dn the line

[5263]

so how would you prefer to attack a short ball you can contact at the service line?

Addition for those new to the poll.

It was assumed in this question that the short ball was high enough to attack with a flatter, low TS shot, hence that option being one of the 2 choices. The idea is a very short ball where you can attack as you like to prefer, but limited to the 2 options in the poll.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I prefer to flatten it out, otherwise my opponents just run them down.

 

[armsty]

Heavy topspin deep to the corner down the line, even if the player expects it they never get it. The heavy topspin gives it the extra pace they cannot handle.

 

[WillAlwaysLoveYouTennis]

Extra spin definitely for me, to yes, as you suggest, pull it down into the court faster and spin it away. And to give a wider margin for error, so won't hit the net if I get too eager to put it away which has happened before.

 

[itsstephenyo]

It depends. If the ball sits up a little bit, flatten it out to a corner and approach. If it's a short slice or something, gotta add a little extra topspin.

 

[5263]

The question is asked in a way that shouldn't "depend".

It asks how you would prefer to attack the short ball.

If you prefer it to be high or low, take that into account.

 

[5263]

Flat ball attackers are moving ahead!

 

[counter_puncher]

definitely flat. if you put even a tiny bit of spin, it will get run down. of course you would spin on an approach, but not going for a flat out winner (excuse the pun)

 

[MarkMunk]

I go for the extra spin and get up to the net to put away the volley.

 

[zacinnc78]

i wish ALL my shots were flat lol ...that being said...I naturally spin everything

 

[HSCoach]

Of course the first option here is to hit lighter TS to and flatten out a short ball attack shot, to get it through the court quicker with a lower bounce.

 

[SlapShot]

When I hit down the line, I'm not trying a high risk shot to try and hit a winner; rather, I add topspin as the net is higher at the point and I'm trying to force a weak reply and give myself a higher percentage volley to finish the point. So topspin for me.

 

[HSCoach]

So you are hitting a ball that you can contact at the service line and in your strike zone, and you are not going for the winner?????

I guess this means you would almost never, ever try to hit a GS for a winner then, cause you don't get a much better look than this!!

 

[SlapShot]

So you are hitting a ball that you can contact at the service line and in your strike zone, and you are not going for the winner?????

I guess this means you would almost never, ever try to hit a GS for a winner then, cause you don't get a much better look than this!!

In a match, I'm not hitting to put the ball away - I'm hitting to put my opponent in a position that they will have difficulty making an effective shot, which often forces errors or easy volleys. I've got enough power on my FH side to hit the ball with good pace, even if I take something off. I'd rather put away an easy volley than try and punish the ball down the line and miss even 25% of the time. Nothing more irritating than getting a solid look and missing because you went for too much.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

so how would you prefer to attack a short ball you can contact at the service line?

Prefer?

Flat, low, and away from the opponent.

 

[HSCoach]

There you go BB, thats the ticket.

 

[WildVolley]

It really depends how high it is sitting.

My best player is deadly on short balls, even if they are fairly low. He sets up early and wrong foots you, going wide to either side with a medium topspin ball with a fair amount of pace.

If it is sitting high, I prefer to hit it with a flatter stroke, actually driving over the ball and down into the court. Adding a little topspin is good for a safety margin. Hit it at 80mph or faster and it usually won't be coming back, or if it is, you'll have a put away volley or overhead in most cases.

 

[Um...?]

If it's a manageable opportunity, I like to keep the ball VERY low to the ground with a slice shot that will curve away from the opponent, all the while keeping my court position cheating to whatever side the ball is curving toward, opening up (or what would seem to be) a large part of the court to make them think that all they need to do is get a chance at the ball so they can put it back into the open court, while all along I'm looking for the easy put away volley right back to their open court.

Holy run-on sentence Batman!

 

[Murray_Maniac]

On short and low balls, I prefer to add spin and rush to the net on the forehand, and slice on my bh, otherwise if I hit out, theres a high percentage of a net error. But, if its high and sits, then I go for the winner.

 

[5263]

new info on poll question has been added due to comments and questions.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

new info on poll question has been added due to comments and questions.

This last sentence was tough to read.

The idea is a very short ball where you can attack as you like to prefer, but limited to the 2 options in the poll.

Did you mean:

The idea is that you are getting a short ball that you can attack. Pretend that both shots are viable and select the one you would prefer over the other if all things were equal.

Is that what you meant????

 

[5263]

This last sentence was tough to read.

The idea is a very short ball where you can attack as you like to prefer, but limited to the 2 options in the poll.

Did you mean:

The idea is that you are getting a short ball that you can attack. Pretend that both shots are viable and select the one you would prefer over the other if all things were equal.

Is that what you meant????

I tried to keep it simple to start with, giving a choice between 2 shots that could be off of a very short ball. I made the mistake of assuming that readers would understand the ball was high enough to hit flat since that was one of the choices. MY Bad.
Mainly trying to get a feel for the surprising number of players who would chose to hit heavy spin off a ball that could be flattened out for the easy put away.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I tried to keep it simple to start with, giving a choice between 2 shots that could be off of a very short ball. I made the mistake of assuming that readers would understand the ball was high enough to hit flat since that was one of the choices. MY Bad.

Nah, not your fault. Some readers will always fall back to "depends." lol

I myself do it as well but I thought it was clear enough.

Mainly trying to get a feel for the surprising number of players who would chose to hit heavy spin off a ball that could be flattened out for the easy put away.

Yup, if I had a short ball like that, flat and low is the way to go. Forces the opponent at the very least to hit up on the ball for my next shot to go for the putaway.

I have gone for the heavy top to the corner on the backhand side, especially if it was a onehander. But flat, low, and away is what I prefer.