How to be aggressive?

T1000

Legend
So my game has always been aggressive, hard hitting, attack the net, flat ball approach to matches. For the past year and a half I've played very passive in all of my matches. Imagine Roddick 2004, that's how I used to play. Now I play like the recent Roddick, big serve but rolling, loopy groundstrokes and choosing poor shots to come in on. I really don't know why I'm playing like this but any one have tips for breaking out of this habit besides just hitting the ball harder?

I have a feeling it's because I'm afraid to lose. Back in Oct. my friend told me to play cocky after hitting with him before a match. I was basically hitting hard flat shots but also pulling off trick shots because I just knew I could make them in practice. I ended up playing my normal style after that and won the match easily. I think it's just a mental thing but the mental part is my biggest weakness.
 

dozu

Banned
hey T1000, what happened at the Philly tournament?

So last week in CT I had to play tennis with some beginners 1 night lol.... but did manage to play 9 holes at Tashua Knolls.... will let you when I go to Trumbull again.. those courts at Tashua look nice.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Confidence is a tough master to overcome.
Oftentimes, we had it in the past, but doubts creep in and the present is full of self doubt and fits and starts.
Since you know your problem, you need to react accordingly. Hit flatter, take the misses and hope the winners outrun the misses. If not, you gotta start to consider playing push tennis....:shock:
Nah, better to hit great shots and lots of misses then pushing.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Go out there with the attitude of showing them how it's supposed to be done, win, lose, or draw, it don't matter.
 

Ballinbob

Hall of Fame
ive been there. i just try to hit the most topspin i can because its safe and more or less aggressive at the same time. try it out. i play a nadal style game and its great. your always confident that everything goes in and the topspin will make ur opponent go nuts
 

Ben Hadd

Semi-Pro
Try using a newer racquet than the PS. =P That should bring some juice back, and help the aggressive flow.
 

salsainglesa

Semi-Pro
increase your testosterone level and treat everyone as if they were inferior, with time and practice you can believe it and dehumanize yourself and others entirely.

jokes aside, being arrogant is not a nice treat. It will isolate you in the long run, whenever you go, even if you are respected.
So being humble is the cure. How to achieve this? well, if someone tells you he knows how to become humble, that would be fishy hehehe.

Be respectful of the game and your opponent, always.
If you fail, try again, its a skill you can improve and use more and more with time.
Play the game to improve and perform, not to beat someone, because the rest of the 24 hrs in a day, you will not be better than the other player. Maybe you could be "better" on the court, but tennis is not the only thing happening in the court, life is happening too. The best and worst in oneself shows in a tennis match. The good part is you can always be better, and above all a better being.
 

DeShaun

Banned
So my game has always been aggressive, hard hitting, attack the net, flat ball approach to matches. For the past year and a half I've played very passive in all of my matches. Imagine Roddick 2004, that's how I used to play. Now I play like the recent Roddick, big serve but rolling, loopy groundstrokes and choosing poor shots to come in on. I really don't know why I'm playing like this but any one have tips for breaking out of this habit besides just hitting the ball harder?

I have a feeling it's because I'm afraid to lose. Back in Oct. my friend told me to play cocky after hitting with him before a match. I was basically hitting hard flat shots but also pulling off trick shots because I just knew I could make them in practice. I ended up playing my normal style after that and won the match easily. I think it's just a mental thing but the mental part is my biggest weakness.

If tennis became too social, undesirable social constructs may have taken root in the mind. If you are afraid to lose, why do you not turn your energies instead toward gaining domination over the social hierarchy by imposing yourself and your game on every opponent who steps up? You are either playing tennis and playing tennis to win, or you are fraternizing with a community of like minded individuals in that, while they all agree that playing tennis is healthy and fun, some do not always play to win as fiercely as you may.
 

skiracer55

Hall of Fame
There it is...

Go out there with the attitude of showing them how it's supposed to be done, win, lose, or draw, it don't matter.

...perfect answer to how we all should approach the game of tennis. I couldn't have said it better...
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
Now I play like the recent Roddick, big serve but rolling, loopy groundstrokes and choosing poor shots to come in on. I really don't know why I'm playing like this but any one have tips for breaking out of this habit besides just hitting the ball harder?
.

Sounds to me like one of the most common tendencies out there. Super aggressive play OR play it safe and roll or push everything.

I expect there is a middle way that is way better than both! Grip it and rip it, with major topspin and racket speed, but clear the net strongly and don't go for near the lines. Be aggressive with your pace and spin, but not your targets. Let your power and spin create chances for you to move in and close out points in a high percentage manner.
 
Sounds to me like one of the most common tendencies out there. Super aggressive play OR play it safe and roll or push everything.

Because most people aren't good enough and don't have the strokes to hit on the rise and play aggressive but not 'forcing the aggression' too much. There's no middle road with me either - it's backhand slice and forehand lob or killing the ball.
 
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