Playing for Clay on the first time, any tips?
- Thread starter Yenster
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Slide into the shot, not after hitting the ball (aka the California slide).
USERNAME
Professional
^^^ lol Don't try to slide is my best advice! It takes practice and the last thing you want is to roll your ankle or take a hard fall. Footing is key, keep a solid wide base. Is it hartru or red clay? Either way, be ready for the ball to jump more and watch for bad bounces. Also if you can hit the lines on serve, the ball will absolutely TAKE OFF!
dozu
Banned
oh, I didn't know there is such a fancy name for that..... all I can do is the Calif slide lolol.... and the move is universal on clay or hard.
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
Get your opp running on the baseline and hit behind him. Try a couple drop shots. Try to hit with more topspin to push the dude back. Don't slice too much unless you're trying to bring your opp to the net to pass him.
TennisCoachFLA
Banned
Just slow your game down and simplify it. Imagine you are trying to make a video of proper technique....strong footwork, set up early and be ready for the bounces, stay consistent and don't go for winners all the time.
You won't learn to slide in one match, but you can play around with it today on easy shots.
You won't learn to slide in one match, but you can play around with it today on easy shots.
GetBetterer
Hall of Fame
It's great (and the healthiest).
Sliding is actually really fun, you can still set up relatively well for the shots you want to hit, so don't worry too much.
The ball is slower, so if you can ace serves, great. Easy points.
Use the fact that it's slow to your advantage.
Sliding is actually really fun, you can still set up relatively well for the shots you want to hit, so don't worry too much.
The ball is slower, so if you can ace serves, great. Easy points.
Use the fact that it's slow to your advantage.
yellowoctopus
Professional
Probably the best surface to work on staying upright and balanced when you move.
My best advice: Don't lean; keep your feet under you.
My best advice: Don't lean; keep your feet under you.
Actually DON'T slide. If it's your first time and don't play on clay, don't even bother. You're more likely to end up injuring yourself. The mechanics of a slide are actually quite complex as it is based on your momentum and weight balance not just between your feet, but WHERE on each foot. Too much weight on the front of your front foot and you'll fall forwards. Too much weight on the back of your rear foot and you won't even slide. Just play the match and get used to how the ball plays. Don't try to look like Rafa sliding into your shots. 
Djlpenguin
Rookie
keep on your toes. It might clump, and you'll get a few odd bounces. I'm a pretty natural clay player, so sliding came easy to me, but make sure you stay in control of your body.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Don't slide??? Are you guys nuts? That's half the fun of playing on clay.
I've only played clay twice (quite a long time ago). I was a mere 3.0/3.5 player at the time but I did have any problems developing a slide after a fairly short time. It may not have been a perfect slide, but it was decent.
Perhaps my balance and untrained footwork might be have been a bit better than average, but I do not believe that they were anything exceptional. For those that are not very sure-footed or have balance issues, maybe the slide is not advisable. But I would think that most intermediate players would be able to learn it in short order.
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I've only played clay twice (quite a long time ago). I was a mere 3.0/3.5 player at the time but I did have any problems developing a slide after a fairly short time. It may not have been a perfect slide, but it was decent.
Perhaps my balance and untrained footwork might be have been a bit better than average, but I do not believe that they were anything exceptional. For those that are not very sure-footed or have balance issues, maybe the slide is not advisable. But I would think that most intermediate players would be able to learn it in short order.
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Yeah , that Calif slide is going to give you less recovery time for the next shot.
USERNAME
Professional
After a day or 2 sliding may be possible if a player has good balance and a fairly solid core, but I cant tell you how many times Ive seen guys fall on clay at a few of the clubs in WA and FL...
Well the big thing on clay, which not one person has mentioned, is that the surface is slow. The ball will slow down considerably after bouncing, and will tend to bounce more straight up than toward you. This will mess up your timing in a major way. You need to be patient when swinging at the ball. This will be pretty easy to figure out in warmups, but it is harder to do during the game--especially when someone hits a ball at you with some pace. I started playing clay for the first time about a year ago, and I was constantly having to tell myself to be patient during the swing.
Once you start to have the timing down, the other big thing on clay is that your opponent will get to more of you shots that you expect. Be ready for them to get everything back. Just stay patient in all regards and you will do fine.
Sliding? Heck I have yet to slide on a clay court. It can't be that important.
Once you start to have the timing down, the other big thing on clay is that your opponent will get to more of you shots that you expect. Be ready for them to get everything back. Just stay patient in all regards and you will do fine.
Sliding? Heck I have yet to slide on a clay court. It can't be that important.
TennisCoachFLA
Banned
Several posts mentioned that things slow down, points go on forever, etc. Everyone already knows clay slows the ball down, it didn't have to be said. The OP is playing on clay for the first time....but we assume he has watched many a pro match on clay and knows it is a slower surface.
