I don't feel what power should i put into the shot to hit the ball where i want

[nikshalamov12332]

It is very often that when i try to drop-shot, the ball lands before then net by one meter. On one day it can be like that, especially if i play "important" matches, on the other day i can feel the ball really well and be able to hit those Federer-like backhand return drop-shots. It's very inconsistent and frustrating. Is it normal or not?

 

[Big Bagel]

You just need to work on your touch/feel. A lot of players struggle with it, others naturally have very good touch. It's a difficult shot that you need to practice if you want to utilize it in a match.

 

[IowaGuy]

It is very often that when i try to drop-shot, the ball lands before then net by one meter. On one day it can be like that, especially if i play "important" matches, on the other day i can feel the ball really well and be able to hit those Federer-like backhand return drop-shots. It's very inconsistent and frustrating. Is it normal or not?

Droppers are like any other shot - it takes practice to hit them well. In a typical match or practice session most folks only hit a handful - this isn't enough to really develop the shot.

Go out and hit a few hundred consecutive drop shots against the ball machine, and report back. That might start dialing in your droppers.

Over the last year I have hit several thousand drop shots against my ball machine, it has really helped me fine-tune my drop shot, which is one of my best weapons to draw opponents to net and then hit passing shots/lobs.

 

[FiReFTW]

Droppers are like any other shot - it takes practice to hit them well. In a typical match or practice session most folks only hit a handful - this isn't enough to really develop the shot.

Go out and hit a few hundred consecutive drop shots against the ball machine, and report back. That might start dialing in your droppers.

Over the last year I have hit several thousand drop shots against my ball machine, it has really helped me fine-tune my drop shot, which is one of my best weapons to draw opponents to net and then hit passing shots/lobs.

Well said, each and every shot in tennis is only as good as how much you have practiced it.

Most people rarely practice anything but baseline swinging and playing matches and then they wonder why their overhead or volley or dropshot or lob is sh*t.

 

[Dou]

besides the obvious touch/feel/practice... check your strings.

if your poly is dead, it will be impossible to do touch shots.

 

[Dartagnan64]

All touch shots can be difficult if you don't have touch. To some degree touch is innate and to some degree its learned. You can't change your innate characteristics so all you can do is practice your touch to try to develop it.

Ball machines are decent for developing strokes but sadly since they tend to throw the same ball at you over and over again, you don't learn flexibility in the stroke. It's one thing to become proficient at dropping a shot over the net from a moderate paced waist high ball. Quite another thing to be able to do it on the run, bending over on a shoelace high ball.

So in addition to ball machine practice, you need real match practice. Make sure whomever you practice it on is a real nice guy as otherwise they'll never invite you back.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

It is very often that when i try to drop-shot, the ball lands before then net by one meter. On one day it can be like that, especially if i play "important" matches, on the other day i can feel the ball really well and be able to hit those Federer-like backhand return drop-shots. It's very inconsistent and frustrating. Is it normal or not?

Maybe you're trying to hit it "too well" and cut it very close? When I make a mistake, it's usually hitting short. Recognize that even if he reaches it, he may not be able to do much with it, which leaves you in the driver's seat.

By any chance, when you're hitting the shot well, have you thoroughly warmed up your slice and when you're not hitting it well, you didn't warm up that shot?

 

[ChimpChimp]

Maybe you're trying to hit it "too well" and cut it very close? When I make a mistake, it's usually hitting short.

That is me. I always want to hit it too well, just rolling over the net landing one metre from the net.

I am telling myself - and still forget when in court - that a not-so-good drop-shot already causes trouble to the opponent, but a too-short drop-shot instantly kills myself.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Well said, each and every shot in tennis is only as good as how much you have practiced it.

Most people rarely practice anything but baseline swinging and playing matches and then they wonder why their overhead or volley or dropshot or lob is sh*t.

My topspin lob is pretty good though I never practice it. My drop shot is hopeless but some tell me it's easier to hit a dropper than a topspin lob.

 

[IowaGuy]

That is me. I always want to hit it too well, just rolling over the net landing one metre from the net.

I am telling myself - and still forget when in court - that a not-so-good drop-shot already causes trouble to the opponent, but a too-short drop-shot instantly kills myself.

My coach always used to say never miss a dropshot short.

At least if it goes a little long, the opponent still has to run it down and make a decent shot to win the point...

I try to never miss short, and am constantly surprised that some of my "bad" dropshots which land a little longer than I would like, still win the point, especially if my opponent is not comfortable at net...

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

That is me. I always want to hit it too well, just rolling over the net landing one metre from the net.

I am telling myself - and still forget when in court - that a not-so-good drop-shot already causes trouble to the opponent, but a too-short drop-shot instantly kills myself.

"Just rolling over the net": you're talking vertical clearance of just a few inches [2.54xcm]? That's too tight of a margin unless you have exceptional touch.

"One metre from the net": you're talking horizontal clearance?

I typically aim 4-5' above [vertical] and beyond [horizontal] the net with a bit of backspin. Against most players, this is good enough to at least get them out of position. A few are so quick that they'd turn that into an attacking opportunity.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My coach always used to say never miss a dropshot short.

