Handling pace

[!<-_->!]

So I'm fairly content with my strokes with the medium pace balls and stuff. It's when my opponent is able to continually rip the ball that I have trouble with. I find that instead of going with my usual game, I tend to try to match the pace. I'm not good at doing that consistently. I assume the solutions are better footwork to prepare earlier and possibly shorten the back swing. I guess my question is how to adjust to doing these things? Hitting with my friend who does this over time, I still haven't been able to successfully adapt.

Hope this made some sense and thanks for any help.

 

[Blake0]

So I'm fairly content with my strokes with the medium pace balls and stuff. It's when my opponent is able to continually rip the ball that I have trouble with. I find that instead of going with my usual game, I tend to try to match the pace. I'm not good at doing that consistently. I assume the solutions are better footwork to prepare earlier and possibly shorten the back swing. I guess my question is how to adjust to doing these things? Hitting with my friend who does this over time, I still haven't been able to successfully adapt.

Hope this made some sense and thanks for any help.

The important thing to do when hitting against people who hit hard, is to do the unit turn as soon as you see it coming to whatever side. As your body starts to sense which way the ball comes earlier and your unit turn happens quicker and earlier, you'll be able to take bigger cuts at the ball.

Another important thing is to simplify your technique (mentally). You don't have time to think about how to hit anymore. As long as you have timing and unit turn down (with good technique), you can hit back the pace and stay in the point longer. Also accelerate through contact, some players slow down their swing against a harder ball, when in reality you should do the opposite (but under control).

Getting into position early is also another major point. If your timing, weight transfer, accelerating through contact, and your positioning is good against pace and you're still missing, it could be a technical problem.

 

[Zachol82]

So I'm fairly content with my strokes with the medium pace balls and stuff. It's when my opponent is able to continually rip the ball that I have trouble with. I find that instead of going with my usual game, I tend to try to match the pace. I'm not good at doing that consistently. I assume the solutions are better footwork to prepare earlier and possibly shorten the back swing. I guess my question is how to adjust to doing these things? Hitting with my friend who does this over time, I still haven't been able to successfully adapt.

Hope this made some sense and thanks for any help.

What's ACTUALLY the problem here? I'm assuming either one or both of these:
1. You have problem handling pace because it causes you to want to hit with more pace than you are comfortable with, therefore you've compromised your consistency.
2. You have problem handling pace because the pace is actually too fast for you and you just cannot react fast enough and therefore you don't get there in time.

These are 2 very different things and if you could just clarify if it's one or the other or possibly both, then I'll go on and type about a page :shock:

 

[thebuffman]

along with blake's advice i highly recommend stepping into the court (or toward the baseline if you have backed up a bit) at an angle to strike the ball. you will find that your weight moving forward nullifies the affect of a hard hit ball. if you move laterally or God forbid backwards, then you will feel the force of their ground stroke.

 

[Bottom_Edge]

Rather than stroke technique, it might be more helpful to improve strategy. If the ball is hit with massive pace, it would be more consistent to simply try and return the ball deep, without trying to match the pace.
Most often, players who go for pace in all situations end up hitting more errors than winners.

 

[fed_the_savior]

To handle pace you've got to learn to redirect the balls power, like on the return of serve, which involves a shorter more direct backswing. Also try things to mess up your opponent's power shots, like offspeed balls.

 

[Limpinhitter]

So I'm fairly content with my strokes with the medium pace balls and stuff. It's when my opponent is able to continually rip the ball that I have trouble with. I find that instead of going with my usual game, I tend to try to match the pace. I'm not good at doing that consistently. I assume the solutions are better footwork to prepare earlier and possibly shorten the back swing. I guess my question is how to adjust to doing these things? Hitting with my friend who does this over time, I still haven't been able to successfully adapt.

Hope this made some sense and thanks for any help.

Focus intently on the ball all the way in to your racquet. Everything else, setup, timing, clean ball striking, is dependent on that.

 

[goran_ace]

To handle pace you've got to learn to redirect the balls power, like on the return of serve, which involves a shorter more direct backswing. Also try things to mess up your opponent's power shots, like offspeed balls.

+1. Was going to suggest something similar. Shorter backswing, full folow through, guide the ball, use his pace. Also would recommend throwing your opponent out of rhythm by changing up the pace. Watch how Nadal has incorporated the slice backhand into his game and uses it as a change-up.

 

[Nellie]

shorten your takeback but swing normally forward.

 

[In D Zone]

Played against a guy who attacks the ball on every shot; he hits on the rise, pounds the ball, solid on both side bh and fh and has great control. I have to keep pace with this guy and if I hit a slower paced shot or a short ball shot I get burned.

To counter his attacking shots - I learned to become a counter puncher. Yes, moving and footwork are the key to this. I don't have time to worry about my stroke- I practiced to make sure I hit the ball clean with alot of pace making sure I drive the ball deep. I learned to be patient; stayed with him on each point and carefully picking my spot when to attack. I am able to reduced my error %, noticed I started to grind him down - his shots are still hard but his error % started to mount.

Trust me, it works! But its not easy, you got to keep you focus and not get rattled. Its mano y mano.

Another, thought is to vary your shots. Know that you also need to play good defense. Yes, slices and lob with heavy topspins are great weapons. I also would mixed it up by serving hard to the body then followed by a quick move to the net.

 

[LeeD]

I'm with BlakeO.
Just get your shoulders turned early, and you can hit at almost any level within reason. If I can get my shoulders turned in time, I can hit easily at 6.0 levels, a full 2 above me right now. But I can't and don't ..

 

[In D Zone]

What tractic to use?

Pretty much what every one has suggested above. However, I believed you have to experiment on how far or close to the baseline you want to position yourself - fine tuning your prep,footwork and stroke. It all depends how quick is your reaction to the incoming ball and knowing your swing speed. Some can generate good pace with shorter swing while others requires full swing.

One thing for sure is to make sure your prep time - shoulder, hip, racquet take back and footwork all work as one unit.
Then ready yourself with solid base; knees bend and ready to hit thru the shot.

Another point to consider, play within yourself. You don't have to play and hit the ball like you opponent do. If he hits flat and you are more of a topspin player (or vice versa) - stop mirroring how he plays. You are playing into his strength which is a recipe for disaster. If cannot pound on the ball all the time, hit the ball with more topspin. Focus on driving the ball deep with a more loopy topspin shots. Go for ball placement and work on moving him from side to side. Test him if he can keep up with your game. Eventually you'll get the hang of the speed of his shot and confidence will build.

 

[Sreeram]

I think you have this problem not just in a match but even in playing ralleies. A simple observation of pro's helped me to understand that it is extremely risky to change the direction of a fast paced ball. Hence try to hit it back without any change in direction. For example if you get a cross court fast paced ball then try to return it cross court instead down the line. This will reduce the risk. In Pro matches the one who takes the initative and goes hard in a ralley will move less as the opponent will not change the direction of the ball just to increase his percentage. So keep it simple and do not try manythings with such balls.

 

[mistapooh]

Hit with people that can hit harder than you and take an extra 1-2 steps back when rallying practice. After a while, you're body/eyes will get used to it.