Eric Matuszewski said:
John,
I'm glad you asked this question. Many others will ask the same one.
The question "what if he makes the down the line" is exactly what kills guys at the higher levels on the baseline.
Watch some tape and you will realize that at higher levels if a player has to take more than just 3 small adjusting steps to a ball then the player is "on the run".
More than 3 small steps and has much more trouble getting his or her weight into there shot. It becomes "defensive".
By not commiting to the crosscourt "outside" position, the player ensures that he will have to hit the next ball "on the run" (after taking more than 3 small steps after his split step).
There is always the chance of course that you are playing someone who is much more solid off the ground and can change direction on every ball you hit. In effect the better your strokes get the more ability you have to change direction on a ball given that it has the same speed depth and spin.
This shouldn't deter you from going with the directional positioning however since they are still more likely to make the outside no change of direction crosscourt shot on what they perceive is weak.
Your positioning should go to "what does this guy have the best chance of making". Rather than covering what is open or going to the "T".
Watch some high level or pro tapes and you'll get more confident in the system.
Then go out and try it and reap the rewards.
Best Wishes
I don't know if we can just pass this off to watching more "high level" tape. The pro game is a very different game than the game we play.
The Wardlaw Directionals are not something that is clearly followed in the pro game. Like I have often said, Wardlaw Directionals are a "foundation" for the structure of smart rallying. Your ability to go beyond the Directionals will have to happen when you play better players.
Professional tennis players will, can and often do change direction on a ball that is deemed "difficult" for a club player to change direction on (outside ball). They have to be able to do this, otherwise they will get killed on the court.
For instance, in advanced play, sometimes a ball that is hit crosscourt, looks like it will cross in front of a player only for the player to JUMP backwards and on an angle to get the ball to his inside and send it up the line. The other thing, is at times the pro will simply send it up the line on an outside ball they can control. Some pros are better than other pros at handling a ball hit up the line as it crossed in front of them. This could be because they are very strong have excellent timing or both.
You can compare "shot" difficulty to the sport of diving. If you saw me on the high dive of the Olympics (indeed a sight to see), you would probably see that my level of difficulty is much much lower then professional divers or TRUE Olympic divers. In fact, if you saw me dive you would probably see me go in feet first and make a big splash with no rotational movements at all!
Additionally, professional doubles defies Wardlaw's directionals all the time. Many shots that should technically go crosscourt are sent down-the-line from a moving netman or other reasons. The main reason is professional tennis players have excellent timing and excellent control of the racquet face. That is why I find humor and frustration when club players want to hit whippier strokes when they cant even hold a fixed wrist through the shot on a consistent basis.
What I am gathering Eric is saying is if a player hits the ball down the line and
you are able to get to the ball due to
your recovery position sooner than your opponent gets to his proper recovery position due to the longer distance your opponent has to travel, you will be in a position to get him on the run when you send the ball crosscourt.
The trouble I have with this "simplicity" is the ball that is hit up the line is an inside ball to you. It is more natural for you to hit the ball back up the line vs. hitting it crosscourt if you follow strict Wardlaw Directionals. Also, we are assuming the person that hit the down-the-line shot is unable to recover quickly. We are also assuming you will be able to send a strong crosscourt shot by using your backhand stroke.
Recovery position has a lot of elements to it. Your conditioning, your ability to recover WHILE you survey the court and your ball, your knowledge on where to be to place yourself in the MIDDLE of your opponents possible replies, and your ability to be able to perform the split step just BEFORE your opponent hits the ball. These things also apply to your opponents ability to recover from the shots he chooses to make.
Court position during recovery is ALWAYS based on where YOU hit the ball. So your opponent, if he is smart, (and they get smarter and faster the higher you go up in levels) will also be doing the same thing making this thread more difficult to discuss then we realize.
The pros use Wardlaw directionals primarily for these reasons:
1. The change of direction shot is primarily used to change the strategic matchup.
2. Lengthen the rally/point.
3. Play defense.
4. If a shot combination did not work, often a pro will neutralize the point, use the Wardlaw Directionals to work their way back into another shot combination plan.
5. To play high percentage tennis or defensive tennis against an opponent that is stronger then they are or as part of their style (counterpuncher).
6. To disguise a shot towards a higher percentage shot (opposite use of the Directionals) and go with the "technically" lower percentage shot to keep the opponent guessing.
Bottom-line, the level of play by the pros go way beyond the Directionals - way beyond. They can and often change directions on difficult balls. The pros are more into shot combinations then Directionals this is very evident in doubles play.
The Wardlaw Directionals are to be looked at as a shot selection strategy for up and coming players - a foundation for high percentage play. There are elements "reading" elements to see as your opponent makes a shot but it isn't as important as your or their ability to recover off your or their shot.
Recovery positions are based on the shot YOU hit and can be used with your high percentage shot selection strategy as you grow (Wardlaw Directionals). You eventually want to go beyond the Directionals (especially when you start knocking on the door of being a 5.0 player) when you get better at controlling the ball, and are stronger and faster.
