High percentage Tennis tactics

[HCN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiV29i87aiA

What do you guys think of this video? I've been playing tennis for about 2-3 years now and have found this video to be very informative.

I am hoping this will help new players such like myself also.

 

[larry10s]

wardlow directionals . great video of the concepts. if you search wardlow you will find this the basics of strategy for many.

 

[GetBetterer]

Kind of monotonous, and some stuff a lot of us have already learned.

 

[5263]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiV29i87aiA

What do you guys think of this video? I've been playing tennis for about 2-3 years now and have found this video to be very informative.

I am hoping this will help new players such like myself also.

Extremely important for conventional strokes.
Not as much for Modern strokes.

 

[LeeD]

Who wants to play a CLONE tennis game, just like everyone else?
Who wants to be a pusher, just going for percentages, without hitting real winners?
If you can't figure out hitting CC on your own, you are terrible in the upstairs dept.

 

[bhupaes]

Extremely important for conventional strokes.
Not as much for Modern strokes.

Hi 5263, why don't the same principles apply? Is it because of the greater emphasis on topspin in modern strokes, because of which changing directions is not as hazardous as it used to be? Or is it because it is more important to make the other guy hit on the move? I find more and more that nobody follows Wardlaw these days, or even mentions this principle. DTL shots seem to be a great setup for the next shot, and seem to create a lot of damage at every level. It's almost like you should hit DTL first chance you get!

 

[wihamilton]

Have to disagree with the notion that Directionals are outdated. The pros apply this concept regularly. Particularly at the club level, cross court should be the rule and DTL the exception.

 

[julian]

For my best friend

Extremely important for conventional strokes.
Not as much for Modern strokes.

Please explain three issues with directionals:
1.what do we do for doubles
2.what do we do for a transition game/approach shot in a case
of singles and doubles
3.lefty against righty

I am dead of heat so I cannot type anymore.
See you in Scotland

 

[bhupaes]

Have to disagree with the notion that Directionals are outdated. The pros apply this concept regularly. Particularly at the club level, cross court should be the rule and DTL the exception.

Will, I am willing to accept that Directionals apply in high level tennis, but I will reserve judgment until I hear 5263's point of view. The pace and spin in pro tennis is so extreme that changing directions on outside balls is fraught with risk, and those guys hit the ball so well when on the move that DTLs should be near winners at that level. I won't be surprised if DTLs are a more effective strategy in club tennis and worth going for early in a rally - I kinda suspect this is true, based on my humble experience...

 

[larry10s]

Have to disagree with the notion that Directionals are outdated. The pros apply this concept regularly. Particularly at the club level, cross court should be the rule and DTL the exception.

agree completely

 

[larry10s]

Will, I am willing to accept that Directionals apply in high level tennis, but I will reserve judgment until I hear 5263's point of view. The pace and spin in pro tennis is so extreme that changing directions on outside balls is fraught with risk, and those guys hit the ball so well when on the move that DTLs should be near winners at that level. I won't be surprised if DTLs are a more effective strategy in club tennis and worth going for early in a rally - I kinda suspect this is true, based on my humble experience...

dont know why you need 5263 opinion to make your own
the ability to change direction (especially on the backhand side)for most club players is a challenge and low percentage shot. so the appropiate shot is crosscourt.
similarly with a high looper that lands deep.of course you should take it on the rise and take time away from your opponent.pros have practiced doing this since they were 6 years old (or younger).most club player have not. it might be better for them to move back and hit a high roller back.(lets not get into the discussion take it out of the air as a swinging volley).
hopefully you see my point

 

[bhupaes]

dont know why you need 5263 opinion to make your own

B/c I might agree... Seriously, I want to hear different opinions on this topic because at this point in my tennis evolution - trying to get to the next level - movement and strategy are of uttmost importance to me.

the ability to change direction (especially on the backhand side)for most club players is a challenge and low percentage shot. so the appropiate shot is crosscourt.

Depends. If the opponent doesn't have a great backhand, and if you have a decent one (I have a pretty solid 2-hander), you may have a lot of options. You can flatten it, roll it, lob it, send it CC, send it DTL, or slice it. The best shot, I've found, is to make the opponent hit on the move, and most people are bad at it, especially if they have to return a hard hit shot on the move. This is a good recipe to get a short return. Of course, if you get a heavy ball that jumps at you, you probably want to send it back where it came from.

similarly with a high looper that lands deep.of course you should take it on the rise and take time away from your opponent.pros have practiced doing this since they were 6 years old (or younger).most club player have not. it might be better for them to move back and hit a high roller back.(lets not get into the discussion take it out of the air as a swinging volley).
hopefully you see my point

Not really... I don't see what a high looper has to do with this discussion. Are you suggesting that it's best to hit high loopers back CC?

