Favorite Drop Shot Strategies?

Ballinbob

Ballinbob

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Wanted to make a thread on one of my favorite shots, the drop shot !

Any good drop shot stories out there? What strategies do you guys like to use to setup the drop shot? Do you prefer forehand or backhand drop shots? Anyone here got the two handed drop shot down? How do you disguise your drop shot?

I personally like using it if I get a weak reply off a first serve and coming into the net as if often throws my opponent off. It's become one of my favorite ways to approach the net these days.

I feel like this is an underused shot and I believe it's a valuable one to have. Good touch/feel is something that you don't see often nowadays unfortunately


Anyways, discuss :)
 
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My typical drop shot strategy is to hit the ball into the middle of the net. Some times I'll mix it up and give the guy a duck, but at least he has to hit it.
 
I drop-shot a lot, off both wings, but it's more effective off my backhand side since I have a 1HBH and the takeback looks more similar on that side.

I will play the dropper as a ROS, or when I get a short ball, or as a re-drop...I even play it as a defense-to-offense shot when I am out of position or falling backward at the baseline, putting serious junky side- and back-spin on it. It is often an outright winner under those conditions.

I did exactly that today when I was pulled out wide and short by a serve to the deuce court--could barely get my racquet on the ball and just wrist-spun it barely over the net for a stone-cold winner.
 
I use drop shots to make my opponent tired more quickly :-) . Only my backhand drop shots are really effective. Is a good weapon.
 
i got for the 2 slices and a drop on backhand to backhand exchanges. if i get a backhand i try to slice crosscourt and deep. if i get another i'll try to to it again or do more angle by the service line where it meets the sideline. if they do it again i'm done slicing. you're getting a drop shot on the deuce side and if you get to it you'll probably be running off the court. that is if i make it. it 2-1 ratio seems to be my magic pattern for this.
 
Highlight of my pennants match on the weekend was executing to perfection my drop-shot strategy off the second serve return.

I dropped it, brought my opponent into the net, then I passed him. Felt awesome that I could pull it off.
 
Good stories ! I like the drop shot off the return of serve however that requires timing I don't have:)

The re-drop shot is great too, especially if they don't follow their own drop shot to the net...It's a satisfying shot to hit.

The key is to not overuse the dropper for me. I find on short balls, if I hit harder topspin shots 75% of the time and drop 25% of the time it will keep a lot of players off balance and throw their rhythm off
 
Ballinbob said:
Good stories ! I like the drop shot off the return of serve however that requires timing I don't have:)

The re-drop shot is great too, especially if they don't follow their own drop shot to the net...It's a satisfying shot to hit.

The key is to not overuse the dropper for me. I find on short balls, if I hit harder topspin shots 75% of the time and drop 25% of the time it will keep a lot of players off balance and throw their rhythm off
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The drop shot off the return is really hard to execute - I was frikkin stoked to pull it off, and let everyone in the courts next door know about it too..:)
 
I tend to overuse it, but it's all about disguise. I hit my best drop shots winding up like I'm hitting a topspin one-hander and then coming under it.
 
I use drop shots (especially 1HBH ones) b/c they are efffective, since usually I push my opponents back with deep, flat balls.

I also use them to gauge my opponent's forward and backwards movement, as opposed to the lateral one.

Once they start anticipating my ds, then I usually place/push the ball into the corner instead...
 
I probably play a dropshot on maybe less than 5% of my shots. Sometimes more if I'm playing someone on the other side who can't move.

For me, a dropshot can be hard to execute well. My straight-on dropshot from the baseline sucks. About half the time, it will either sit up too high or bounce too deep.

I seem to have more success if I hit an angled shallow dropshot off of a short ball. But if I get a short ball, I'd much rather just hit a topspin winner into a corner. My opponent has to be REALLY FAR out of position for me to be enticed to hit a dropshot off of a short sitter.
 
mightyrick said:
I probably play a dropshot on maybe less than 5% of my shots. Sometimes more if I'm playing someone on the other side who can't move.

For me, a dropshot can be hard to execute well. My straight-on dropshot from the baseline sucks. About half the time, it will either sit up too high or bounce too deep.

I seem to have more success if I hit an angled shallow dropshot off of a short ball. But if I get a short ball, I'd much rather just hit a topspin winner into a corner. My opponent has to be REALLY FAR out of position for me to be enticed to hit a dropshot off of a short sitter.
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I tend to vary from your strategy towards the end of sets/matches, just for the surprise factor.
 
Big FH cross court to pull them off court, then drop shot cross court in the opposite direction to which they're recovering. I like the unpredictability because you can alternate it with a BH into the space depending on where the return is and keep them honest.

