Once and for all, the best approach shots

[Rickson]

I can approach with any shot that lands close to the baseline, whether it's a slice, flat, or topspin approach. On my best approach shots, I often don't even have to hit a volley because the ball doesn't even come back sometimes. My best approach shot is a forehand slice that has unusually heavy pace for a slice and lands deep. Most people slice from the backhand side to approach, but my fh slice is better than my bh slice. What's your best approach shot and why?

 

[RiosTheGenius]

backhand slice that lands deep = worst approach idea
backhand slice short ... most known as drop shot?!
backspin fh that lands deep .... wouldn't hit one of those in a hundred yrs.
backspin fh that lands short ... drop shot and of course is always followed by some form of approach.
FH or BH drive that lands deep is the best approach shot IMO.

 

[Rickson]

backhand slice that lands deep = worst approach idea
backhand slice short ... most known as drop shot?!
backspin fh that lands deep .... wouldn't hit one of those in a hundred yrs.
backspin fh that lands short ... drop shot and of course is always followed by some form of approach.
FH or BH drive that lands deep is the best approach shot IMO.

The most popular approach shot in the ATP is the worst approach idea? Would you please elaborate, Rios.

 

[dewey4262]

My best approach shot is the deep backhand slice, down the line, with a carioca step.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

sorry, it's just my modest view. maybe in the pro tour.. but at my level (4.0) my experience is that I put away most of the deep slices people try to hit to me. I just see it as an easy put away. when people hit those and I see them approach the net the backspin makes it easy to put heavy topspin on a lob or a passing shot. .... it might be just me but I've never been bothered by deep slices at all. if anything, topspin shots out wide get me annoyed when they're followed by an approach.
again it's just my opinion.

 

[adamc637]

sorry, it's just my modest view. maybe in the pro tour.. but at my level (4.0) my experience is that I put away most of the deep slices people try to hit to me. I just see it as an easy put away. when people hit those and I see them approach the net the backspin makes it easy to put heavy topspin on a lob or a passing shot. .... it might be just me but I've never been bothered by deep slices at all. if anything, topspin shots out wide get me annoyed when they're followed by an approach.
again it's just my opinion.

Maybe you should make your self-ranking a little higher if you can put away a good, deep slice (maybe you haven't faced a good one yet, or your opponents have poor shot selection) almost all the time when the person comes to net.

 

[ucd_ace]

I think the forehand slice is my best approach shot. It's easy for me to hit while moving forward. Slice backhand would be next. Depends on the player whether or not the short balls will work. I can come in behind pretty much any type of approach shot, but usually drives just result in easy put away volleys and I don't really consider that approaching.

 

[moosryan]

imo, a deep topspin volley, about a foot or two to the side of the corner (as not to give away any sharp angles). at the 4.5ish level, that's where its at

 

[joe sch]

Cant answer that question without the full scenario :
Both players positions ?
Both players capabilities ?
Surface ?

 

[kevhen]

I voted for backspin forehand to opponent's backhand landing deep but a short slice can be effective as well as the ball stays low and the opponent has to run farther and the ball is closer to the net so hard to swing out on. I win alot of points hitting deep forehand slice to my opponent's backhand as I have more time to hit the volley to the open court and often the passing shot is netted.

 

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

Slice to opponents weaker side, deep or short

 

[kevhen]

Yes, some guys have great backhand passing shots so then you have to hope their forehand struggles with low slice.

 

[Clutch]

The topspin forehand that lands deep usually takes your opponent out of his normal position, and I think the bh slice that lands deep is another pretty orthodox approach shot. I like the drives as well.

 

[matchpoint]

imo, a deep topspin volley, about a foot or two to the side of the corner (as not to give away any sharp angles). at the 4.5ish level, that's where its at

Moosryan, a volley is not an approach shot. You execute an approach shot because you are trying to prepare (approach the net) yourself for the volley.

One of the most difficult return is when the ball is very low (skidding) and deep in the backhand side. It makes the returner be on the defensive so you can run to net to volley the next shot. Also you don't topspin volleys, volleys are either flat or underspin. I still have to see anybody topspinning volleys even at the pro level.

 

[kevhen]

Did you see Agassi's forehand topspin approaches against Federer? Not very good outcomes but Agassi doesn't know how to hit slice approaches and doesn't go to net much anyway.

 

[matchpoint]

I'm beginning to think that some people here do not know what an approach shot is.

