How Do You Raise Your Shot Tolerance?

[Cindysphinx]

As a budding singles player, I think I finally need to tackle my inner demons and develop some shot tolerance. Right now, I have none. Even in singles, I will sometimes hit the return and follow it in for no good reason. I will panic after the first couple of balls over the net and try a moonball, a drop shot, a slice, or rush the net outright. I change the direction of the ball willy nilly.

Has anyone who was born with no shot tolerance ever built up a decent shot tolerance? How many balls should I expect to have to hit before it is time to Make Something Happen? Should I just count and when it gets to 10 then feel justified in doing something rash? Should I just rally until they close the facility down?

How do I even know if I am "working a point?" The only way I know to work a point is to hit to one side (preferably their backhand) again and again, with more and more angle each time. Are there other options?

 

[Topaz]

Cindy, there is no 'magic' number. Keeping the ball deep, especially at our level, will usually be more than enough to elicit errors from opponents. The general rule for when to come to net in singles is to watch your opponent...if you have them in trouble then come on in. Be ready to hit an overhead, though, if they are good enough to pop it over your head.

I played a singles night the other evening where I probably played the best I ever have in singles...I was actually able to push my opponent back with deep balls with enough topspin to bother her! And yes, I love to hit to their BH corner over and over and over again! That is a consistent shot for me though...find your favorite, strong, consistent shot(s) and use it as your weapon in singles.

 

[saram]

Let me pour myself a shot and I'll return to answer about my shot tolerance...

 

[saram]

Complicated answer as I have not seen your game and level of play. Fitness and footwork are essential when it comes to hitting deep and penetrating shots to come in behind. A good player should be able to start to have a point constructed in their favor within three to four shots of moving their opponent around the court to get into net.

Also remember to pull a trick out of Hewitt's book: he has a great drop-shot and offensive lob that work just as well as deep penetrating shots and keeps his opponents honest when playing him as well.

 

[ohplease]

There are some cases where a player's natural mentality is to prefer to simply make something happen. Even the worst cases can train themselves to be more disciplined on court.

The leading cause of the symptoms you describe is simply a lack of confidence in your own ability to hang tough.

Are you in good enough shape to rally all day if needed? Can you neutralize pace from your opponent and hit boring neutral ground strokes in return, off either wing, in any direction or at any depth? All day? That's just the strokes. Can you split step, move toward the ball, stride into the shot, recover your balance, then recover your position - over and over and over again?

Club level singles is about waiting for - or at the higher levels, earning - an attackable ball. That's step 1. Step 2 is being able to execute the attack. So many players want to just skip step 1 and flip a coin on Step 2. On their good days, they win enough coin flips to look OK. On their bad days, they go down in flames.

That's just offense. What about D?

Consistently successful singles players are just machines. They're good at denying the other player offensive chances, or defending their offensive attempts. They're also good at earning - and converting - their own.

Doing nothing more than defense and waiting should give you dominating winning percentages at 3.0, maybe even 3.5. Opportunistically (ie. on the other player's inevitable short ball) and consistently executing on offensive opportunities will win at 4.0. Making your own offensive opportunities will be required for 4.5+.

Club players simply do not have the tools, talent, or time to create and execute offense from anywhere, at any time. You need to put on the hardhat, bring the lunch pail, and use your practice time to prove to yourself that you can hang. All day, if necessary.

Do not be seduced by the occasional, lucky, and infrequent spectacular winner. Those are nice accidents. Winning records at singles aren't accidents. They're premeditated and frankly preordained foregone conclusions.

 

[Geezer Guy]

Feeling the need to "make something happen" is common in the early stages of playing singles. It takes awhile to learn that the key to "making something happening" is NOT in how long the point has been going on, but in the positioning of the players and the location of the ball. If you're in a deep cross-court rally that just goes on and on, just keep going on and on. Wait for a ball you can attack before you try to hit an attacking shot. Trying for a winner when either in a neutral position (or worse!) won't win you very many points.