The other play I like is a variation of the above where I again hit cross court but then shape to hit the return inside out and then a drop shot against the direction in which they're running. I like the disguise and forcing opponents to change direction; again it keeps them honest because they have to cover the potential for an inside out shot.
 
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Good stuff everyone. I like Torres's strategy with the cross court forehand, I think that's something a lot of us can pull off as it's fairly high percentage. I would prob come in after I hit the drop shot though, but that's just me. In this situation even a short slice will work fine

Hitting a deep cross court slice backhand followed by a drop shot can work quite well too as someone has mentioned already

Gotta love the drop shot against topspin monkeys with full western fh grips as they hate moving forward (for the most part)
 
Ballinbob said:
Good stuff everyone. I like Torres's strategy with the cross court forehand, I think that's something a lot of us can pull off as it's fairly high percentage. I would prob come in after I hit the drop shot though, but that's just me. In this situation even a short slice will work fine

Hitting a deep cross court slice backhand followed by a drop shot can work quite well too as someone has mentioned already

Gotta love the drop shot against topspin monkeys with full western fh grips as they hate moving forward (for the most part)
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Drop shot should be used very very sparingly. I hit mine when I feel the time is right, as a surprise or if there is space, dont really plan a pattern leading with a drop shot finish and I dont advise that either.

Most effective I feel shaping up for the big forehand and then hit a dropper, if you run around a short ball then the opponent definitely expects you to rip it and a drop shot can be effective but to be honest you shouldnt be really hitting droppers on short balls, you should be ripping them for winners and coming in!
 
AtomicForehand said:
I find it just as good a forcing or winning shot as a big forehand off a short ball (which tool I also possess). It's nice to have options!
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Yes at what level? When you start coming up against strong athletes droppers need to be perfect or guys like me will run them down and punish you with my hand skills when I get there.
 
Saying "dropshot" is like saying "forehand" there are numerous varieties of situations/outcomes from droppers.

There are drop shots that are so well executed that they are winners, there are drops that are so-so in execution but are so well disguished/placed that they are winners, droppers that anyone can get but the guy is a terrible net player, droppers that anyone can get but you are a counter puncher, drops off of drops especially angled drops off of drops.
 
Ballinbob,
I have read through this thread that you started here, & it was very informative to look at other people's opinions on the drop shot. As you know, I just love the shot. Not too often, but certainly a normal shot (attempted, lol) in my own game.
Nobody mentioned Roger Federer's little backhand slicer. It is not always exactly a "drop-shot", but it serves its purpose as a very short ball by bringing the opponent in.
Also, another poster wrote this:
(MauricioDias) "I use drop shots to make my opponent tired more quickly".
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That is a very good point. Over the course of an entire match, this can wear out an unfit opponent. Never forget the dropper!
 
Even among the pros, I don't see the dropper work too often. If I'm watching a match on tv, it usually looks to me like one player is just pulling the ripcord by throwing that shot out there on a wing and a prayer. Occasionally we're treated to the "ooh-ahh" effect when it works, but too many attempts turn into point donations. Many of them miss in the net and many more of them sit up for the opponent to harvest.

I can understand throwing a couple of them around early on in a set to try to wear on an opponent or deny him/her too much confidence in hanging back behind the baseline too far, but producing a winner with that shot takes a ton of precision and disguise that tough to repeat on demand.

I'm not going to be a total buzz-kill though. I like to go to the net a lot and I think the drop volley is a much easier shot to land effectively compared with the dropper from further back. On either grass or clay, that shot can be just filthy pure evil.
 
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fuzz nation said:
Even among the pros, I don't see the dropper work too often. If I'm watching a match on tv, it usually looks to me like one player is just pulling the ripcord by throwing that shot out there on a wing and a prayer. Occasionally we're treated to the "ooh-ahh" effect when it works, but too many attempts turn into point donations. Many of them miss in the net and many more of them sit up for the opponent to harvest.

I can understand throwing a couple of them around early on in a set to try to wear on an opponent or deny him/her too much confidence in hanging back behind the baseline too far, but producing a winner with that shot takes a ton of precision and disguise that tough to repeat on demand.

I'm not going to be a total buzz-kill though. I like to go to the net a lot and I think the drop volley is a much easier shot to land effectively compared with the dropper from further back. On either grass or clay, that shot can be just filthy pure evil.
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I think your point is relevant at the professional level, where shot reaction, ball tracking and court speed are simply too good for the drop shot to work often, but at the rec level, where tracking and reaction are poor and most guys aren't doing agility ladders five days a week, it is far less true.

