Jim McClennan Video: Attacking the short ball

[Raul_SJ]

Jim McClennan, Attacking the short ball, video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PcHcG0iDVPI

1. Make contact above the the net.
2. Create more distance between you and the ball (more leverage).
3. Hit with a level swing.

 

[5263]

Jim McClennan, Attacking the short ball, video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PcHcG0iDVPI

1. Make contact above the the net.
2. Create more distance between you and the ball (more leverage).
3. Hit with a level swing.

Good stuff so far....level swing lets you hit more across

 

[dman72]

Jim McClennan, Attacking the short ball, video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PcHcG0iDVPI

1. Make contact above the the net.
2. Create more distance between you and the ball (more leverage).
3. Hit with a level swing.

That's fine if the ball is a foot or so over the net and you are inside the service line.

Anything approaching net height where you are a bit further back, it's much better to focus on clearing the net and bringing the ball back down in the court with topspin. I play a number of strong flat hitting guys who can crush it from the baseline who struggle with putting away short balls because they can't hit topspin, and don't really know how to slice. I'm a firm believer in one or the other. The flat shot on the short ball is a source of many, many errors. Personally I tend to rotate my semi-western closer to full western and concentrate solely on spin, not pace. As long as I place the ball is a few feet behind the service line with a lot of kick, even if the opponent gets to it it's coming back weakly...unless i'm playing some fast kid with huge strokes that he can put in the court consistently, in which case I'm going to lose anyway.

 

[AJB]

It depends on your level. Below 4.0-ish, far more points are won on errors than winners, so "attacking" a short ball should be thought of as seizing the advantage or putting your opponent in a very difficult position, rather than trying to win the point by hitting an outright winner off the short ball. Hit the short ball deep and hard (but still safely within your personal margin for error) to his weaker side, or make him hit on the run. That will usually be enough to create an error from your opponent, and if not, your next shot will likely be an easier putaway.

 

[Easy Rider]

Jim McClennan, Attacking the short ball, video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PcHcG0iDVPI

1. Make contact above the the net.
2. Create more distance between you and the ball (more leverage).
3. Hit with a level swing.

Simple and all you need to know

 

[jdubbs]

Man, I struggle so much on the short ball, usually when the ball is below the net, I end up putting the ball into the court ok with topspin or slice and my opponent measures it, and hits a passing shot or lob over me.

I'm not putting enough on the ball. Too much, though, and the ball goes out, or I try this reach/slice and that sits the ball up too much.

Would really like to fix this. 4.5 by the way.