As for the "hit it to their backhand" strategy, that's OK as long as that's a strong shot of yours. My best shot is my forehand cross-court, so that's what I hit most often - EVEN THOUGH I'm often hitting to my opponents strength. I figure if we get in a forehand to forehand rally, I'll win most of the time. If their forehand is better than mine, THEN maybe I'll steer more balls toward their backhand.

And, working your opponent side to side - as long as you have a ball you can easily change directions with - is a good strategy as well. Getting them moving around can yield benifits.

Finally, have some specific patterns that you practice with either a pro or a practice partner. There are many set plays that you can execute over and over with success.

 

[volleyman]

You raise your shot tolerance by hitting enough groundstrokes to feel confident enough in them that you can play from the baseline until you get an attackable ball.

The best way to get shot tolerance and attackable ball recognition is to play games that build them. Here are a couple of examples. Others here can probably come up with more.

These are groundstroke games, meaning you start the point off with a groundstroke, not a serve.

Play points out, first one to 11, where you can't win the point with a winner. The only way to win a point is for your opponent to make an error. This means you have to be steady and controlled - just because you can't hit a winner, doesn't mean you can't maneuver your opponent into making a mistake by forcing them to run a lot, or hammering their weaker side.

Play points out, first to 11, where you cannot attack the next unless you're three feet inside the baseline when you hit your approach shot. However, if you do attack off the short ball, and win the point, you get two points instead of one. This both rewards you for attacking intelligently, and puts a premium on keeping your groundstrokes deep, to prevent your opponent from having a chance at the bonus score.

 

[Ace]

Has anyone who was born with no shot tolerance ever built up a decent shot tolerance? How many balls should I expect to have to hit before it is time to Make Something Happen? Should I just count and when it gets to 10 then feel justified in doing something rash? Should I just rally until they close the facility down?

I like to play a drill like this with a hitting partner:
You keep a rally going, with the goal of hitting deep. The first time someone hits a ball at the service line or shorter, you attempt the winner. Nobody can hit winners until somebody hits a short ball. Or else they are berated! haha.

Its both good practice for keeping your shots deep, and for taking advantage of a short ball.

I used to always try to "go for a winner" on everything...."oh let me change the direction of the ball and hit down the line while i'm on an all-out sprawl!" <--that was me. My pro used to get on my case all the time....after a couple of years, it finally got into my head...use the "rally ball" until you get the opportunity.

Other options are pushing them back by hitting deep, and then the dropper, sure. Or hitting the dropper then passing or lobbing. But yeah, the more you practice, the more you know when your "time" is.

 

[raiden031]

I usually start off trying to hit the ball deep and with small angles to get my opponent moving. As they get more out of position, I might hit a wider angle to get them moving more. I don't aim for the corners while they are in control and hitting good shots. Once they hit a short ball I attack and go for the corner or approach. Usually it doesn't take alot for this to happen because I'm always waiting for it. The biggest problems I have are 1) avoiding hitting short balls myself, 2) lasting long enough without a UE to wait out my opponent until they hit something weak, and 3) putting away the weak shot without overhitting.

 

[tbini87]

my shot tolerance was non existent against my college teammates at the beginning of the season. now i am able to construct points and play with them. i don't think you need to count shots or anything like that. you need to compare your strengths to their weaknesses, and see if you can win that battle. when hitting groundies don't go for too much, hitting with plenty of spin and margin for error. keep it deep and you will find yourself starting to really get into points. making them move around the court is nice.

do you feel like your best shot at winning is getting to the net? if so try to get control of the point by making them move and putting them in a bad spot. eventually you will get the ball you can move in on. don't force yourself to move in on everything. get your short ball and attack.

where are you making most your mistakes? from the baseline? into the net, long, or wide? you have recently moved up levels right? i would work on consistency against better players (more pace, spin, control, etc).

 

[Nellie]

Man, I cannot keep focus for more that three shots, which is why I have become a full time doubles player.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Man, I cannot keep focus for more that three shots, which is why I have become a full time doubles player.

