Most difficult shot in tennis?
- Thread starter killer
- Start date
Rickson
G.O.A.T.
This is a subjective question because what's difficult to some, may be easy to others. For example, I don't have a problem with high, backhand volleys, but some of my friends would rather do a reverse frying pan than hit a legitimate backhand volley. A tough shot to return that I can think of is trying to return a backhand when the ball's behind you, which is an easier shot for most people from the forehand side.
supersmash
Semi-Pro
I think the drop volley is hard because you need soft hands and good "feel". A lot of people can stay at the baseline and pass you, but dropping is a lot harder.
Jon Hampton
Rookie
It has to be a BH down the line passing shot while running. The type of control and hand-eye coordination needed for that shot is just incredible. Anyone who can make this type of shot is at least 4.5/5.0.
matchpoint
Rookie
The most difficult shot in tennis is the Serve.
joe sch
Legend
True, BH OH is the hardest to play especially if you are capable of putting it away "smash". BH DTL is more difficult than BH XC because of court geometry and net height. How about a running get of a drop shot where you reply with a dropper ? This require explosive speed, great racket control and touch to re-drop, while not runing into the net. Ginepri used this tactic against AAs droppers in the 2005 USO SF.Koaske said:
topspin king
New User
jump up forehand smash
tormented_genius
New User
Any shot that is not in the book that you improvise on. The most difficult shot is one you haven't executed yet.
Kaptain Karl
Hall Of Fame
BH smash DTL.
- KK
- KK
Topspinjim
New User
Backhand down the line pass.
GrahamIsSuper
Semi-Pro
Middlehand dropper.
Whiskeyrunner21
New User
Toughest SHot
High Backhand volley
High Backhand volley
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Koaske said:
yes, this is perhaps the most difficult to execute.
x Southpaw x
Semi-Pro
That is right. Except so many people have so much practice with it. An ordinary serve is easy, but a full-fledged conventional serve is the hardest.matchpoint said:
S
SageOfDeath
Guest
Inside-out BH overhead crosscourt hitting to the left side of the court. (assuming you're right handed)
Of course why would you do that? Don't know but it would definately be one of the hardest shots.
Of course why would you do that? Don't know but it would definately be one of the hardest shots.
Kaptain Karl
Hall Of Fame
The polling should be closed. SageOfDeath wins!SageOfDeath said:
- KK
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
kevhen said:
Well you can see that this topic is subjective to the many different players we have out here. I am sticking with the overhead backhand smash as the hardest to execute (twohands or onehand) because it is one of the least hit shots, least practiced shot, and least emphasized to learn shots in tennis.
There is plenty of practice hitting a serve to get comfortable with it even though it incorporates a lot of synchronized movement and some people may have a a little difficulty with it. But they can still execute something with reasonable coordination even if it is to "push" it over.
The backhand overhead smash is an awkward to even advanced players. It is never practiced and who is to say you will get one in the match. So from this perspective, my opinion is the backhand smash is the hardest to execute well.
Let's face it, it is hard enough to hit a high onehanded backhand let alone an backhand overhead!
Prince_of_Tennis
Professional
I find the backhand smash not as difficult compared to the one hand topspin lob
Brent Pederson
Semi-Pro
I vote for bh down the line pass, especially on the run. You've got a very small target area. You're hitting straight into the court, so it's a short court, easy to hit it long. You've got to nail it within a couple of feet of the line to be effective against someone with a good forehand, and you're going over the high part of the net. It all adds up to a shot that requires extreme precision to pull off! And that's assuming you have a really good backhand to start with!
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Prince_of_Tennis said:
Well maybe to you, but the onehanded lob is not as difficult either. Plus, that is a shot that is practiced more than a backhand smash. Also, it is not an uncoordinated shot, it does not feel unnatural, so no vote from me. Backhand smash (often said by commentators) is the most difficult shot to execute properly, with power and placement.
