Do you consider your game offensive or defensive

[kevhen]

I grew up playing defense, blocking balls back and often slicing the ball. But now I hit more aggressively. The players I have the most trouble with have both offensive and defensive skills able to hit hard topspin when in control and able to slice and block when on the run or when hard balls are hit at them. When I play against defensive players, I just play safe and wait for the short ball to attack. When I play hard offensive hitters, I just block back balls and take off pace and make them hit more winners than errors if they want to beat me. What style do you play, offensive, defensive, or both? I think the best players can do both and can hit with slice and topspin on both sides.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Offensive play

 

[vin]

Definitely offensive. I need control! And I certainly don't have the patience or submissiveness to choose to play defensively.

Problem is that I sometimes go for too much (poor shot selection) and have trouble finding a happy medium when I really need to be steady.

 

[takeuchi]

right now i'm defensive. I don't think i have enough skill to go heavily offensive and i always make too many mistakes. When i become better overall, i think i will naturally become more offensive.

 

[Fatmike]

I'm always on the attack.... even on balls that I should just throw back.... cost me lots of games.... but I hate playing at "who's gonna miss first" so I go for the winner.... ironicly I often miss first

 

[dewey4262]

I'm an offensive player. Tend to attack the net.

 

[USCfan]

Depends on who I'm playing.

 

[thejackal]

Offensif on my forehand side, and mostly defensif on my backhand (1hbh). I slice it back deep and set up my runaround forehand with it.

 

[FiveO]

Offensive.

 

[scez]

It matters who I play. I usually play a mix between offense and defense. I find that when I try to really hit hard shots I tend to hit the ball straight at my opponents which makes the only hard part of returning my ball the speed/spin.

 

[fastdunn]

Obscenely offensive with my serve. Trying to be offensive with my volleys.
Most defensive with my groundies....

 

[Cypo]

I'm happiest playing an offensive game - but if I'm playing someone who can keep me off balance, I'll switch to defensive play.

 

[Serve-And-Volley]

Always offensive even when I'm not serve and volleying, still hit hard and flat going for the winners.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

Both, it changes from point to point. I play first strike tennis to control the point behind every good serve of mine and against every weak serve from the opponent. If I don't get the opportunity or blow my shot, then I play a counterpunching pusher style.

 

[Rickson]

Offense with the forehand and defense with the backhand, but I'm hoping to change that. I just wish I could get more pace from the backhand side.

 

[dozu]

Depends on who I'm playing.

exactly.

if you are playing a bigger gun on the other side, chances are you are forced to play more defensive... while if there is a pusher on the other side, you are natually more offensive in the match.

this happens even at the top pro level.... usually the weaker player is pushed further from the baseline while the stronger one is hugging it with more control.

me personally, it's a mixture. from the baseline it's a neutral game, if my opponent has equal fire power from the baseline, I try to construct a point by moving stuff around, with the eventual goal in every point to approach on a short ball and win the point at the net.

I have faced very risky big hitters who hits every ball closed to the baseline and I usually don't have a short ball to work on, in this case I am more defensive and try to let the opponent self-destruct.

I have played retrievers who can't hurt me from the baseline but have pin point accurate passing shots, in this case I will try to out last him from the baseline as he is doing most of the running.

so... it all depends.

 

[Geezer Guy]

dozu - ditto! Well stated.

An offensive win is more satisfying, but I'll take a defensive win any day.

 

[topspin king]

i play defensively at the baseline, heavy topspin forehand and slice backhand. i seldom hit a wiiner, usually waiting for my opponent to make mistake. but if the ball come short, i will make a approach shot and rush to the net and volley. i think i'm a 70% defensive player.

 

[aj_m2009]

My game could really be considered both I would say. I hit with fairly heavy topspin off both sides but I like to keep my opponent moving so I can open the court up and hit the winner.

 

[Saito]

In response to OP: As dozu, I will also figure out how I will play against opponents without a SET style of play.

Now, my comments on doing so.... unless I already know how they(i.e. hitting partners, friends, or if I've seen them play period, etc.) play, I guess you can say I will throw out different types of shots to different areas, even sacrifing some points, just to see what I can capitalize on. Then I guess that's when I deduce what to do, whether to attack or defend. I mean that's logical to me, but I can definitely see why some people use one or the other.

I mean, why not if that particular style of play is what one is best at?? I have a good friend who has no defensive play whatsoever(he's all out attack), but he's beaten enough people IMO(including myself sometimes) to show that analytical play isn't always as good as "In-your-face" tennis as he calls it. And I'm sure there are some people great on the defending side as well.

 

[MegacedU]

Offensive serve and volleyerrrr.

 

[Power Game]

Double post, sorry

 

[Power Game]

Highly offensive :twisted: as per my sig...

My game is offensive, doesn't mean I can always play it. Really good players will force you into playing something you don't like.

 

[ucd_ace]

Offensive... I've really improved my game by learning how to play some neutral and defensive shots though.

 

[papa]

I like to play as offensively as my opponents let me play - at times this is nowhere near as much as I would like. All it takes is one crappy shot or better than average shot by an opponent(s) to set up a series of defensive shots.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Offensive - Serve and Volley...when recieving I bang from the baseline till I can come to net. I'm always lookin to finish the point,