Yep, that's me. Three shots and I'm thinking, "Lordie, this rallying business is for squares!"

Perhaps I should wear a Ritalin patch for my matches so I can focus . . .

I like those drill ideas. I have a lady who wants to practice singles stuff, so perhaps doing some drills might be OK.

As far as my conditioning, I wouldn't know. I have played zero singles matches in 2008. In 2007, I played exactly three singles matches. I didn't get at all tired in the first two; the third I was totally exhausted by the end because I was exhausted before it began.

Then again, I've never played singles "properly," where you hustle to get into position for every ball. I was playing Just In Time singles, which I imagine is less taxing.

Say, how do you know when it's OK to change the direction of the ball? I have read Wardlaw's Directionals, but there must be more to it than that. Given my problem with Singles Attention Deficit Disorder, I don't think I could stand to follow a formula from a book.

 

[tbini87]

Say, how do you know when it's OK to change the direction of the ball? I have read Wardlaw's Directionals, but there must be more to it than that. Given my problem with Singles Attention Deficit Disorder, I don't think I could stand to follow a formula from a book.

i don't know of any formulas. obviously you want to switch it when you can get it to your opponents weaker side. you can also switch it to make them move and get out of position. i don't think there is any strict rules that have to be followed. that would make you too easy to read anyways. i like to pound the ball one way and then hit a short angle the other... that is my personal best shot at hitting winners. having your opponent on the run from side to side is also a great feeling, imo.

 

[Topaz]

Say, how do you know when it's OK to change the direction of the ball? I have read Wardlaw's Directionals, but there must be more to it than that. Given my problem with Singles Attention Deficit Disorder, I don't think I could stand to follow a formula from a book.

I generally don't try to change direction unless my opponent has given me a short ball, or a soft ball that I have a lot of time to set up to hit. Generally speaking, when I'm on the defense I just try to put it up high and deep, and get my butt back in the court!

 

[Cindysphinx]

Topaz, when you get a short ball, do you go crosscourt or down the line?

I thought down the line is best, but a friend told me I had it backward and crosscourt is the higher-percentage shot for approaching.

 

[Topaz]

Topaz, when you get a short ball, do you go crosscourt or down the line?

I thought down the line is best, but a friend told me I had it backward and crosscourt is the higher-percentage shot for approaching.

Well, my favorite thing to do is go down the line. I don't know why, I just feel it a bit better. I'm actually really trying to work on getting the cross court put aways down. I know a lot of players who prefer the crosscourt though, for some reason I'm just more comfortable going down the line. This is just for my FH side, though, on BH I will do either. I *love* the BH down the line *when I get it*, but it is a shot I tend to miss a lot as well!

My favorite play (jeesh, I may have to delete this later!!! ) is to take that short ball down the line (usually with my FH to opponent's BH) and come in behind it.

Edited to add: Though, sometimes it also depends on who my opponent is...this one woman I play I will just crank it right back at her (aiming for her feet). She can't get out of her own way in time.

 

[ten10]

Topaz, when you get a short ball, do you go crosscourt or down the line?

I thought down the line is best, but a friend told me I had it backward and crosscourt is the higher-percentage shot for approaching.

I'm not Topaz, but IMO I don't think there is a hard and fast rule. Down the line is brings the added challenge of clearing the highest part of the net--so you have a little more risk than cross-court over the lowest part of the net. I think you're "exposure" at net is minimized though, when you shoot down the line. Even as I type that though I can envision tons of scenarios (ie where on the court the short ball is) that negates that as well. I used to always go for down the line "because someone told me to". You need good, controlled topspin for that, now I tend to muscle it a bit flatter cross-court--closing in the same direction I've hit.

 

[Sakkijarvi]

Shot tolerance is an issue for me. For starters, I get a lot of pleasure out of stepping into a groundstroke and cranking it. I get in trouble when I go for offense, when I should be playing defense. My common example of this is the running forehand...on a good day I can just whip these across the net, hit some winners down the line. Look all Federer. Then other times, well you can imagine.