 

[TENNIS_99]

Sorry, for me there is no one answer. If my opponent is off position and I spot a hole - forehand topspin deep. If we are even positions and I got a short ball - backhand slice short with angle. I am a baseliner I only approach the net if it is a high percentage shot and a short point.

 

[papa]

Forehand slice is a nice shot but most either don't develop it or use it - I think its a great shot.

 

[SageOfDeath]

Slice, not a floater but I think I like it because it gives me some time to go the net, but if its too slow then people anticipate me coming and I get lobbed .

 

[Barricade_steve]

I think my best one is my fh DTL to the back hand. i can really hit through the court on that shot. It either dosent come back or sets up an easy volley. i also like the bh slice dtl to the fh and really hit through the court and get some skid on it.

 

[x Southpaw x]

So many chose slice backhand deep approach... hmmmm. Unless it was also sliced wide at the same time and with a certain degree of side spin, I don't think it would be as effective as maybe one sliced short. A slice that lands deep has a higher chance of having a higher flightpath and bounce, so if the direction wasn't too good, an opponent not in nomansland will require less time for preparation setup without having to scramble forward, and the bounce may even be sufficiently high to execute a topspin lob return. Even if we're comparing wide slices, a short one will probably be more practical than a deep one, since more distance needs to be covered by the opponent to reach the ball. A proper slice short will usually stay fairly low. The key of the approach shot is to weaken the opponent's return so you can come in and do good volleys, rather than defensive ones. BTW if you're thinking about deep slices as in fast German slices SteffiGraf-style, 1 you are increasing your error percentage of your approach shot, 2 you have less time to close in to the net.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

Maybe you should make your self-ranking a little higher if you can put away a good, deep slice (maybe you haven't faced a good one yet, or your opponents have poor shot selection) almost all the time when the person comes to net.

I don't really play the same people all the time. I guess it's just that slice shots don't really bother me anywhere on the court. as for my rating... well, if my net game gets better I'll say different, but since my volley is sort of like 3.5 (it needs some serious work) I'll say my rating is 4.0... but I've played people good enough to know what a good slice approach is like.

 

[moosryan]

Moosryan, a volley is not an approach shot. You execute an approach shot because you are trying to prepare (approach the net) yourself for the volley.

One of the most difficult return is when the ball is very low (skidding) and deep in the backhand side. It makes the returner be on the defensive so you can run to net to volley the next shot. Also you don't topspin volleys, volleys are either flat or underspin. I still have to see anybody topspinning volleys even at the pro level.

oops, sorry my bad i meant not a volley, but a deep topspin approach shot. btw - topspin volley would in reality = swinging volley, but that's not what i meant

 

[All Court]

It's any shot that forces a weak return. Whatever makes someone hit off the back foot, which means it'll almost definitely be a little higher. There is no best approach shot, it's just whatever the player has difficulty handle and whatever shot you can rip and force a weak return out of. These also MUST be kept deep. Short slices are fine for some shots, but it's impossible to get the person to stop moving forward into the shot.

Topspin drives make for fine approach shots if the other guy has difficulty reaching yours in whatever situation, but it allows the other player to take it a little higher, which is a LOT easier on the run and usually more comfortable.

Slices are good because they're much harder for the receiver to hit on the run (even if the player has no problems handling them normally) and stay low. The other person, if you successfully made them hit off the back foot, will have to hit more up on the ball than if he was stepping in. Good volley.

Topspin moonballs are extremely effective against many people, especially in approaches when hit from the forehand down the line to the other person's backhand. It's hard for many to handle, plus almost always gets people to back up. That's your key.

 

[theace21]

Backhand slice that is deep, with just a little side spin. Stays low, they hit up, easy volley...Western grip guys hate those low shots with very little pace...

 

[Marius_Hancu]

and the winner is

Edberg's slice approach (clip):
http://edberg.free.fr/videos/edberg_rosset_rg96/edberg_33_montee_appuis.mpg
(link courtesy of AndrewD)

 

[troytennisbum]

I don't believe there really is a "correct" answer for this question.
Both topspin and slice shots can be effective approach shots and we see both types of shots being used at the pro level, although
hitting short balls should generally be avoided.

 

[elbuzzard_lives]

marius,
awesome video.....more?

 

[Marius_Hancu]

marius,
awesome video.....more?

The thanks should go to AndrewD, for reminding us of the link. I am just making the people more aware of it.

Here's the whole site:
http://edberg.free.fr/videos_index.htm
I put parts of the links in the Sticky.