A wise man. Similar to the golf advice that "you'll never sink a short putt".

The only exception is when the miss is not obvious until it hits the net but it forces your out-of-shape opponent to sprint to the net. In that case, the loss of the point can be compensated by the extra energy he had to expend vs if you had hit a deeper drop shot that he reached relatively easily.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My topspin lob is pretty good though I never practice it. My drop shot is hopeless but some tell me it's easier to hit a dropper than a topspin lob.

The ones who tell you that probably have crappy TS lobs.

 

[Raul_SJ]

The ones who tell you that probably have crappy TS lobs.

I've started to practice hitting droppers in matches. Still lousy but slowly improving.
One thing I notice is a lot of players get upset over droppers. I will often hear "nice shot!" compliments on ts lobs but they just give me a nasty look on the droppers.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I've started to practice hitting droppers in matches. Still lousy but slowly improving.
One thing I notice is a lot of players get upset over droppers. I will often hear "nice shot!" compliments on ts lobs but they just give me a nasty look on the droppers.

I've noticed the same thing. People in general are OK with losing the point on a power shot but not as OK on a touch shot. Maybe because they think they should have been able to react but didn't or they wish they had that shot also.

Another factor is that they can't do much when someone pounds a FH into the corner 10' out of reach. But they do have a chance at getting the touch shot but miss it by a foot and that's more frustrating.

 

[Steady Eddy]

That is me. I always want to hit it too well, just rolling over the net landing one metre from the net.

I am telling myself - and still forget when in court - that a not-so-good drop-shot already causes trouble to the opponent, but a too-short drop-shot instantly kills myself.

Most players seem pretty good at moving left or right. Much worse at moving forward or back. It doesn't take that great of a drop to get a winner. Don't even try to disguise it, they're not paying that much attention.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Most players seem pretty good at moving left or right. Much worse at moving forward or back.

People are better at moving forward than laterally; what they are not good at is then controlling the ball. The main problem is being able to separate the lower body pumping furiously from the upper body calmly hitting a touch shot.

Ever see a 100m sprint where the camera is mounted on a cart moving parallel to the runners? If you just looked at their head, you'd think they were watching TV: their head probably moves less than when I'm watching TV. This is an extreme example of being able to separate the two segments. Most rec tennis players cannot do this: if their legs are moving wildly, their arms are also and they lose all touch.

 

[Shroud]

My coach always used to say never miss a dropshot short.

At least if it goes a little long, the opponent still has to run it down and make a decent shot to win the point...

I try to never miss short, and am constantly surprised that some of my "bad" dropshots which land a little longer than I would like, still win the point, especially if my opponent is not comfortable at net...

Come on Iowaguy. “My coach...”?

Sooo old school. Today real players say things like “My groundstroke coach...”.

Fwiw my dropshot coach agrees with your coach

 

[IowaGuy]

Come on Iowaguy. “My coach...”?

Sooo old school. Today real players say things like “My groundstroke coach...”.

Fwiw my dropshot coach agrees with your coach

HS coach. 30 years ago

But, he did hit some of the sweetest droppers I have seen! Same takeback for his BH slice, drive, and dropper made it impossible to read!

 

[Chas Tennis]

High speed video feedback would show you that how you are contacting the ball is not adequate in some way.
* forward racket head speed?
* angle of racket path?
* pace variations of incoming shots?

It might even be obvious in a video. What is your guess?

Do you have a ball machine?

 

[Traffic]

People are better at moving forward than laterally; what they are not good at is then controlling the ball.

Had to read this a couple times. I think I know what you are saying, but I'm still having a hard time dissecting it.

I agree that ppl can move forward better. But I think it is harder to perceive the need to move forward as quickly as the need to move laterally. Thus there is usually a slight lag or slow first step to move foward. Then I totally agree with you that moving forward and setting up for a shot is much tougher than moving laterally and setting up for a shot.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Had to read this a couple times. I think I know what you are saying, but I'm still having a hard time dissecting it.

I agree that ppl can move forward better. But I think it is harder to perceive the need to move forward as quickly as the need to move laterally. Thus there is usually a slight lag or slow first step to move foward. Then I totally agree with you that moving forward and setting up for a shot is much tougher than moving laterally and setting up for a shot.

Actually, I hadn't considered the aspect of motion detection when I made my statement. You're right also.

My point was that whether I'm hitting the shot standing still or moving laterally, I can hit the same trajectory and the ball will go in. But if I have to move forward, I have to change the trajectory or else the ball will go long.

 

[Traffic]

Actually, I hadn't considered the aspect of motion detection when I made my statement. You're right also.

My point was that whether I'm hitting the shot standing still or moving laterally, I can hit the same trajectory and the ball will go in. But if I have to move forward, I have to change the trajectory or else the ball will go long.

I think this concept is hard for many to grasp. If you are a few steps inside the baseline, then you are physically closer to the net by a significant amount. So to use anything near the same swing would land the ball long or into the net.

Me, on the otherhand, swing at the baseline and bounce inside the service box. So I can take a few steps inside the baseline with the same stroke and land IN.