Burt Turkoglu
Rookie
.....no question about it....backhand topspin lob off of a dropshot.....
tennisplayer
Rookie
How about the backhand shot between the legs?
GrahamIsSuper
Semi-Pro
Im serious. Try to hit a middlehand dropshot. See if you can do it.
Kaptain Karl
Hall Of Fame
"Middle hand?"
You guys are getting carried away, btw....
- KK
You guys are getting carried away, btw....
- KK
mxchickmagnet68
New User
half-volley up the line passing shot. I did it once and never again, but it was sooooo sweet when it happened
Mike Cottrill
Hall of Fame
Kaptain Karl said:
KK,
I thought the hardest shot in tennis was the overhead drop shot
. The one you hit on the bumper guard and has a ton of back spin and when it hits, back she comes over then net. That is a hard one to pull off :0.Mike
matchpoint
Rookie
Kaptain Karl said:
I agree with KK, this post is getting out of hand. I think the original poster (killer) meant "most difficult shot" of the conventional shots, that's why I went for service.
Now if we are just doing a can't top this post for a reply, then I would say between the legs down the line while standing with your one hand and your back facing the net. :mrgreen:
While I agree that a backhand overhead is easily one of the most difficult, we are talking about a shot used maybe once per match?? As for shots that are very commonly used and difficult to execute:
Running topspin backhand passing shot, especially 2h. This is a shot that people have to use often and can be extremely difficult to pull off. An opponent charges in and hits it deep to the backhand, you have to hit this shot on the run, hit with pace and spin it low to maybe cross court. Very difficult not to chip or push this shot back. Venus William does this shot very well.
Another very difficult shot which is seen often is hitting a short ball on the rise or a good half volley. People have a tendency to push this shot back when you put it at their feet around the service line. Players who can strike this ball hard that is shin level or on a fast rise can put the opponent on the defensive instead of waiting to get passed because they pushed back a weak shot that sits up. When I am on the defensive I resort to a heavy spin looping shot, either short if they are coming in or deep if they are still on the baseline. Often this shot puts me back on the offensive for people who can't aggressively charge a ball on the rise.
Another very difficult shot is at net and someone drops a hard hit shot below the net at your feet and you have to touch it back. Players like McEnroe made this shot look easy but anyone who has had to try to touch hit a 70+mph ball below the net knows how difficult this can be, especially with today's stiffer less feeling racquets. I am not talking about pushing back a junk ball which sits up, I mean absorbing all the speed and spin to just touching it over the net. Many pros have difficulty with this shot which resort in balls that sit up allowing the opponent to get it back.
Running topspin backhand passing shot, especially 2h. This is a shot that people have to use often and can be extremely difficult to pull off. An opponent charges in and hits it deep to the backhand, you have to hit this shot on the run, hit with pace and spin it low to maybe cross court. Very difficult not to chip or push this shot back. Venus William does this shot very well.
Another very difficult shot which is seen often is hitting a short ball on the rise or a good half volley. People have a tendency to push this shot back when you put it at their feet around the service line. Players who can strike this ball hard that is shin level or on a fast rise can put the opponent on the defensive instead of waiting to get passed because they pushed back a weak shot that sits up. When I am on the defensive I resort to a heavy spin looping shot, either short if they are coming in or deep if they are still on the baseline. Often this shot puts me back on the offensive for people who can't aggressively charge a ball on the rise.
Another very difficult shot is at net and someone drops a hard hit shot below the net at your feet and you have to touch it back. Players like McEnroe made this shot look easy but anyone who has had to try to touch hit a 70+mph ball below the net knows how difficult this can be, especially with today's stiffer less feeling racquets. I am not talking about pushing back a junk ball which sits up, I mean absorbing all the speed and spin to just touching it over the net. Many pros have difficulty with this shot which resort in balls that sit up allowing the opponent to get it back.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Transition volley behind the service line. Makes backhand smash look easy.
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