Need Strategic Advice

[Hot Sauce]

I need some advice on how to play my cousin who beats me most of the time. I'll try to outline some of our tendencies and attributes. We're both rightys.

Him
Strong CC Forehand
-Strong on the run, too
-Good pace, some topspin
-Creates most winners
Good Angeled CC 1H BH
-Less pace than FH side
Incredible Movement (Absolutely Incredible)
Strong Passes Off Both Wings
-Forehand Side is a strong paced shot positioned well
-Backhand Side is a short angeled ball
Decent Overheads
Decent Net Game
-ALL drop volleys
Good Backhand Slice
-Stays very low, can drop shot
Decent First Serve
-I can return with moderate pace
Weak Second Serve
Good Returns
-Can block my serves
-Can place the returns of my second serve
Tendencies
CC Forehand Winners
CC Backhand Short Angeled
Drop Volleys
Low First Serve %
Gets EVERY ball back in play

Me
Good Forehand
-Fast and Flat
-Can make errors because of low net clearance
-Running forehand is a liability. Produces either a great shot or a sitting duck
Solid Backhand
-Fast and Flat
-Can make errors because of low net clearance
-Can go CC or DTL
Fair Movement
Weak Passes
-Goes for too much
Fair BH Slice
-No Drop Shot
Decent Overheads
Atrocious Volleys
-Cannot finish ANYTHING that isn't smashable
-No Drop Volleys
Consistent First Serve
-Not attackable
-High Percentage
Weak Second Serve
-Attackable
Decent Returns
-Depends on the day
Tendencies
Makes errors on groundstrokes because of low net clearance
On running forehand goes for too much
Likes to volley although they are very poor
Misses easiest volleys possible
Fast Flat CC BH
Cannot always finish the easy short balls
Goes for too much and makes errors on easy balls because of opponents amazing movement and court coverage

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks

 

[Steady Eddy]

I have to admit that I can't process all that info. TMI. But maybe this can help? If you're more interested in winning that looking good, just return every ball you possibly can. A consistent player is tough to beat at all levels. If he still beats you, then it's likely that he's too good for you, and that no strategy you can think of will beat him.

 

[enk]

You are thinking way way too much...
One line sums HIM up: Gets EVERY ball back in play
One line sums YOU up: Goes for too much and makes errors

I don't know how close you are from winning a set, but I
urge you to try this out the next time you guys play:

Be a grinder. Get everything back and in court.
I am not telling you to become a retriever but the experience will show you how 'the other side wins points'.

Be prepare to lot and lots of balls.

 

[Hot Sauce]

I've beaten him before, but it would be like every once every three times. He's getting a lot smarter now because he knows that I know his tendencies, and he's varying his shots more often now. He's constructing the points a lot better now, and it's clear that he beats me in that category.

Today I tried to just grind it out at him and be selective with my winners, but I was mishitting and netting ROUTINE groundstrokes (not even going for a winner). I was unbelievably frustrated with the way I played today, and maybe I'm trying to find a perfect strategy that may not even exist.

 

[Solat]

you don't sell your strengths very well here

my suggestion is if he moves better than you then you better hit down the middle of the court because that doesnt allow him to use his movement and exploit yours

you have to gamble on his 2nd serve if thats his biggest weakness

you said pretty much he only wins going CC so just set up camp CC and make him hit his less reliable option DTL

 

[baek57]

based on your description, you describe yourself as a worse player than him. losing has nothing to do with strategy. the only weakness you say he has is his 2nd serve, but you also say you have nothing to attack with. the way the descriptions are, he should beat you every time. the fact that you are winning 1/3 of the time tells me you hype him up too much.

 

[LuckyR]

I need some advice on how to play my cousin who beats me most of the time. I'll try to outline some of our tendencies and attributes. We're both rightys.

Him
Strong CC Forehand
-Strong on the run, too
-Good pace, some topspin
-Creates most winners
Good Angeled CC 1H BH
-Less pace than FH side
Incredible Movement (Absolutely Incredible)
Strong Passes Off Both Wings
-Forehand Side is a strong paced shot positioned well
-Backhand Side is a short angeled ball
Decent Overheads
Decent Net Game
-ALL drop volleys
Good Backhand Slice
-Stays very low, can drop shot
Decent First Serve
-I can return with moderate pace
Weak Second Serve
Good Returns
-Can block my serves
-Can place the returns of my second serve
Tendencies
CC Forehand Winners
CC Backhand Short Angeled
Drop Volleys
Low First Serve %
Gets EVERY ball back in play

Me
Good Forehand
-Fast and Flat
-Can make errors because of low net clearance
-Running forehand is a liability. Produces either a great shot or a sitting duck
Solid Backhand
-Fast and Flat
-Can make errors because of low net clearance
-Can go CC or DTL
Fair Movement
Weak Passes
-Goes for too much
Fair BH Slice
-No Drop Shot
Decent Overheads
Atrocious Volleys
-Cannot finish ANYTHING that isn't smashable
-No Drop Volleys
Consistent First Serve
-Not attackable
-High Percentage
Weak Second Serve
-Attackable
Decent Returns
-Depends on the day
Tendencies
Makes errors on groundstrokes because of low net clearance
On running forehand goes for too much
Likes to volley although they are very poor
Misses easiest volleys possible
Fast Flat CC BH
Cannot always finish the easy short balls
Goes for too much and makes errors on easy balls because of opponents amazing movement and court coverage

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks

Sounds like the classic high percentage (him) vs low percentage (you) player. As you mention, the high percentage player wins the majority of the time.

You need to develop a higher percentage game, simple to state but goes against many personalities. Do you have the desire to win, even if it means going for fewer winners? Only you know the answer.

 

[BeHappy]

Hit the ball 2-3 over the net,(The net is 3 feet tall, measure the height of the ball against it, whatever you do, don't interpret this as hitting moonballs!) aim for about 2-3 feet beyond the service line, but still hard, come back and tell us how you do.

 

[spot]

From your description he is just a much better player than you and the occasional times you do win its because he is taking pity on you

 

[RyanMorgan91]

Ok first of all remember that you want to take away your opponents strengths. So:
1. Hit majority of balls into the middle of the court (thus taking away his chance to use his amazing movement)
2. Put a lot of pressure on his second serve. Then he'll think twice about whether he wants to keep a low first serve percentage.
3. Hit mostly to his backhand.
4. And if your coming to net go to his backhand with the approach shot.

 

[3breakpts]

First, you have one major strength that you didn't list -- because you're posting on the board, it means you're committed to learning how to beat your cousin.

I think the first strategy is to be more observant the next time you guys play. From your analysis is sounds like you're playing Federer . Certainly it's much easier to remember your opponent's strengths because that what they use to beat you. But I'm sure your cousin has more weaknesses.

Somethings to look for: how does he handle short or midcourt balls, especially on the run? how does he handle high balls on the backhand? what does he like to do if you hit to his backhand five times in a row?

Now if he's the more consistent player and the faster player, to stop the bleeding you have to own the middle. I'm sure you've heard it before, the net is lowest in the middle. So on the important points (basically anything beyond 30 - *) play everything to the middle of the court and take the sharp angles away from him.

When you've found more weaknesses, post again and we can all help you put together a game plan.

As for weapons you should develop, the first thing is more spin. This will give you consistency, improve your approach shot on short balls, give you a dipping passing shot and make your balls heavier.

Hope this helps.