How to beat a certain player

[raiden031]

So I played against a 4.0 guy (probably lower end) who was a bit unorthodox and want some advice for what it takes to beat people like this at that level. I'm about mid-3.5.

The guy did not hit the ball with alot of pace or spin, but mainly kept it low and close to the lines and not much deeper than the service line. My usual game is deep topspinny groundstrokes but I can play a decent all-court game usually. I noticed right off the bat that I was hitting great groundstrokes, keeping them deep and fairly consistent. The problem was that they were not phasing this guy and he could get them back with decent placement each time. Even though he wasn't hitting all that deep, I couldn't put away alot of his shots because they were too low. I was down like 0-3 so I started S&Ving on every serve. I actually got quite a few overhead winners and some decent volleys, but if I didn't place the ball just right on the serve or approaches, he would hit these low down the line shots that would literally be within 3 inches of the line every time. I don't get how you can go for such low percentage shots and never miss. With a few good service games I still ended up losing 6-2, 6-2.

I'm trying to figure out what I need to do to beat a player like this and am coming up empty handed. It just seemed like he had an answer for anything I threw at him. I feel like just having more consistent groundstrokes would only result in 20 shot rallies every point but wouldn't do me much good. I feel like the only way to beat this guy from the baseline is to paint the lines and hit winners from the baseline, otherwise the only other way to end points is at the net. So my question is whether most 4.0s who beat a guy like this probably can pull it off from the baseline or would they typically do it at the net? I haven't played alot of 4.0s, but it seems there are more unorthodox players who win with low, sharp-angled and down the line balls rather than big topspin shots like the pros and college players.

Help please.

 

[Master Flow]

This is where it gets fun. I believe that groundstokes are set ups for points you get at the net, but peole in the other hand think ground strokes should be rockets. Plaing this guy i would imagine I would be at the net A LOT. But if you have a rocket forehand and get the angle and consistancy then go for it. it is where you feel the most comfortable, but if you choose ground strokes dig in for a long match.

If your equal go for the net. remember to fallow the ball so you dont get passed as easily, and if you have to take a step back, but remember the closer you are to the net the more angles you get and the less time he has to get/set-up for the ball

 

[Ryoma]

Let me help you solve the case:
1. list out the strength and weakness of you and your opponent

2. Strategy:
a. match up your strength to his weakness
b. protect your weakness

3. Tactics:
practise/utilize patterns for 2a
practise/utilize patterns for 2b

 

[Nellie]

If he is hitting it short, could you hit more angles cross court (over the center of the net)? It seems that you should not get into long ralleys because the guy was more consistent than you.

I would suggest changing up yuor shots (low slice, high top spin). It seems that his shots would have low margins for error.

 

[raiden031]

If he is hitting it short, could you hit more angles cross court (over the center of the net)? It seems that you should not get into long ralleys because the guy was more consistent than you.

I would suggest changing up yuor shots (low slice, high top spin). It seems that his shots would have low margins for error.

He wasn't hitting short as in inside the service box, but alot of his shots were no more than 6 feet past the service line, so they were generally closer to the service line than the baseline. I don't think I have good enough placement to hit much angles as you suggest. I attempted to play my baseline game of aiming deep with alot of pace and topspin, and then attacking weaker balls by going for the corners. Against 3.5s I get alot of opportunities to attack, but this guy could place the ball well enough to keep me from attacking regardless of what I threw at him. This was one of those rare times where I felt I was executing well (not beating myself with UEs), but just that my game strategies were not effective against him. So instead of just playing high percentage, I felt like I had to place the ball way better than I'm capable of doing.

 

[spot]

From your description you don't have any shots that can put him on the defensive at all (except maybe your serve). If the guy is able to place a shot repeatedly off of your biggest attack then he is just flat out better than you and I don't really think that there is much you are going to be able to do. But lots of times the story is in what you didn't talk about so I will go from there. You need to find a way to attack him where he sends back weaker balls so you can continue to attack him.

You didn't mention a difference between forehand and backhand- I would likely just try and use heavy topspin to the backhand and come in behind that when you can send him a ball out of his strikezone.

You didn't mention his fitness level. You can try sending him corner to corner to wear him out and get him to cough up weaker balls.

YOu didn't say how he was at the net, maybe he is someone you want to bring to the net and attack from there.

 

[ohplease]

I would have overplayed the down the line passing shot and forced him to come up with good passes cross court. From your description of his game, that would be the least effective, most risky shot for him.

