistant with a lot of topspin using a semi or maybe even a full western grip. He can both place it and hit with some good pace when needed. My FH has greatly improved of late and I can maybe match him for 3 or 4 strokes each...it just depends, but overall he is going to have the edge in consistency as the stroke exchange gets ever faster. I hit with topspin but not as much as him.

He's had some TE issues and in general his BH is just not a weapon. He can get it back fine, but its nothing to really fear. My BH is quite solid and consistent for my level. I don't hit it with the pace of my forehand, but it has good pace and good topspin without being too loopy. I'm also comfortable hitting a decent slice, but it will occaisionally float up more than I would like.

He will not come to the net unless forced by a very short ball. He just won't do it. He does however have a nice drop shot, but it either works or it doesn't and he doesn't really even follow it in. I am comfortable at the net. I flub my share of volleys of course but overall I look to come in and am competent. I try to hit an approach shot on any shorter ball and will come in off a deep groundstroke if he has to run and reach for it...especially to the opponent's backhand side.

We both move pretty well. We've never played a real match but were on the same doubles team so have played each other in doubles practice frequently. We've also played a few casual sets. He used to be clearly better (did I mention he has a nice forehand?!), but then I won the last few times we played. HOWEVER, that was when his TE was really bad and his BH was not full strength. We haven't played each other in quite a while now since its been winter, but did hit around some recently. It should be a good close match.

My specific question: In general I rally cross-court with a player waiting for a shorter weaker ball to come in and slice or stroke down the line as an approach shot. Generally, I am happy to rally FH/FH and then hit the approach DTL to their generally weaker BH which is also the open side of the court. With this guy, that's risky b/c I may never get to that point before losing the point. However, if I try to force a BH/BH exchange I'll be most likely hitting my DTL approach to his FH. Even though that is the open court and the shortest distance for me to come in and cover, it is right to his strength. I would attempt to slice these low of course to counter his topspin FH, but if it floats...:shock:

Obviously, I'll see how the match goes early and try to adjust, but was curious about strategy opinions in this case with this matchup. Sorry for the book...I started out trying to keep it short!

 

[USERNAME]

Rally BH to BH hitting to his weaker side to open up the court. Pull him wide and out of position with some good moderately paced BH shots then step in and redirect the ball dtl to his FH. Or if your confident enough and have an opening run around your BH and hit a FH inside-in, flatten out a bit on the FH. No matter if you hit a BH dtl or FH inside-in, follow it in (always follow the path of the ball) so you put even more pressure on a tough shot. Running down a ball then changing its direction for a pass is HARD! I see world-class players miss that shot, so I promise you a 4.0 will have a devil of a time doing it. I use this plan in my matches in the 18s quite a bit, the biggest thing to realize is that this is an APPROACH, if you hit a winner consider it a bonus. This is not the type of shot to blast, you should be in no-mans land when you hit it so the court will be shorter then usual. You take a little off to make sure placement is good and to make sure you dont hit long. Another thing to understand is that YOU are attacking his strength! Imagine how he will feel after you win a few points by going to his strong side, at his lvl his confidence will drop and it wont be so strong anymore.

 

[athiker]

Rally BH to BH hitting to his weaker side to open up the court. Pull him wide and out of position with some good moderately paced BH shots then step in and redirect the ball dtl to his FH. Or if your confident enough and have an opening run around your BH and hit a FH inside-in, flatten out a bit on the FH. No matter if you hit a BH dtl or FH inside-in, follow it in (always follow the path of the ball) so you put even more pressure on a tough shot. Running down a ball then changing its direction for a pass is HARD! I see world-class players miss that shot, so I promise you a 4.0 will have a devil of a time doing it. I use this plan in my matches in the 18s quite a bit, the biggest thing to realize is that this is an APPROACH, if you hit a winner consider it a bonus. This is not the type of shot to blast, you should be in no-mans land when you hit it so the court will be shorter then usual. You take a little off to make sure placement is good and to make sure you dont hit long. Another thing to understand is that YOU are attacking his strength! Imagine how he will feel after you win a few points by going to his strong side, at his lvl his confidence will drop and it wont be so strong anymore.

Good perspective and tips. Thanks. Especially like the bit about not overhitting the approach and flying long, which would be tempting in my effort to prevent him getting his racket on it. Also, usually when I try to overhit my stroke goes from smooth to jerky which makes bad things happen.

 

[W Cats]

When mapping out a strategy for a match look at not only how to exploit your opponents limitations, in this case BH and not venturing to the net, which also not only cast questions about his net game but his transition game too, but also how to make him uncomfortable when hitting his strengths as well. Having said that, look at what the effects of a variation in spin, speed, height, depth, angle has on his forehand and then match that up with your ability to execute the shots needed. In other words what type of shot or combination of shots will break down or nutralize his strengths so that you can better exploit his weaknesses. Sometimes this has a domino effect and other cards will fall as well.

In summary look for a or a combination of setup shots that unseat or neutralizes his strengths so that you can exploit his weaknesses while putting presure on his overall game.