In fact, I've found that for the most part you don't have to be precise at all to hit a viable drop shot at the rec level until you get around the 4.5 level. If you can hit a drop shot consistently over the net, you really only need to move your opponent behind the baseline before you can do it. He's likely to react slow, move slow, and be reaching even if I can't bounce it twice in the service box.

To the OP, I have two situations I commonly hit a drop shot in singles. The first is behind an opponent who is scrambling to recover from the doubles alley. In fact, because most of them play way too high with their center of gravity, asking them to change direction and move forward to play it leaves most of them conceding it without even attempting.

The second is where, if I've established a rallying rhythm cross court over a series of balls (say five or six forehands to forehands or backhands to backhands), I'll hit a drop shot DTL. For whatever reason, people get the consistent cadence of the rally in their heads and the drop shot totally messes that up. I do it more from forehand to forehand because they'd be digging to drop shot out with their backhand and I like to hit inside out forehands even if they do get to it.
 
I think, drop shot often not so good. I guess depends on surface and opponent. But, most rec players seem use it when get impatient/nervous in rallies.

Good drop shot always hit from inside baseline IMO. From there, pretty good percentage play. On/behind baseline - tough angle, lots of time opponent.

Me, I do not use it. When get attackable ball, rather go deep and come to net.

Drop volley on the other hand - excellent shot. Takes time to learn soft hands, but once you hit good drop volleys you are very dangerous net player.
 
I generally go for only very high-percentage drop-shots. If I have a sitter and my opponent is out of position, I go for it. Anything else, juniors are typically quick enough to get. When I get a sitter though, it is much easier to chip it over for a drop-shot winner then hit a normal approach-shot and volley. There is also a guy I regularly play who gets really pi$$ed every time he is drop-shoted. I hit many more against him. A couple of drop-shot lob combos and drop-shot winners are typically enough to cause a meltdown and get him to throw in the towel.
 
Here are my coach's three rules of drop-shots:

1. Hit it from inside the court. Drop-shotting from behind the baseline just does not work.

2. Get some air under the ball. You want the ball to clear the net but still land short. This requires a pretty vertical trajectory. Kind of like a very short mini-lob.

3. Move in. If your opponent gets to the ball, he is going to have to hit up. The result will be a sitter with no pace. Be ready to put it away. NOTE: If you hit a very poor drop shot, DO NOT OBEY THIS RULE.
 
fuzz nation said:
Even among the pros, I don't see the dropper work too often. If I'm watching a match on tv, it usually looks to me like one player is just pulling the ripcord by throwing that shot out there on a wing and a prayer. Occasionally we're treated to the "ooh-ahh" effect when it works, but too many attempts turn into point donations. Many of them miss in the net and many more of them sit up for the opponent to harvest.
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I think drop shots by the pro works way more often than not.
 
I will attempt a drop when someone hits a really weak reply that bounces about 1/2 way in the service box. I will do this about 50% of the times mixed in with a slice push or if high enough a full put-away swing. I'm still practicing the put away shot at the moment so the drop actually has a better success rate.
 
I will dropshot in pretty much two situations: 1) I have my opponent pulled off the court, or 2) My opponent is camping on the baseline just retrieving after 3 or 4 shots.

Outside of that, I don't really have any other dropshot plays developed, yet.
 
Braker4 said:
Ballinbob,

Nobody mentioned Roger Federer's little backhand slicer. It is not always exactly a "drop-shot", but it serves its purpose as a very short ball by bringing the opponent in.
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Yeah, developing a good short slice would up my game to the next level, I have no variety whatsoever. Once I get over this serve hurdle I'll have to work on that
 
Usually some kind of rally where the other guy is several feet behind the baseline and then hits a short ball. The other type is where we're in a crosscourt backhand rally, shading over to the backhand side to maybe try to get a forehand and hits a short ball kind of in the middle. Inside out slice backhand short and kicking away from the court to the forehand side.
 
Topspin Shot said:
??????????
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I said drop shots by pros.

a drop shot's effectiveness is not measured in winners.
you could attempting to bring the opponent to the net. most players are not better at the net than at baseline. most are less comfortable at net.
you could be setting up the next shot.
you could be just trying to make them run after a long rally
you could be making them think about the possibility of a drop shot in future points.
you could be get pushed further and further back from 4 consecutive forehands to your weakness. You sense that one more shot and your opponent takes the point and calculate the odds and determine that a drop shot gives you a greater chance of getting back into the point somehow while also breaking the opponent's groove so now instead of teeing off w/ his fh he's scrambling to the net. maybe he makes a good shot. maybe he doesn't but your chances improve. To me that's effective.

