High Percentage Aggression

[HunterST]

The way to win at virtually any level is to make less errors than your opponent. One good strategy to accomplish this is to simply hit solid, high percentage, cross court shots and wait for your opponent to make an error.

I don't like that.

I've tried thinking of points almost as XC rally drills, but I just don't like that I'm essentially putting the match in my opponents hands. It feels like I'm being reactive rather than proactive.

I'm looking for some ways to keep my errors down, but still hit shots that allow me to be in control. Below are some strategies I have thought of.

-Play the directionals, wait for an inside shot, go DTL. I would then try to look for another inside shot off of his return and repeat, allowing me to run him around. This sounds great, but often doesn't work as neatly in real life.

-Modify the shot types during the rally without going for extra pace. Hit high loopers, low slices, etc. I find this can be just as low percentage as extra pace shots, though.


What are some ideas you have?

 

[TeamOB]

Most of the time in tennis you are trying to force errors. In this case, simply hitting only high-percentage XC shots simply isn't good enough. You have to be more aggressive and try to actively force errors. You can do this in 2 ways:

1. With power

2. With placement

My game style is more about #2 (this does not mean I see anything wrong with #1, it is just suits my skill set better). I generally try to be aggressive with my variety. I am kind of a jack-of-all-trades (and unfortunately master of none). I can hit slices, heavy topspin, laser-flat, angles, drop-shots, volleys and deceptive wrist-flick shots pretty well. (but I don't really have a standout uber-weapon). Since I lack a single knock-out shot, I generally use my variety and placement to keep opponents off balance and force mistakes.

 

[rkelley]

Aggression comes in many forms.

For me, playing against a similar level opponent, that means hitting with pace and spin to conservative spots until I get a ball that I can do something with. I'm not just talking about a putaway, it can be a ball that I can approach on, hit an aggressive slice, kick it up to their bh, run around a bh and go i/o with a big fh, etc. But that basic big hit, don't get too cute shot is how I set everything else up.

I'm not Roger Federer, and it works best if I can admit that.

I'm not just waiting for something to happen exactly, because I'm trying to cause things to happen with the pace and spin. But I also know that if I start getting cute with placement or hit a wide variety of shots against an equal level opponent, I'm going to start racking up the UFEs. OTOH, I hit hard enough that I've yet to play someone whom I can't force errors on at least sometimes with pace and spin. So it's a matter of keeping those shots in.

 

[Topspin Shot]

A lot of what you're asking depends on your style and your opponent's style. For me, I like to attack the opponent's backhand and/or move him around the court with heavy topspin. Essentially the way Nadal plays but as a righty. But against certain opponents, this doesn't work, and I have to change my tactics to win.

 

[mightyrick]

The way to win at virtually any level is to make less errors than your opponent. One good strategy to accomplish this is to simply hit solid, high percentage, cross court shots and wait for your opponent to make an error.

I don't like that.

...

What are some ideas you have?

I think the most aggressive (but still high-percentage) move you make is to chip and charge.

Hit a good deep shot to a corner and then come to the service line (squaring yourself right in the high-percentage target zone of your opponent) and split-step... waiting for the next ball. An opponent will have a tough time lobbing over the head of an opponent at the service line. Especially if wind is involved.

If your opponent successfully passes you, then just say "nice shot", and keep doing it.

I think a lot of problems players have with coming forward is that if their opponent makes a couple of good passes -- they give up. Putting constant pressure on your opponent to come up with a winner shot will yield fruit, but you have to stick with it.

 

[TennisCJC]

I think hitting deep CC until you get a short ball and then go DTL is the basic bread and butter strategy that singles should be based upon. Trying to get creative and change this is not good in my mind. The court is 5 feet longer on a diagonal CC shot and the net is 6 inches lower. That is a 5.5 foot advantage in a CC shot. In addition, hitting topspin CC is easier than DTL topspin. DTL shots also tend to fade wide.

Notice I suggest CC until you get a short ball. When you get a short ball, you have the green light to go DTL, or short CC.

When Gilbert first started coaching Agassi, Brad told Andre to not go for DTL winners until he had a least 1 foot in the court at contact. Basically, Brad said hit it CC or down the middle until you get a shorter ball. If it is good enough for Andree, it is good enough for TT players.

If you can hit CC deep and with pace, you will also get shots from your opponent that are down the middle of the court. So, if you hit a deep CC FH and their reply is middle on your BH side, you can hit a CC BH to run your opponent. Or, you could run around and hit the inside FH.

Hitting CC is the basic building block.

 

[5263]

When Gilbert first started coaching Agassi, Brad told Andre to not go for DTL winners until he had a least 1 foot in the court at contact. .

I didn't know this. Thanks for sharing. I developed and teach something very similar I learned from my charting of matches. My method is that you can attack if you get at least one foot inside the BL (for big hitters with power like Agassi) or both feet inside the BL for more normal hitters. Using this range is why I started using the term "mid court attack" instead of short ball, since many of these balls are not really all that short, but still give a great chance to attack aggressively.

Imo to get great at the Rally shot (behind the BL) it helps to be real clear on what you can and can't do from back there....and attacking for winners is one of the things no player can do from back there in a tough match up. Much better to know what you CAN do back there where you must be very consistent as you look to "disrupt" your opponent and earn a mid ct attack op.

Once you are clear on what your bread and butter Rally shots are for working behind the BL, you can work to isolate and develop your strengths for mid ct attacks you earn. Sort of a shame to rally well to earn a mid ct opportunity, only to miss on that mid ct attack you worked so hard to earn.