Patterns of Play
- Thread starter Richardk
- Start date
ttbrowne
Hall of Fame
Hi
I'm new to tennis (4 months) but have learnt many things about stroke mechanics and technique in that time. However, I'd now like some guidance on set patterns of play and fundimental stratagies used during play.
Any tips or links will be much appreciated.
Thanks
Right now, I would suggest to just simply work on being consistant.
When I started, I was taught to try and hit the ball back from where it came. Just because it's harder to change the direction of the ball for beginners.
Just try to get the ball back in play.
phoenicks
Professional
hm... talking about strategies when you are only 4 months into tennis is really too damn early, you need t be able to be consistent and have some directonal control before you can really talk about stratergies, you need to have some basic arsenal in hand before you can start planning for strategies & executing it.
this question is more interesting than it seems at first!
a famous european coach just said this
--
If you see how American kids play, I think the forehands and backhands and serves are as good as the players in the rest of the world, but in general they don't play as well in matches. When I watch juniors play matches they often seem “disconnected” from one shot to the next. I think this is because we don't emphasize point play enough. We don’t emphasize the reasons you should hit the ball to certain places at certain times, or where your court position should be. The way I see it American kids are more used to hitting balls than really playing matches.
--
in europe, beginners are taught to think about strategy etc SOONER than in the USA. part of this is a function of surface, of course.
i think the original poster is asking a very smart question IF HE WANTS TO WIN MATCHES, rather than just ask IS THIS AN NTRP 4.0 BACkHAND?
lets start thinking about winning more matches, and give the stroke envy a rest. someone wrote recently that if you watch the strokes of a 100 ranked player and a 10 ranked player, it is very difficult to tell who is who.
almost forgot - to the original poster, get brad gilberts book, Winning Ugly. it is the best answer to your question that you are likely to get anywhere.
and just to clarify, i am not suggesting that strokes and technique at a beginning level are unimportant. i am just saying that a beginner who says that he is already working on stroke production and now wants to learn some strategy...that is a very wise beginner! its is a wiser question than the usual HOW CAN I HIT THE BALL HARDER DUH? WHAT STRINGS GIVE MORE SPIN DUH?
at your level, do not miss, do not make unforced errors (this goes back to what someone said above, about sending the ball back to where it just came from, the easiest hit you can make). do not think in one-shot time frames, but rather use a shot to move your opponent to where you want him, so you can hit to where he is not. do not be impatient, be ready to hit as many balls as it takes to win the point, do not get impatient and start trying to hit through your opponent to end the point early! hit some moonballs to your opponents backhand side, and see what they can do with that. keep that ball in play no matter what. hit up the middle and come to the net, and see what they can do with that. think, just dont mindlessly hit hard, think.
a famous european coach just said this
--
If you see how American kids play, I think the forehands and backhands and serves are as good as the players in the rest of the world, but in general they don't play as well in matches. When I watch juniors play matches they often seem “disconnected” from one shot to the next. I think this is because we don't emphasize point play enough. We don’t emphasize the reasons you should hit the ball to certain places at certain times, or where your court position should be. The way I see it American kids are more used to hitting balls than really playing matches.
--
in europe, beginners are taught to think about strategy etc SOONER than in the USA. part of this is a function of surface, of course.
i think the original poster is asking a very smart question IF HE WANTS TO WIN MATCHES, rather than just ask IS THIS AN NTRP 4.0 BACkHAND?
lets start thinking about winning more matches, and give the stroke envy a rest. someone wrote recently that if you watch the strokes of a 100 ranked player and a 10 ranked player, it is very difficult to tell who is who.
almost forgot - to the original poster, get brad gilberts book, Winning Ugly. it is the best answer to your question that you are likely to get anywhere.
and just to clarify, i am not suggesting that strokes and technique at a beginning level are unimportant. i am just saying that a beginner who says that he is already working on stroke production and now wants to learn some strategy...that is a very wise beginner! its is a wiser question than the usual HOW CAN I HIT THE BALL HARDER DUH? WHAT STRINGS GIVE MORE SPIN DUH?
at your level, do not miss, do not make unforced errors (this goes back to what someone said above, about sending the ball back to where it just came from, the easiest hit you can make). do not think in one-shot time frames, but rather use a shot to move your opponent to where you want him, so you can hit to where he is not. do not be impatient, be ready to hit as many balls as it takes to win the point, do not get impatient and start trying to hit through your opponent to end the point early! hit some moonballs to your opponents backhand side, and see what they can do with that. keep that ball in play no matter what. hit up the middle and come to the net, and see what they can do with that. think, just dont mindlessly hit hard, think.
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RestockingTues
Banned
I'm a 3.0, right now all I do is hit all of my shots crosscourt. Wait for the other person to make an error when they try to change direction.
oneguy21
Banned
If your still lacking pace or consistency or if you're still at that point where you don't know what fh grip you're using and are in the absence of a "real" backhand, I highly recommend you work on the basic fundamentals before worrying about strategy.
As your tennis skills progress try to familiarize yourself with this rudimentary strategy:
Hit deep balls crosscourt and short balls down the line for a winner or, if you prefer, an approach which would mean you would then come into the net.
As your tennis skills progress try to familiarize yourself with this rudimentary strategy:
Hit deep balls crosscourt and short balls down the line for a winner or, if you prefer, an approach which would mean you would then come into the net.
Okazaki Fragment
Semi-Pro
Use the drop shot and lob combo. At the <3.5 NTRP level, nearly everyone will miss their overhead more times than not.
x Southpaw x
Semi-Pro
Use the overhead miss and squash shot combo. At the <3.5 ntrp lvl, nearly everyone will be dieing of laughter as you punch the forehand for a free point.
halalula1234
Professional
This site has it all
http://www.tennisplayer.net/public/.../pro_patterns_serve_and_return_diagonals.html
http://www.tennisplayer.net/public/.../pro_patterns_serve_and_return_diagonals.html