There's a whole bunch of reasons to hit a drop shot. I don't measure a drop shot's effectiveness by whether it's a winner or not and you can make a point that in some circumstances you can't measure it's effectiveness by whether you actually won that immediate point or not.

As Denzel Washington said: "the s***s chess, it ain't checkers".
 
I sometimes employ the drop serve. Its more effective when you have a fast first serve. After a few games of serving, if i see them standing behind the baseline, i might pull it out. I might use this tactic once a match, if ever.
 
I use the drop shot quite a bit off of both wings as the slice comes pretty natural to me off both wings. I tend to play more drop shots in situations where the opponent looks flat footed. After the shot I move up to cut down the angle.

A couple of weeks ago, for the first time ever I was able to play a drop shot that came back over the net to my side. I lost the match but that one shot was almost enough to make up for the loss.
 
written by eelhc:
A couple of weeks ago, for the first time ever I was able to play a drop shot that came back over the net to my side. I lost the match but that one shot was almost enough to make up for the loss.
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Lol. That is outstanding! You employed enough spin with enough of the correct angle to pull that off.
That one shot alone could really make an opponent wonder about your shotmaking. Then again, maybe both players would know that was just pure luck.?.
 
Braker4 said:
written by eelhc:


Lol. That is outstanding! You employed enough spin with enough of the correct angle to pull that off.
That one shot alone could really make an opponent wonder about your shotmaking. Then again, maybe both players would know that was just pure luck.?.
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Combination luck and intent. I have better slice/underspin shots off both wings relative to my topspin or flat shots. For some reason, I just feel more comfortable with that high to low motion. That said, I could practice this shot all day and not make it happen again.

Funny thing is my opponent read my shot well and moved up quickly... The ball bounced high over the net and I thought he was there in time to reach over the net and put it away but he was stunned to see the ball come over to my side and stopped playing.
 
My drop shot tactic is to attempt a drop shot about once per match, then remember why I don't hit drop shots. In a way it is similar to my serve and volley tactic.

When I attempt these kinds of touch shots, it is always slightly reminiscent of a grizzly bear attempting heart surgery with a machete.

The only time I have any success is with 'easy' drop shots from inside the service box, but even then I've been known to accidently push the drop shot deep...
 
I don't really employ it, largely due to the fact my racket is not very touch friendly (tweener racket with big banger alu power strings) as well as that I usually play against people who are very quick and good at hitting approach shots and volleys.

It is a very good shot for moonballers though :) very hard to moonball at the net :) :) :)
 
What about doubles against weaker serves? Comes up quite a bit... Particularly in mixed. Extra margin for error with the alleys. Drill that weak 2nd serve or just slice a soft one wide?
 
eelhc said:
What about doubles against weaker serves? Comes up quite a bit... Particularly in mixed. Extra margin for error with the alleys. Drill that weak 2nd serve or just slice a soft one wide?
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I regularly employ this as a tactic against people who serve non-aggressively to my backhand in the ad court in doubles. I can make a drop shot or very short slice 90% of the time off such a serve, and do so. Their partner understands they will not be able to poach this shot, and stays home. Then, when these servers get the idea that they are gonna have to take off immediately after their serve and head up for the dropper return, I will slice a vicious one deep into the corner they have just vacated and watch them stumble over the ball.
 
I watched a match the other day between Federer and Nalbandian. Nalband was hitting drop after drop against Rog. I'd never seen so many played in a pro match. This was maybe 2005, year end finals? (Ballinbob should know what match I am talking about) A good percentage of them were working! He eventually defeated Federer in 5 sets.

We do not see that as much these days, in the pros anyway. Works great in the rec levels!
 
I use dropshot quite often, usually i hit an inside out forehand to open up the court followed by a backhand dropshot.

Dont forget to close up to the net in case the opponent can get to it.
 
Braker4 said:
I watched a match the other day between Federer and Nalbandian. Nalband was hitting drop after drop against Rog. I'd never seen so many played in a pro match. This was maybe 2005, year end finals? (Ballinbob should know what match I am talking about) A good percentage of them were working! He eventually defeated Federer in 5 sets.

We do not see that as much these days, in the pros anyway. Works great in the rec levels!
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Great observation.

Aside from pummeling his backhand, bringing Federer forward off the baseline (when he isn't the initiator) has always been an effective way to play against (and sometimes defeat) him.

However, almost no players in Federer's era have the touch necessary to play that kind of game. Murray is probably the only one.
 
use to use it a lot, as I wasn't experienced or good enough with power to not hit it out, also if I use it once then I use it every point, so it kinda dosent work. also I noticed I started hitting dropshot ion weak balls I could win a point on
 
I only like to hit droppers when my oppenent is running side to side. it makes it hard to change direction this way.
 
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