Cutting Angle

[gugafan05]

If I want to make it so my opponent can not hit much angle on me and run me all around the court, what would be your suggestions? What kind of shots should I hit? I was thinking hard and up the middle of the court? Any comments appreciated.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Hard down the middle is fine.
Also, slices to the corners.
Also, variety, to take him out of his hitting zone.

 

[Midlife crisis]

If I want to make it so my opponent can not hit much angle on me and run me all around the court, what would be your suggestions? What kind of shots should I hit? I was thinking hard and up the middle of the court? Any comments appreciated.

A lot depends on your level and your abilities. At my level (4.5 or so), there is still a clear point for every opponent where if you hit harder than that or with more spin than that point, their goal will be more to get the ball back in play than to try to hit an offensive shot. If you're the type of player who hits harder or with more spin than normal for your level (which probably means that you tend to be less consistent than normal for your level or have some other issue that is easily exploitable), then you can try and find this point and see if it is within your capabilities to hit at this level.

If you don't play this way, then you're probably the type of player which depends on your ability to move well and retrieve well, in which case you need to work on making the movement easier for you. Once you get to a certain point, about 4.0 or so, opponents will be able to move you even if you hit down the middle.

 

[kevhen]

Yeah hit up the middle and over the low part of the net especially with low slice (hard to hit these back very hard) to avoid your opponent being able to angle you. Also hard with deep topspin down the middle will work ok too as the opponent will have to take the ball from a deeper position with less angle to work with. He may have a side where he has less control with so go to that side if he can't his angle shots as well.

 

[spot]

The best advice is to make sure that you keep your shots deep. When you hit short it gives your opponent much more angle to work with. If you can consistently keep the ball deep you will get great results.

 

[LuckyR]

The best advice is to make sure that you keep your shots deep. When you hit short it gives your opponent much more angle to work with. If you can consistently keep the ball deep you will get great results.

I disagree, against the modern power baseliner (who is going to be the guy with the great passing angles) a sharp chip short and down the middle will get that guy out of his 5 feet behind the baseline comfort zone and he and his western grip will be scraping the pavement trying to hit a passing shot with topspin, most can't perform that shot well, if at all.

 

[Squall Leonheart]

You could hit up the middle to cut down of his angles, but I wouldn't really recommend this because if you do this, he'll run you around corner to corner. You may want to try to play closer to the baseline if your reactions are fast enough, becuase you can cut of the angles before the ball goes any further.

 

[nViATi]

Depth. As soon as you hit a short ball a good player will punish you for it.