For me, it's about slowing down (or perhaps it's just perception, I'm actually just relaxing) my swing just a little bit. And this helps me to relax, and get that tension out of my arm and shoulder. Then I feel like I can rally all day, and actually enjoy the long rallies. If I'm tense, or pissed off about something, the tension gets into my body and the calm, patient fun is gone. Then it's all first serves, bash it, and leave a winner or loser.

Back to my 'advice' (I've been thinking of this one lately too, as I have outdoor tennis coming and these are 'important' matches with my buddies...no one wants to lose), just relaxing a cooling out a notch works for me. I hope that helps -- it appeared most of the other posts were getting into minute details.

Sakki

 

[Arafel]

I'm not Topaz, but IMO I don't think there is a hard and fast rule. Down the line is brings the added challenge of clearing the highest part of the net--so you have a little more risk than cross-court over the lowest part of the net. I think you're "exposure" at net is minimized though, when you shoot down the line. Even as I type that though I can envision tons of scenarios (ie where on the court the short ball is) that negates that as well. I used to always go for down the line "because someone told me to". You need good, controlled topspin for that, now I tend to muscle it a bit flatter cross-court--closing in the same direction I've hit.

If it's a true approach shot, ie, you're in a rally and then attacking the net and hoping to put away a volley, you want to hit it down the line. That makes it harder for your opponent to pass you.

Think of some of the recent Roddick/Federer matches. Roddick would approach cross-court and get passed constantly. There's too much open court if you approach cross-court; your opponent can reverse it and go back cross-court, wrong footing you, or blast it down the line.

Having said that, I think if you have a chance to either put it away or have your opponent on the run and they can't really do anything with it, then cross-court makes sense.

 

[fe6250]

Let me pour myself a shot and I'll return to answer about my shot tolerance...

I love the way you think! What are you having - maybe I'll join you!?

 

[tbini87]

i like to approach dlt. i also don't mind going right down the middle with my approach. creates less angles. but honestly i would mix it up and go with what feels best, or what gives your opponent the worst chance of passing. if they have a horrible backhand then always approach to the bh side...

 

[Ace]

Topaz, when you get a short ball, do you go crosscourt or down the line?

I thought down the line is best, but a friend told me I had it backward and crosscourt is the higher-percentage shot for approaching.

I like to go behind the person...so if they are running from the ad court to get back to the center...go to the ad court. We call this the "ACL Breaker".

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

I thought down the line is best, but a friend told me I had it backward and crosscourt is the higher-percentage shot for approaching.

Neither is better or worse.
Cross court gives you a lower net and a longer diagonal (more court), and so its a higher percentage shot to make but it doesn't necessarily improve your odds of winning the point, it improves your chance of not making an error.

I don't have a magic formula for when to attack the ball, I attack the first short ball because I assume I won't get another short or another better ball to attack, but I define short ball differently than you. I include aspects like: depth (of course) but also whether the ball is inside or outside, whether the ball has pace or spin on it, and my opponents defensive skills.

One thing I do prefer though is to hit approach shots that force my opponent to hit a ball on the run, make them move. At 4.0 people's ability to effectively pass goes down if they have to move to the ball rather than have the time to line up a passing shot. This is one of those high priority weaknesses I look for when I am playing. I want to put my strenghts (hitting approach shots and getting to net), against an opponents weakness: hitting passing shots on the run and recovering to cover my 1st volley.

You should study Wardlaw's directionals.

Its the foundation of a solid singles game with a lot of advice, rules of thumb about when to go down the line versus cross court, when to rally versus when to approach, when to hit offensively versus defensively, etc.

 

[saram]

I love the way you think! What are you having - maybe I'll join you!?

Pouring us one right now...of espresso!