Other than that, it sounds like you weren't willing to put on the hard hat and play the 20 shot rallies. This guy is a 4.0, and a mortal - he's going to give you something to work with eventually, and it doesn't sound like he was in any rush to attack you. If that doesn't work, make him prove he can pass you - on every point, if necessary.

Barring that, you might just need to get better such that his placement is no longer good enough to keep you from attacking. This guy makes a living because that involves both better movement and better stroke production, and most players can't or don't know enough to improve both.

 

[raiden031]

From your description you don't have any shots that can put him on the defensive at all (except maybe your serve). If the guy is able to place a shot repeatedly off of your biggest attack then he is just flat out better than you and I don't really think that there is much you are going to be able to do. But lots of times the story is in what you didn't talk about so I will go from there. You need to find a way to attack him where he sends back weaker balls so you can continue to attack him.

You didn't mention a difference between forehand and backhand- I would likely just try and use heavy topspin to the backhand and come in behind that when you can send him a ball out of his strikezone.

You didn't mention his fitness level. You can try sending him corner to corner to wear him out and get him to cough up weaker balls.

YOu didn't say how he was at the net, maybe he is someone you want to bring to the net and attack from there.

Nothing about his game was great. He had mediocre fitness and his forehand was flat and moderate paced and he would mainly slice the backhand but occasionally hit backhand drives similar to the forehand shots. I try not to overdue the corner to corner routine but do like to get him on the move. His net game was not strong in that he didn't have good control but could usually keep the ball in play at least. I probably could've gotten him to the net more but that isn't part of my normal arsenal. Maybe its something to remember for next time.

 

[tbini87]

it sounds like you could have been playing pretty close to the baseline since he didn't hit the ball too deep. from there you can hit your normal deep groundstrokes. once he comes up with a short ball i would either hit an approach and come in OR play a drop shot. drop shots from behind the baseline are tought to hit, but are much easier from inside the baseline closer to the service line. from there he will have to respect your solid groundstrokes and stay back, which will make it tough to get to a good drop shot. even if he gets to it you should be in control to either pass or lob him. this will change up the game and make him work a lot harder. he then might be too scared of the drop shot making your groundstrokes more effective. with that being said it sounds like he just had a good night and was painting the lines. he probably is more experienced (and is rated higher) so it isn't like you are losing to some chump. good luck next time.

 

[LuckyR]

So I played against a 4.0 guy (probably lower end) who was a bit unorthodox and want some advice for what it takes to beat people like this at that level. I'm about mid-3.5.

The guy did not hit the ball with alot of pace or spin, but mainly kept it low and close to the lines and not much deeper than the service line. My usual game is deep topspinny groundstrokes but I can play a decent all-court game usually. I noticed right off the bat that I was hitting great groundstrokes, keeping them deep and fairly consistent. The problem was that they were not phasing this guy and he could get them back with decent placement each time. Even though he wasn't hitting all that deep, I couldn't put away alot of his shots because they were too low. I was down like 0-3 so I started S&Ving on every serve. I actually got quite a few overhead winners and some decent volleys, but if I didn't place the ball just right on the serve or approaches, he would hit these low down the line shots that would literally be within 3 inches of the line every time. I don't get how you can go for such low percentage shots and never miss. With a few good service games I still ended up losing 6-2, 6-2.

I'm trying to figure out what I need to do to beat a player like this and am coming up empty handed. It just seemed like he had an answer for anything I threw at him. I feel like just having more consistent groundstrokes would only result in 20 shot rallies every point but wouldn't do me much good. I feel like the only way to beat this guy from the baseline is to paint the lines and hit winners from the baseline, otherwise the only other way to end points is at the net. So my question is whether most 4.0s who beat a guy like this probably can pull it off from the baseline or would they typically do it at the net? I haven't played alot of 4.0s, but it seems there are more unorthodox players who win with low, sharp-angled and down the line balls rather than big topspin shots like the pros and college players.

Help please.

You were hitting deep, well placed shots and he was hitting back low pace, slices that fell short. This goes along with him being at the lower end of 4.0

You are used to deep, well placed shots leading to unforced errors and pathetic shots than can be put away. He is a notch better than that. But he is clearly vulnerable to your best shots, as he had no answer for them (short, slices with little pace). Your problem was that you didn't have a followup to your great groundstrokes. You mention you couldn't put them away (not unusual for 3.5), but then again that shouldn't have been your goal. Your choices (other than putting them away) was to hit a pressing approach and net rush, hit a penetrating wide shot and get him in a running war (you mention he had poor fitness), or use touch and drop and lob him (ditto).