How to handle Chip-n-chargers.

[Happyneige]

Hi all. I am a 3.5 lefty player with topspin forehand and 1HBH. I play baseline game and it has been working quite well. There is another player at my club who frustrates me with his chip and charge game. The most frustrating part is the chipping. He sends both forehand and backhand with a slice and underspin which does not bounce very high. If I get my racquet on it and hit a topspin back, he will send another low-skidding ball over. If I don't get a well-paced ball back, he will pick on my weak floating returns at the net. I tried lobs but with low balls, it's very hard to send up a really good lob that will go over his head and still lands in the court. Help!

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Have you tried passing him with a dipper?

 

[tnig469]

what if u played the same chip and charge as him?...confuse him to death....if he wont give u pace on a ball...dont give him pace...slice it back..maybe?

 

[rasajadad]

At the 3.5 level:
#1- Attack the net yourself

or

#2- Lob

 

[Duzza]

2 Things I HATE when playing people like you(i'm often chipping n' charging) is:
1. Lobs/ Setup smashes really annoying
2. Hitting the ball very early going for short angles or deep shots making it tough to come in.

 

[OrangeOne]

Hi all. I am a 3.5 lefty player with topspin forehand and 1HBH. I play baseline game and it has been working quite well. There is another player at my club who frustrates me with his chip and charge game. The most frustrating part is the chipping. He sends both forehand and backhand with a slice and underspin which does not bounce very high. If I get my racquet on it and hit a topspin back, he will send another low-skidding ball over. If I don't get a well-paced ball back, he will pick on my weak floating returns at the net. I tried lobs but with low balls, it's very hard to send up a really good lob that will go over his head and still lands in the court. Help!

Two suggestions:

1. Focus on depth in rallies as a priority over other goals, it's much harder to 'chip' a deep ball, and it's even harder still to approach successfully off a deep ball too. It's funny how often players forget depth as a tactic, against the right player it can work excellently almost on it's own, and can brilliantly setup other options (eg. allow you to get into the net, as some others have suggested). Edit: just realised Duzza suggested depth too - sorry for the double-suggest....

2. Furthering Prince_of_Tennis's 'dipping passing shots' suggestion, when he is in at the net, if you're not confident in passing shorts or your drives are floating, maybe take the Agassi lesson and just give him nothing to work with. Hit your shots with as much topspin as you're confident with and as wide as you're confident too as well, but instead of aiming to pass, you're aiming to get the balls down low - bouncing at his feet if you can on the first volley. This should get him to volley up, giving you a much better chance to put up a good lob or try a better pass.

 

[chess9]

Two suggestions:

1. Focus on depth in rallies as a priority over other goals, it's much harder to 'chip' a deep ball, and it's even harder still to approach successfully off a deep ball too. It's funny how often players forget depth as a tactic, against the right player it can work excellently almost on it's own, and can brilliantly setup other options (eg. allow you to get into the net, as some others have suggested). Edit: just realised Duzza suggested depth too - sorry for the double-suggest....

2. Furthering Prince_of_Tennis's 'dipping passing shots' suggestion, when he is in at the net, if you're not confident in passing shorts or your drives are floating, maybe take the Agassi lesson and just give him nothing to work with. Hit your shots with as much topspin as you're confident with and as wide as you're confident too as well, but instead of aiming to pass, you're aiming to get the balls down low - bouncing at his feet if you can on the first volley. This should get him to volley up, giving you a much better chance to put up a good lob or try a better pass.

Great advice. It frequently works against me. I rarely hit slice forehand, but love to chip and charge my backhand. But, the better players don't give you many opportunities and a weak chip is a disaster.

If you use a full Western forehand grip or an Eastern backhand grip you are going to have difficulty returning those shots. If you see him preparing to hit, say, a backhand chip down the line, then I'd switch to Eastern or Continental if you can. Most guys can switch grips on the forehand I've found, but are more susceptible to mistakes if they change the grip on the backhand. Practice on both wings with low balls is very much a part of any good drill set.


-Robert

 

[Rickson]

Hi all. I am a 3.5 lefty player with topspin forehand and 1HBH. I play baseline game and it has been working quite well. There is another player at my club who frustrates me with his chip and charge game. The most frustrating part is the chipping. He sends both forehand and backhand with a slice and underspin which does not bounce very high. If I get my racquet on it and hit a topspin back, he will send another low-skidding ball over. If I don't get a well-paced ball back, he will pick on my weak floating returns at the net. I tried lobs but with low balls, it's very hard to send up a really good lob that will go over his head and still lands in the court. Help!

Open your grip a little more and you'll lob him all day.