Help... Losing points im in control of..

[DanFuller]

So I have a big serve, the type that only gets chipped back to around the service box in the form of a loopy return. The problem I have is when I come in to put the point away im either hitting the net or going long..

I've had lessons and my coach rectifies it for about an hour but I thought id reach out here for help and some tips..

I've tried to come in and volley but often I get there too late and then am I on top of the ball..

Cheers

 

[blip]

Gotta be aggressive. If you are not confident, it's 50/50.

If its a loopy return and you cant get to it, then how about let it bounce.

You then have many options.
1. Easiest is to go where he is not. Then put away an easier one.
2. slice down the line and follow it down the line.
3. blast it back with a comfortable favorite shot FH or BH.

If you let the opponent get back on the offensive after that return, then it's your fault for losing the point.

 

[Cobaine]

Make sure you're using little steps when you get close to the ball. A lot of players end up being flat footed when they come in to put away a short ball because it seems like an easy shot. It's not. Keep your feet moving and you should see some improvement.

 

[DanFuller]

Gotta be aggressive. If you are not confident, it's 50/50.

If its a loopy return and you cant get to it, then how about let it bounce.

You then have many options.
1. Easiest is to go where he is not. Then put away an easier one.
2. slice down the line and follow it down the line.
3. blast it back with a comfortable favorite shot FH or BH.

If you let the opponent get back on the offensive after that return, then it's your fault for losing the point.

Yes I let it bounce but its normally bang in the middle of the court about knee high after the bounce. My actual Stroke mechanics I think are breaking down. I'm fairly tall like 6 5 so sometimes I feel I'm not low enough to rip it away.

 

[fuzz nation]

I'd say think about resisting the lower percentage put-away off that weak return. If it's a short ball that has drawn you forward, you can use that opportunity to hit a decent approach that should leave the other guy neutralized while you move in and set up at the net.

Yes, footwork is critical for making these shots work. Our pal HughJars has a thread going where he asks about approach shots, etc. and I'll offer you the same technical advice that I offered him there - hopefully you can check it out, since I'd rather not rehash it again.

Once you recognize that short ball, you've got to set up on it and hit an approach shot that's not so much aggressive as neutralizing. If it's deep or zipping through an open portion of the court, that will keep an opponent from setting up and driving onto it for much of a response. Even a semi-short low slice (not a drop shot) can make the other guy lunge forward and shovel that ball up for an easy put-away.

Winning points at the net is about getting to the net while you're already in charge of the action. Use those weaker shots to help with a strong transition, get to the net in good shape, and you may find that a lot of your finishing shots will be relatively easy. A smart approach shot will often be the one that sets you up to win a point at the net.

 

[movdqa]

How do you hit a loopy chip?

 

[torpantennis]

How do you hit a loopy chip?

I think he meant slice return that floats up...

 

[torpantennis]

If you make errors on those "easy" short balls, then the easiest short term way out is to approach with DTL slice. Long term goal is to learn to hit aggressive FH into the open court. A key is to hit that short ball at the peak of the bounce. If the peak is above head, then hit it as an overhead, head level and below as FH.

 

[jdubbs]

shorten your swing and loosen your grip a bit. Then watch magic happen.

 

[r2473]

shorten your swing and loosen your grip a bit. Then watch magic happen.

I'd start here.

I'm going to bet that "in the heat of the moment" you get a lot of tension in your arm (which normally means that you grip the racquet tighter). When you are no longer loose, the kinetic chain doesn't fire properly and you compensate with your arm/wrist. Then it's just a crap shoot where the ball goes (long, net, or in).

You also have to get low (as you say) if you are going to hit a ground stroke. Your feet have to be in the right position, so don't be lazy and just get to the short ball. You need to get there "early" so you have time to properly position your feet.

I hit the same type serve you do and get the same type of returns. I'm normally going for aggressive FH put away shots. But if I "feel" like something is wrong when I get to the ball (and I'm likely to hit an error), I'm always prepared to abort the big shot/swing, taking something off to ensure I don't hit an error. On these balls I'm more prepared than ever to hit a volley or an overhead. I'm normally still in control of these points even if I don't "blast" it back. I just need to execute the volley/overhead.

You don't actually have to win these points with serve/blast. It's fine to serve/position shot/volley or overhead. Your opponent should be feeling the pressure, so even if your approach shot isn't the greatest, you will probably get a pretty easy volley/overhead.

 

[Cowboyardee]

Video yourself in a match.
I can speculate all day about what you're doing wrong, but its a lot easier just to see it.

 

[r2473]

You don't actually have to win these points with serve/blast. It's fine to serve/position shot/volley or overhead. Your opponent should be feeling the pressure, so even if your approach shot isn't the greatest, you will probably get a pretty easy volley/overhead.

To be honest, this is my favored play on these balls for several reasons:

1) Blasting the ball increases the risk I'll make an error. Hitting a controlled shot with less pace is less risky for most people.

2) Even if you execute the "blast", all your opponent has to do is redirect your pace, which some people are really good at. If you slow down the pace of your shot, he will have less pace to redirect, and you will have an easier shot to volley away. Most guys will be waiting with a "chip grip".

3) If he starts to try to return with a full stroke, mostly good things happen. You are forcing him to come up with the "hero pass", so he'll make errors. He's trying to execute this shot with less time (because you delivered the shot from mid-court, not the baseline) and he will now be under pressure (probably making all the mistakes you are making now when you are under pressure and trying to blast the mid-court ball).

 

[DanFuller]

I have a friendly tomorrow so I am going to try and take in the advice tomorrow. Thank you for all the advice so far

 

[Bendex]

It isn't easy to finish points from there. You might be a 4.5 level from the baseline, but you rarely practice hitting from the mid court. So you are a 3.0 from the mid-court, trying beat someone on the baseline who is a 4.5 from there. Hope that makes sense.

The answer is to study and practice.

 

[LeeD]

Sounds like you expect your big serve to give you a weak return, which you seem to think you can put away.
NOPE.
Often, those weak returns force you to hit an awkward approach shot, not a winner attempt, and hit it deep and controlled close to the sidelines.
You don't have an approach shot, then move forward mentality yet, so you need more time on the tennis court.
Very few players can hit one serve, get a weak return, and then put the ball away for a clean winner.
You can, if you're at the 5.5 level.
But, sounding from your first post, you're a 3.5 with a huge serve.
Work on chipping deep to the corners, usually DTL, always deep with alternate drop shots.