 

[athiker]

Good point. Even though I've really worked over the last year or so to develop a reasonably solid topspin forehand, the thought had crossed my mind to throw some FH slices at him! I used to be quite the dink and pusher; I had to be to survive when I started playing with the neighborhood USTA group. I've spent a fair amount of time learning from the other players, watching videos and taking some clinics to improve my strokes. Strangely my BH progressed first. I also joined a Ladder and this Compass Draw to get more singles play and thus more stroke work. I really just started back playing a little under 2 years ago and spent the first year mostly learning doubles strategy, which was all new to me. A few things have finally clicked over the last 3 to 4 months and I feel like I'm a completely different player now.

Am I correct in thinking a low sliced ball is the ball that gives most full-western grip FH players trouble? I'm not sure of his exact grip, but is sure looks like its a full western or very close.

My memory is he can move up and back fine and is okay at the net, he just doesn't like coming up. We've even joked about it...he is just more comfortable staying back. I will try to show him some different looks though...to the extent I can pull them off. Thanks.

 

[LuckyR]

I would not fear hitting to his FH. Most in his position would rather hit inside out FHs, than BHs, so if you try to get into BH to BH exchanges, you may find yourself facing his IOFH, probably his best shot.

Instead, I would get into FH to FH exchanges (which he will initially love), but hit DTL to his true BH and look for short balls.

 

[fruitytennis1]

Rally ball at is bh all day long. W8 for the short ball then slice to his bh(topspin crosscourt to mix it up)

 

[Geezer Guy]

I'd say you should target his backhand, obviously. I'm fine with a BH to BH cross-court exchange. With your 1hbh you can probably mix in some dropshots (cross-court) as well. You can also go inside-out forehand to his backhand. In my opinion, you should NOT take your approach shots down the line to his forehand. I have a feeling he'll munch on those, even if you hit a really nice one. (He can either rip it DTL, or past your cc.) I'm not a big fan of hitting approach shots cross-court. Maybe try some right down the middle and see what happens.

If you have a strong serve out wide to his backhand, try following it in and hitting cross-court to his (hopefully empty) forehand side.

 

[Geezer Guy]

I would not fear hitting to his FH. Most in his position would rather hit inside out FHs, than BHs, so if you try to get into BH to BH exchanges, you may find yourself facing his IOFH, probably his best shot.

Instead, I would get into FH to FH exchanges (which he will initially love), but hit DTL to his true BH and look for short balls.

I agree that that's a good tactic, IF you can hang with his FH long enough.

 

[ManuGinobili]

I'm in the same situation with you... one of my hitting buds has close to a 4.5 FH... it's like a wall - it will not lose to you! And a weak backhand that can only hit back but without clear direction or depth.

In the sets where I attacked the FH, or hit to whatever side that was more open, I lost.

What I did to win was just obsessively attack the BH. Yea he could expect it but he couldn't do jack about it. Waited really patiently for a wide opening, then hit an angled shot to the FH side. Or, hit a deep, extreme spin approach shot to the BH, forcing a passing shot that normally did not happen. Sometimes during a rally I hit a short low slice which took him by surprise and just won a point - this works well with guys with no transition game btw.

Hope that helps somehow

 

[athiker]

Lot's of food for thought. I jotted down some notes and I'm sure I'll end up trying a few of the variations mentioned to see what works.

For starters right now I'm thinking I want to go BH/BH if I'm able to get there. It just jumps out at me as the first thing to try given our strengths and weaknesses. If my FH is on then I'll try to mix the rally/approach shot combos up some. But if I can get the FH/FH to the center early then I'm pretty comfortable with an inside out FH to his BH to get the BH/BH going. If I can then get a decent ball to run around and hit back to his FH corner I'll take it. I may approach behind it, but I'm thinking (unless its a really good shot by me) I might wait one more shot and try to redirect his running forehand back to his BH corner and approach behind that ball. I think my chances on his running BH are multiples of my chances on his running FH.

He's a bright guy and I'm sure he has a plan of his own and from conversations I know he notices things during matches so its not like he'll let me do whatever I want. For example if I hit to his BH he might go DTL every time so that I never get him pulled too far off the court w/ my backhand. I'll take that shot off his BH though b/c I can still do more with that (assuming he keeps it in) than his typical FH shot.

I still think its good to have a few plans going in though to try out during the match. I just know how our FH/FH rallies go...every shot a little harder...so I think I want to get him moved over to the BH/BH within about 3 shots if possible. Sincere thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[athiker]

I'm in the same situation with you... one of my hitting buds has close to a 4.5 FH... it's like a wall - it will not lose to you! And a weak backhand that can only hit back but without clear direction or depth.

In the sets where I attacked the FH, or hit to whatever side that was more open, I lost.

What I did to win was just obsessively attack the BH. Yea he could expect it but he couldn't do jack about it. Waited really patiently for a wide opening, then hit an angled shot to the FH side. Or, hit a deep, extreme spin approach shot to the BH, forcing a passing shot that normally did not happen. Sometimes during a rally I hit a short low slice which took him by surprise and just won a point - this works well with guys with no transition game btw.

Hope that helps somehow

Thanks just saw your post after I posted mine. Good info. The last real set I played him was kind of funny when he had bad TE so I was actually trying NOT to hit to his BH. We were just hitting balls and he wanted to play a set so I said okay. So then whenever I got behind in a game I'd whack some over that way!...I felt bad, but I couldn't help myself! He says he's healed now so it will be interesting to see how his BH is.

So you say you would hit a short low slice that would sometimes be an outright winner...would that be to his FH or BH? DTL or cross court? Thx.