How to attack short balls

[nytennis-74]

I am a 3.5 player and have developed a good inside out forehand where I get a lot of short balls inside the service box back. Problem is that I either try to close out the point and shoot long or I play it safer and get lobbed. I obviously need to work on the point pattern - footwork and racket topspin loop as well as go to the net more often as I attack to close out the short ball in the air. Any advice?

 

[movdqa]

Nothing wrong with trying to close out the point if its inside the service box, especially if it's high. You just have to execute which means that you have to have some practice doing it. Yes, you need to get the footwork right too. Sometimes you want to use topspin and sometimes you want to flatten it out - it depends on positioning and the other player.

 

[bullet1020]

I try to hit it as much topspin as I can to keep it in ..

 

[nytennis-74]

just to further explain they tend to be short defensive slices, which makes it more difficult.

 

[bullet1020]

just to further explain they tend to be short defensive slices, which makes it more difficult.

Those are the easiest to topspin .. Low or high ..

 

[torpantennis]

As always, it's really all about footwork. Explode into air, and land back down with the front foot. If you can master this footwork pattern, the stroke itself is a walk in the park. Watch some clips of Federer, he's a master of this IMO.

 

[Nellie]

I think it really helps a lot to come into the court as part of hitting the inside-out forehand (or any very aggressive shot) and not waiting for the reply from the opponent. Anticipate the short reply by moving forward into the court before the opponent hits. Getting to the ball earlier means you can hit the ball at a high point (which means you can use more pace) and also takes time from your opponent.

When hitting the short shot, I would go for more angle than pace (I aim for the outside corner of the service box). At 3.5, you do not need a winner as much as you need a high percentage shot that is really tough for the opponent to return (forcing mistakes).

You can practice by standing near the center of the court (intersection of the service line and mid-line), preparing the racket low (to get under the ball), bounce feeding the ball low, and hitting to the outside corners of the service boxes with heavy topspin.

 

[nytennis-74]

I think it really helps a lot to come into the court as part of hitting the inside-out forehand (or any very aggressive shot) and not waiting for the reply from the opponent. Anticipate the short reply by moving forward into the court before the opponent hits. Getting to the ball earlier means you can hit the ball at a high point (which means you can use more pace) and also takes time from your opponent.

When hitting the short shot, I would go for more angle than pace (I aim for the outside corner of the service box). At 3.5, you do not need a winner as much as you need a high percentage shot that is really tough for the opponent to return (forcing mistakes).

You can practice by standing near the center of the court (intersection of the service line and mid-line), preparing the racket low (to get under the ball), bounce feeding the ball low, and hitting to the outside corners of the service boxes with heavy topspin.

The problem is that the people I am playing against are very fast so that angle without pace often results in a good lob or passing shot. I think that moving into the court quick is going to help. if anybody has seen some good video drills for this pls let me know.