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Have to disagree with the notion that Directionals are outdated. The pros apply this concept regularly. Particularly at the club level, cross court should be the rule and DTL the exception.

Yeah absolutely. It's exactly like that 2 hoola hoops strategy you put on fyb a few months back. Cross court is just a statistically safer shot.

 

[5263]

Hi 5263, why don't the same principles apply? Is it because of the greater emphasis on topspin in modern strokes, because of which changing directions is not as hazardous as it used to be? Or is it because it is more important to make the other guy hit on the move? I find more and more that nobody follows Wardlaw these days, or even mentions this principle. DTL shots seem to be a great setup for the next shot, and seem to create a lot of damage at every level. It's almost like you should hit DTL first chance you get!

good question. You can see how quickly things spin up, from noting that they are "not as important" as in the past, to --"Wardlaw directionals outdated". A complete change of meaning.

One of the first things students notice and comment on when switching from conventional instruction methods "like neutral stance, step into shot and swing out the target line"
is that they are surprised at how much easier it is to change the direction of the ball AND how the net is taken out of the question due to height over the net of the modern TS shot. Hitting long is much less risk with all the TS as well, hence, going DTL is much, much safer and easier when it is advantageous in the point.

This also ties in with the myth that deeper is always better than pace.
IF you have spent most of your time hitting Deep and crosscourt, the chances of hitting long on a DTL are much greater than for someone who is more grooved with a shorter length shot.

In short, it is easier to change the direction of shot with the modern stroke.

 

[papa]

It just a lot easier to change direction on a ball that is coming into you than on one that has crossed your body and is heading away. The principle is the same regardless of what type of tennis your playing - singles, doubles, pro, club, etc. This is not to say you can't change direction on balls that cross or that you can't go back with ones that don't - its just easier.

 

[bhupaes]

good question. You can see how quickly things spin up, from noting that they are "not as important", to "Wardlaw directionals outdated". A complete change of meaning.

One of the first things students notice and comment on when switching from conventional instruction methods "like neutral stance, step into shot and swing out the target line"
is that they are surprised at how much easier it is to change the direction of the ball AND how the net is taken out of the question due to height over the net of the modern TS shot. Hitting long is much less risk with all the TS as well, hence, going DTL is much, much safer and easier when it is advantageous in the point.

This also ties in with the myth that deeper is always better than pace.
IF you have spent most of your time hitting Deep and crosscourt, the chances of hitting long on a DTL are much greater than for someone who is more grooved with a shorter length shot.

In short, it is easier to change the direction of shot with the modern stroke.

Thanks, 5263. Watching pro tennis these days, it seems that the benefits of going DTL seem to outweigh the risks more often than not. The reason for CC exchanges seems more to do with getting the opponent gradually out of position before going for the DTL, than with minimizing risk. I agree, this doesn't mean that the Directionals are outdated - just that they are less relevant than in the old days.

 

[5263]

Thanks, 5263.

I agree, this doesn't mean that the Directionals are outdated - just that they are less relevant than in the old days.

Well said,
and I think most players with good modern open stance angular strokes find it easier to change directions on an outside ball, partly cause it is not "as outside" as it would be with a neutral stance, along with several other things that come into play.

 

[5263]

Please explain three issues with directionals:
1.what do we do for doubles
2.what do we do for a transition game/approach shot in a case
of singles and doubles
3.lefty against righty

I am dead of heat so I cannot type anymore.
See you in Scotland

Hey there J!

1. In dubs we often have to hit to spots regardless of directionals, hitting the dipper down the middle is a great answer to any tough situation (2 opponents at net) where you choose not to lob.

2. We have to transition off weaker, mid court shots for the most part, --in singles and dubs.
I like to use TS power to open court in singles, but low, slow, nasty slices to transition in dubs and when there is no open court in singles.