The advice given by others was very good, addressing footwork, sliding, bad bounces, etc.
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
I was sliding just fine after 10-15 mins. No falls. I was a low intermediate player at the time (~ 25 yrs ago).
fruitytennis1
Professional
Kick serves ftw
I'm just saying that if you're playing on clay for the first time, trying to look like Guga is far less important than learning the fundamentals of the surface. You don't need to slide to play well.
Bad assumption. I had seen a ton of matches on clay, but was still surprised at how much the slow bounces messed up the timing of all my shots.
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
I dont care how much I play on clay I am never going to learn to slide and I dont think you need to worry about that in the first match.
I have played 15 USTA matches on clay and have yet to lose a single one. My game is a built on the big serve, big forehand and getting to the net. On clay I am not able to get to the net as much as I would like, but I find that the ball always sits up nicely for me and I am able to pound away at the ball. Also, because the ball checks up I find it easier to get into the right position to hit the ball on every shot. Nothing ever seems out of reach.
Maybe I am an anomoly but I would play your first match on clay as you would any other. You will have to adjust to the bounce a little but not much more than that. If later on you would like to slide you can always mix that in, but I think it is a mistake to spend any time thinking about sliding and hitting the ball. Slide when you have played enough to make it second nature.
I have played 15 USTA matches on clay and have yet to lose a single one. My game is a built on the big serve, big forehand and getting to the net. On clay I am not able to get to the net as much as I would like, but I find that the ball always sits up nicely for me and I am able to pound away at the ball. Also, because the ball checks up I find it easier to get into the right position to hit the ball on every shot. Nothing ever seems out of reach.
Maybe I am an anomoly but I would play your first match on clay as you would any other. You will have to adjust to the bounce a little but not much more than that. If later on you would like to slide you can always mix that in, but I think it is a mistake to spend any time thinking about sliding and hitting the ball. Slide when you have played enough to make it second nature.
forehandshanker
Rookie
Because of the tricky, and occasionally bad, bounces, you MUST take as many adjustment steps as you can to set yourself up for your shots. Don't be lazy with your footwork.
Because of the slower ball, you have to be patient and work the point. It's not easy to blast someone off court. It really helps if you can hit with heavy topspin, because you can get high bounces off of high rollers (or kick serves) and sharper angles out of short rollers. Expect to hit a couple high quality shots before you finally put away your opponent.
Have fun and enjoy the "different perspective" you have to adopt to play well on clay. It will help you become a better player on hard court too!
Because of the slower ball, you have to be patient and work the point. It's not easy to blast someone off court. It really helps if you can hit with heavy topspin, because you can get high bounces off of high rollers (or kick serves) and sharper angles out of short rollers. Expect to hit a couple high quality shots before you finally put away your opponent.
Have fun and enjoy the "different perspective" you have to adopt to play well on clay. It will help you become a better player on hard court too!
USERNAME
Professional
Good for YOUuuu! But I've seen guys fall hard when they step on clay without much (or any) experiance, so I still say sliding is not needed nor should it be tried until the player has had a day (or at least a few hours) of playing time.
C
chico9166
Guest
While always important, clay demands precise timing on the split step. Because of the slippery nature of the surface, the center of gravity/balance needs to be in check when you initiate movement. You can't "force" turns or change of direction.
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Come on!! Some of you guys are treating this like it's rocket science...
Clay?? Just be ready to run more than you normally would, and have rallies that go for longer than normal. Sliding can be pretty useful on short balls, or if the other guy is really moving you around. Also, a well placed top spin serve might be quite more effective than a fast, flat serve that goes to the middle of the box.
Clay?? Just be ready to run more than you normally would, and have rallies that go for longer than normal. Sliding can be pretty useful on short balls, or if the other guy is really moving you around. Also, a well placed top spin serve might be quite more effective than a fast, flat serve that goes to the middle of the box.
2ManyAces
Rookie
I play on clay almost everytime I play tennis. Here are some tips that work for me:
1. Slide into the ball
2. Play naturally. Sliding is a natural movement. Don't force it.
3. Spin takes more effect on clay. Use that to your advantage
4. Extra footwork. falling can be painful and annoying
1. Slide into the ball
2. Play naturally. Sliding is a natural movement. Don't force it.
3. Spin takes more effect on clay. Use that to your advantage
4. Extra footwork. falling can be painful and annoying
I wouldn't try to slide - it's not that easy. Hit with more topspin then usual and play higher percentage tennis. The big problem is your opponent will be able to chase down alot of what you thought should be a winner. This can be frustrating for alot of players who first get onto clay..
If you play someone with good footwork (not necessarily fast) it can seem downright impossible to hit a winner if you are not a very high level player..
If you play someone with good footwork (not necessarily fast) it can seem downright impossible to hit a winner if you are not a very high level player..
