How to win on low energy days?

[JackB1]

You know how some days you get out on the court and you just don't have your usual energy? Or you were up late the night before and you have an early morning match? How do you get through it and still win? Do u go for more winners to shorten points? Do you play more conservative or less?

 

[LeeD]

Play your normal game and your opponent doesn't know if you're tired, bored, or just plain lazy. If you actually try to change your game, and you have no other game than your own, you will be hitting shots you've never practiced.
Oftentimes, even on first serves, if you take some actioin off your ball, the ball curves more, goes in more often, and is more difficult for your opponent to return than if you were hitting full strength.
Same goes for ALL your other shots. You don't need strength to hit the ball if you just meet it clean with good prep.

 

[GetBetterer]

3 5 Hour Energies

Good to go.

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, all the modern kids say to hit with more topspin and harder to win.
I've found winning has little to do with hitting hard. Winning has everything to do with hitting shots that bother your opponent. Two very different things.
Like my normal second serve, swung like I'm hitting a 125 mph first serve (which I cannot do when I pronate to hit flat), curves a certain amount and oblongs and phizzes tru the air. Oftentimes, if I back off the rackethead speed a touch, that serve is TOUGHER to return because the ball goes a hair slower, and the curving effect takes precedence over the ball speed, making the returner have to adjust much farther to take the ball in his strikezone.
Same sometimes for my first flat. I can pound it maybe 115 pretty often and IN, but with good placement sometimes needed, if I back off to 105, the placement hugs the sidelines and goes IN much more often.
If I crush my hardest forehand topspinners, sometimes the opposition get's "UP" for my game and plays better than his normal self!
So quite oftentimes, playing within 85% of your normal game is plenty good enough to play within your own level.

 

[JackB1]

Yeah, all the modern kids say to hit with more topspin and harder to win.
I've found winning has little to do with hitting hard. Winning has everything to do with hitting shots that bother your opponent. Two very different things.

Totally agree. I would much rather face a hard hit ball that is waist high than a slow looper that's above my shoulders. At my level (3.5), high loopy shots into the deep corners will drive most people nuts.

I guess a good tactic for low energy days, would be to try and move your opponent around more, so that he cannot move you around. Sounds simple, but sometimes you let your opponent dictate the point too much.

 

[LeeD]

Say you're forced top play at 85% peak energy expenditure. That means you can hit slow rally balls endlessly, right? So slow them down to 75%, driving your opponent into making more forcing shots than he's used to! When he goes for a force, you can respond with 10% more energy ONCE and hit the winner.
Tennis is often NOT won by who has more energy and bounces around the court, tennis is won by who's smarter and can place the ball all around the opponent's court with a mix of spins and flats into the opponent's discomfort zone.
Just focus on what you CAN do, and forget about those high energy lucky shots that you always try when you're jazzed and stoked.

 

[JackB1]

Say you're forced top play at 85% peak energy expenditure. That means you can hit slow rally balls endlessly, right? So slow them down to 75%, driving your opponent into making more forcing shots than he's used to! When he goes for a force, you can respond with 10% more energy ONCE and hit the winner.
Tennis is often NOT won by who has more energy and bounces around the court, tennis is won by who's smarter and can place the ball all around the opponent's court with a mix of spins and flats into the opponent's discomfort zone.
Just focus on what you CAN do, and forget about those high energy lucky shots that you always try when you're jazzed and stoked.

^^^^^

sounds like a good way to play ALL OF THE TIME

 

[bharat]

i had one of those days last night when my feet just weren't there

In the 2 yrs that i have played tennis regularly, i realized there will always be days when you are not at a 100 or even 75 % energy level. But instead of trying to end the point with big shots, I try to slice more and keep the ball in play and let my opponent come up with a great shot

at the end i felt good because i knew i wasnt 100% but still managed to play a good close match and that what matters the most i think

 

[Power Player]

I usually do not win on low energy days. This is why you need to practice your fitness and make sure you sleep enough before a match to prevent this from being an issue.

 

[jdubbs]

i had one of those days last night when my feet just weren't there

In the 2 yrs that i have played tennis regularly, i realized there will always be days when you are not at a 100 or even 75 % energy level. But instead of trying to end the point with big shots, I try to slice more and keep the ball in play and let my opponent come up with a great shot

at the end i felt good because i knew i wasnt 100% but still managed to play a good close match and that what matters the most i think

This. I made the mistake last weekend early morning match to play my usual big shot winners game, and made way to many UE's. It's hard to hit winners from 5 feet behind the baseline. Next time I'm going to hit long heavy topspin shots and make him beat me. Gave away that match, and I won't next time. Even thinking about it makes me mad, he was an inferior opponent, but my lack of energy made me want to end points early and I gave away the match. Arghh. My first loss in weeks...I don't mind losing, but not to inferior players!

 

[Totai]

Sleep 5 hours a night so you are constantly tired when you play tennis, and you get used to playing on low energy days, then when you get a good night's rest, the next day you will be playing like superman

 

[LeeD]

Problem with poster 11's idea is that you can get the boost in energy by drinking an energy boost drink any time.
I normally need to slow down my body to play my best tennis. Maybe slow down my brain too. When I have energy, I jump around too much, hit the ball much too hard without thought of missing, and generally play like a colt in spring.
Oftentimes, being slightly injured slows my game down so I know what I'm doing.

 

[only4theweak187]

always a banana before a match. make your own routine and follow it. i get a huge adrenaline rush when playing cause i love it so much. especially outdoors.

little less than a month here the outdoor courts that were redone here last year will be ready to be played on..

makes me happy, i dont get tired... prolly cause i'm young, and am in very good shape

 

[Frank Silbermann]

You know how some days you get out on the court and you just don't have your usual energy? Or you were up late the night before and you have an early morning match? How do you get through it and still win? Do u go for more winners to shorten points? Do you play more conservative or less?

When I'm _winded_, I find it effective simply to stop trying to hit hard and instead just try to control the ball. In doing so I find I hit closer to the sweet spot, so my power is actually not all that much reduced.

I don't know what to do, however, on days when my feet seem to weigh a ton. Maybe hop up and down to try and get my heart rate up.

 

[dozu]

if you have the sound strokes, slice from both wings.

Slice burns less energy, because

1) it's a high to low swing, the same direction that gravity pulls.

2), it' goes WITH the incoming spin, (you don't have to cancel the incoming topspin and add your own as in a topspin drive)

some opponents have trouble with slices... then this maybe your lucky day.

 

[jmjmkim]

I've been having a lot of those days lately. I think my body is winding down now . . . . When I'm playing, my mind is willing but the body is weak. It is sad......... I don't think there is any strategy. If your opponent is a good player equal or better than you, you will lose. Just lose gracefully, and don't give him an excuse afterwards to degrade his victory. If you had a good workout, then you achieved well.

If I had to choose on a mindset during this type of play, then it would be to tell myself to enjoy the game, and try to create "quality" points. To lose points by making your opponent earn the points, and not by my trying to hit shots that I do not possess. If I lose points from well constructed ralleys, then it would be an enjoyable loss.