3. As a righty, I'm concerned about leftys only when they can push their leftiness with confidence. When they can do this, I just try to overplay those strengths to make them execute in the other areas, for ex. covering the wide ad ct slice to make them serve well up the middle or at least take the edge off that strength. Directionals don't account for lefty that I know of?? so to work a lefty, breaking the directionals could be a big key to control what they get to see

Did this address your points friend?
good to hear from you

 

[Blake0]

This is pretty basic, but very important. Incorporating the directionals into your strategies can help make it more reliable and more effective.

I'd get bored of tennis if this was the only strategy i used though.

 

[larry10s]

regardless of technical ease or difficulty and not really part of the thread is when you hit down the line if its not good you have opened up the cout against yourself because of where you need to recover to.
i still beleive wardlows directionals can be broken but they do allow for high percentage tennis.
taking a backhand down the line or a croscourt forehand down the line still requires greater control of the rebound and direction of the ball compared to sending it back where it came from.
do you guys not agree with that??

 

[larry10s]

Please explain three issues with directionals:
1.what do we do for doubles
2.what do we do for a transition game/approach shot in a case
of singles and doubles
3.lefty against righty

I am dead of heat so I cannot type anymore.
See you in Scotland

julian 5263 did a nice job in answering your question. as for the lefty righty thing if you try to pick on the backhand which is now the deuce side so inside in forehands (which go along with wardlows diretionals)might be a prefered shot.

 

[larry10s]

btw what does 5263 stand for if you want to share this info??

 

[wihamilton]

Yeah absolutely. It's exactly like that 2 hoola hoops strategy you put on fyb a few months back. Cross court is just a statistically safer shot.

Yep! Visualizing two hula hoops and following the simple rules I outlined in that video will have you playing a high-percentage, winning game.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

Have to disagree with the notion that Directionals are outdated. The pros apply this concept regularly. Particularly at the club level, cross court should be the rule and DTL the exception.

Have been on this topic a couple of years ago.

My personal opinion, Directionals are good starting points.Not the end all.

Sorry Pro's dont do Directionals. Pro's do a lot of things and people use them to substantiate whatever they feel appropriate.

Nadal almost always goes to Federer's backhand. He doesnt need any directionals

Fernando Gonzo always tries to hit a forehand. He has bigger things to worry than some basic directionals.

I guess Sampras didnt get the memo. he tries to S&V.

Several factors such as one's strength, current form, opponents weakness, strengths, court speed,condition, opponents position, one's own position, general strategy, score line of the match, one's mental/physical fitness, etc come into play during shot making, not just "lets keep cross court until one of us hit DTL".


It is my experience that most old timers seem to disuade opinions against directionals. All the power to them if that floats their boat. As long as i dont get that crap, i am good.

 

[5263]

regardless of technical ease or difficulty and not really part of the thread is when you hit down the line if its not good you have opened up the cout against yourself because of where you need to recover to.
i still beleive wardlows directionals can be broken but they do allow for high percentage tennis.
taking a backhand down the line or a croscourt forehand down the line still requires greater control of the rebound and direction of the ball compared to sending it back where it came from.
do you guys not agree with that??

You make some very good points here and I do like the directions as a key, but I don't agree that dtl opens the court as often as you may think. A big key is how much you put them on the run and how much damage the dtl does.
When they are running, it gives you time to reposition as well and close down what may have been open court. Part of what Modern open stance strokes do is improve the recovery process as it relates to this.

5263 is a simple personal code, not important to anyone else (or to share), but helpful for me. thanks

 

[callmethedoctor]

All the "directionals" is is a more complicated way of saying "go crosscourt until you get a short ball".

 

[5263]

All the "directionals" is is a more complicated way of saying "go crosscourt until you get a short ball".

That may be the meat of it, but
there is more to it, like dealing with inside balls.

 

[papa]

All the "directionals" is is a more complicated way of saying "go crosscourt until you get a short ball".

Really missing the point here because that is not what it means. What it means is that if the ball "prior" to you hitting it passes in front of you than its easier (higher percentage) to return the ball to where it came from. If it doesn't pass in front of you, than its easier to change the angle of the shot. You should be able to do either but it has nothing to do with going "just" crosscourt.

 

[julian]

2 cross references

Two cross references below are worth browsing IMHO
http://hoskinsjohn.bizland.com/direc/

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=275768

especially the post #5

 

[julian]

For papa

It comes without saying that a quick footwork may/should increase
a potential number of IN balls/shots.
Example being is a quick crossover steps for balls far away from a player