With pros there are different factors, like timing, like balls never drop low early enough, etc.
At your level, the main factor for when to dropshot:
Court position is part one and I have no problem with that. Part two is execution which depends a lot on the incoming ball. I suspect my UE dropshots can be due to attempting dropshots on the wrong balls, hence the thread.
If you can get your opponent off balance, the ball that they hit back will be weaker and easier to execute a successful drop shot off of. In fact, if you get their weight and balance moving backwards or to one side, your dropshot execution doesn’t even need to be that good. If you’re making UEs on your dropshot attempts, it usually means your window to execute the dropshot is too “narrow” and if your window is too “narrow,” that would mean you are attempting to hit a dropper off the wrong ball.
Most rec players don’t have the type of racquet face control which often leads to popping the ball up too high so it hangs in the air for too long that even players who are not agile can get to if they are not off balance. Good shot selection is important at all levels. When you choose to execute any shot in the wrong situation, the quality of the shot execution has to be much higher to have the desired outcome and therefore the difficulty of the shot is greatly increased and the window for success is much smaller.
Sure. That’s why I said a good drop shot, which is also not that common in rec tennis, you’re right.
Old guys drop shot a lot because they have learned from experience that very few rec players move well up/down. Young uns don’t because they haven’t learned this yet.
There are no rules. You have to know what you can execute and make shot selection choices accordingly. If you practice more hitting drop shots off higher contact points, you will become better at it. An advanced player has practiced hitting every shot off various contact heights.
Remember I said I would try more in my matches last weekend? I did and hit about 10 in 3 sets. I won all 5 that went in. And guess what? The remaining 5 were too short!
Move forward through contact on drop shots like you do on other shots (or you are supposed to) and they won’t be short. If you stop your feet and weight transfer too early, that’s when you leave them short.
I thought It was due to fear of hitting a high floater. More mental than technique. Because I can hit much better ones in practice.
I'm watching videos. most shots in no-man's-land seem to be hit at chest height to head height. Most of the low ones are hit well within the service box.
Well, just like a passing shot, you want to hit drop shots as early as possible to take time away from the opponent as then it makes them more effective. So, if you learn to hit them early when the ball hasn’t dropped down, they will be more effective and give your opponent less time to get them. On the other hand, you don’t want to do this unless you have practiced enough to be confident of your execution of them.
Maybe I should get a ball machine session to map out what balls cause issue for me.
If you learn to hit a good slice with a high contact point, then you can learn to hit a good dropper at the same height also. Just abbreviate the follow through of your slice and make your hands ‘softer’.
Makes perfect sense
