Drop shot tactics

[oneleggedcardinal]

I have an honest question: Why do (most professional) players insist on coming in to the net (most of the time) when they hit a drop shot? I've seen people get burned so many times (especially by Nadal) when they follow their drop shot in. IMO, they would have more of a tactical advantage keeping some distance from the net when they execute this shot (well). If it is indeed a well-executed drop shot, the opponent will be scrambling to get to the shot and to get it over, and, if they should get it over, one would have time to react and either pass or lob the off-balance opponent.

What's the good word on this?

EDIT: This was prompted by my dad, who noticed this as well. To him it has always been tactically sound to stay back a little. I have, however, heard some commentators, Robbie Koenig in particular, praise coming in after a drop shot.

 

[Carlito]

Because one of the best counters to a drop shot is another drop shot. If you stay back on your heals you are toast.

 

[Blask]

I assume it's to cut off angles. Since drop shots stay low to the ground most players try to play the ball crosscourt with a hard angle to go over the lowest part of the net. If you stay back at the baseline and have to run to the furthest part of the court you'll never get there. I think they come in just to cut off that angle.

 

[oneleggedcardinal]

Because one of the best counters to a drop shot is another drop shot. If you stay back on your heals you are toast.

I assume it's to cut off angles. Since drop shots stay low to the ground most players try to play the ball crosscourt with a hard angle to go over the lowest part of the net. If you stay back at the baseline and have to run to the furthest part of the court you'll never get there. I think they come in just to cut off that angle.

Makes sense if you stay back at the baseline, but that's not exactly what I was thinking. I think more could be gained by coming in to say...gasp...'no man's land'...but not necessarily stopping there. This would allow for enough time both to assess the situation and cut off any angles. Often I see players come to the net to meet the 'scrambler' and not give themselves enough time to react to any angles. It's almost as if they're putting themselves in the same position as the person scrambling for the ball, court-wise. Technically speaking, if one player hits a good, well disguised drop shot, the other person, if they get to it, will be hitting it out of position and, thus, will be left with limited options. I just think that the shot might be better served by staying back from the net a little and giving yourself time to assess the situation. Instead of also scrambling towards the net and thinking on the run.

But yeah, I agree with you guys in the sense that one does NOT want to stay at the baseline if the drop shot was executed from there.

 

[jwr1972]

Actually if the dropshot is deemed "very good" by the one who hit it, then it does make sense to follow it in(expecting a weak return and to cut off angles). It is the better % play since you would worst case scenario have to chase down a lob. Remember if you force them to hit up(lob), then you just bought some time or you just got an easy put away. Don't give them the opportunity to hit that low sliced volley to the front court.

 

[oneleggedcardinal]

Actually if the dropshot is deemed "very good" by the one who hit it, then it does make sense to follow it in(expecting a weak return and to cut off angles). It is the better % play since you would worst case scenario have to chase down a lob. Remember if you force them to hit up(lob), then you just bought some time or you just got an easy put away. Don't give them the opportunity to hit that low sliced volley to the front court.

Yes, great point. I didn't think of that.

 

[Nellie]

Think of your options when coming up to a low, short ball that you have to hit over the net (no pro hits a drop shot that bounces higher than the net):
(1) push it back slow and weakly over the net (drop shot back)

(2) float a shot deep, as an approach

(3) short, wide angle over the low part of the net

For all of these shots, it is better to be up near the net to put away a floating ball. there is almost no chance for an offensive shot, unless you were really fast and got to the ball high. I think with Nadal, many players force a bad drop because they cannot expect to win a baseline exchange, so he can get to the ball earlier and higher (it's really hard to hit a drop from a fast ball at head height).

 

[split-step]

A good dropshot is one that your opponent barely gets to, if he gets to it at all.

That being said, you definitely want to move in as soon as you can tell your dropper is going to be good.
The percentage for your opponent will be to hit a return drop shot right in front of him. You want to be there to cut off the ball into the open court.

The other thing your opponent can do is angled cross court slice. If you are up, then this is piece of cake to redirect to open court.

Your opponent can lob but if the drop is good, very hard to make a successful lob on the run. Most times the lob will be an easy overhead.

 

[oneleggedcardinal]

Think of your options when coming up to a low, short ball that you have to hit over the net (no pro hits a drop shot that bounces higher than the net):
(1) push it back slow and weakly over the net (drop shot back)

(2) float a shot deep, as an approach

(3) short, wide angle over the low part of the net

For all of these shots, it is better to be up near the net to put away a floating ball. there is almost no chance for an offensive shot, unless you were really fast and got to the ball high. I think with Nadal, many players force a bad drop because they cannot expect to win a baseline exchange, so he can get to the ball earlier and higher (it's really hard to hit a drop from a fast ball at head height).

A good dropshot is one that your opponent barely gets to, if he gets to it at all.

That being said, you definitely want to move in as soon as you can tell your dropper is going to be good.
The percentage for your opponent will be to hit a return drop shot right in front of him. You want to be there to cut off the ball into the open court.

The other thing your opponent can do is angled cross court slice. If you are up, then this is piece of cake to redirect to open court.

Your opponent can lob but if the drop is good, very hard to make a successful lob on the run. Most times the lob will be an easy overhead.

Good suggestions as well. OK, I'm convinced that it is indeed more sound tactically to come in behind a (good) drop shot.

If anybody else has any more angles on this it would be much appreciated, but I think this has been covered well.

 

[GoaLaSSo]

im sure someone has said this by now, but if you hit a genuinely good drop shot then your opponent is gonna either hit a counter drop shot or place the ball back over the net. Most of the time your opponent can't put a lot of pace on a good drop shot, so coming to net and cutting off the weak ball he is going to play back can be rewarding.

 

[ci2ca]

I think of the drop shot as an offensive approach, and what do you do with offensive approach shots? Rush the net.

 

[larry10s]

I think of the drop shot as an offensive approach, and what do you do with offensive approach shots? Rush the net.

great way to look at it

 

[Jay_The_Nomad]

If you hit a poor drop shot, you might as well stay back.

Hit a good drop shot, then you follow it in cuz the guy will have to hit it 'up' and you can put it away easy while he's recovering.

 

[mikeler]

If you hit a poor drop shot, you might as well stay back.

Hit a good drop shot, then you follow it in cuz the guy will have to hit it 'up' and you can put it away easy while he's recovering.

Totally agree with this analysis.

 

[ttbrowne]

Could it be because to retrieve a good drop shot you are hitting a defensive shot below the net. The ball cannot be hit very hard and if you stay back after hitting a drop shot, your opponent has three options...down the line, crosscourt, sharp angle towards other net post. By coming in you have reduced it to two options. You have cut off the crosscourt. Even if your opponent goes down the line, the ball can't be hit hard and you could possibly cut it off with a volley. That's my guess.