 

[saram]

Neither is better or worse.
Cross court gives you a lower net and a longer diagonal (more court), and so its a higher percentage shot to make but it doesn't necessarily improve your odds of winning the point, it improves your chance of not making an error.

I don't have a magic formula for when to attack the ball, I attack the first short ball because I assume I won't get another short or another better ball to attack, but I define short ball differently than you. I include aspects like: depth (of course) but also whether the ball is inside or outside, whether the ball has pace or spin on it, and my opponents defensive skills.

One thing I do prefer though is to hit approach shots that force my opponent to hit a ball on the run, make them move. At 4.0 people's ability to effectively pass goes down if they have to move to the ball rather than have the time to line up a passing shot. This is one of those high priority weaknesses I look for when I am playing. I want to put my strenghts (hitting approach shots and getting to net), against an opponents weakness: hitting passing shots on the run and recovering to cover my 1st volley.

You should study Wardlaw's directionals.

Its the foundation of a solid singles game with a lot of advice, rules of thumb about when to go down the line versus cross court, when to rally versus when to approach, when to hit offensively versus defensively, etc.

Great advice all around. Well said.

 

[smoothtennis]

Ah, some very good info. in this thread for good singles play.

I used to also be the impatient basher.

Nick Bolliteri helped me change that in a show I watched once. He calls it the 'Ahpahtunity ball'. LOL. Opportunity ball that is.

During a rally, we should be aware of each ball, and when we see that attackable ball, or opportunity ball, that is the time to make something happen. As other have said, this is such a key thing to understand, as far as knowing when to hang, and when to attack.

I do a drill with a partner, where one guy is a 'pusher' and cannot hit any strong or high paced shots, and the other guy is the 'normal' player. This drill brings home the things people have talked about here. Even a slow deep ball, is very hard to really attack. Patience and opportunity recognition are the keys to winning in this pusher drill.

 

[JavierLW]

As a budding singles player, I think I finally need to tackle my inner demons and develop some shot tolerance. Right now, I have none. Even in singles, I will sometimes hit the return and follow it in for no good reason. I will panic after the first couple of balls over the net and try a moonball, a drop shot, a slice, or rush the net outright. I change the direction of the ball willy nilly.

Has anyone who was born with no shot tolerance ever built up a decent shot tolerance? How many balls should I expect to have to hit before it is time to Make Something Happen? Should I just count and when it gets to 10 then feel justified in doing something rash? Should I just rally until they close the facility down?

How do I even know if I am "working a point?" The only way I know to work a point is to hit to one side (preferably their backhand) again and again, with more and more angle each time. Are there other options?

To me one way of looking at "working a point" simply means to be able to hit shots with the purpose of setting yourself up for a favorable situation where you have an easier time hitting a winner eventually. (which is really the same thing most people should be doing in doubles as well, it's just in doubles you have someone at the net who's going to end it a lot sooner)

It's not really the same exact thing as "keeping it in play", but it's the exact opposite of "put the ball away on the first shot with a huge shot".

There is a great video on one of these threads about how Federer wins points, I remember one example was how he "attacks the forehand". But the point of it is, you can watch how he drives opponents from one end of the court to another until finally he's in a position (either at the net or the baseline) when he can put it away.

He's the one controlling those points, not the opponent. (basically he's not hitting winners, but he's still putting his opponent in a defensive run and fetch mode until it's easy for him to hit an outright winner)

Incorporating a net attack from doubles to singles is good as well. The big difference is you dont have a partner taking up space for you, so you have to be more aware of when your opponent is in trouble before you go rushing up there. (unless they are the sort that give away free points just because they see you up there, but you can never assume that's the case)

I think knowing when to go the net and knowing when to finally end it, is really just a matter of feeling that you develop after playing enough matches. You just sort of see openings out there and the ball naturally ends up there. (although the people in 3.0 and 3.5 who just love to pound, pound, pound the ball seem to not know about that as often, and if you are playing people a lot weaker than you who lose a lot of free points even when you hit it to them it's harder to be aware of that)