Please help me win my first round match in a tournament!

[HunterST]

Alright so I'm playing a tournament at my club. I know the guy that I play in the first round but I've never played him. The people I know that have played him, though said he's a very consistent player but doesn't have too many weapons. They said the key to beating him is not getting too anxious and taking too many risks.

To be clear, this is NOT a pusher. He has real strokes, doesn't moon ball and dink or any of that. He's just not a slugger.

This makes me a little nervous because I have a couple of bad habits. I sometimes get impatient and start going for too much. Once that happens, things get worse when I start not going for my shots and might not even finish my strokes completely.

Any tips on how to beat this type of player? I have a good serve and powerful groundstrokes when I'm playing well, but my "shot tolerance" is not where I'd like it to be, especially during competitive matches.

I'm considering trying to get to net pretty frequently even though my volleys aren't one of my strengths.

thanks for any strategy ideas or tips in general!

 

[stevenwags987]

Alright so I'm playing a tournament at my club. I know the guy that I play in the first round but I've never played him. The people I know that have played him, though said he's a very consistent player but doesn't have too many weapons. They said the key to beating him is not getting too anxious and taking too many risks.

To be clear, this is NOT a pusher. He has real strokes, doesn't moon ball and dink or any of that. He's just not a slugger.

This makes me a little nervous because I have a couple of bad habits. I sometimes get impatient and start going for too much. Once that happens, things get worse when I start not going for my shots and might not even finish my strokes completely.

Any tips on how to beat this type of player? I have a good serve and powerful groundstrokes when I'm playing well, but my "shot tolerance" is not where I'd like it to be, especially during competitive matches.

I'm considering trying to get to net pretty frequently even though my volleys aren't one of my strengths.

thanks for any strategy ideas or tips in general!

Going to the net is generally the best thing to do with a player who consistantly keeps the ball in play and wont make any attempts to win the point.

*HOWEVER* Ive had many people give me dirt on other players and they couldnt be more wrong. What one person thinks is consistant or good groundstrokes can be completly different from what you think.

I would say to go into the match not thinking about the other guys game and worry about your own, especially if he's just a rallier, then you have nothing to worry about rather then just playing your game and winning

I would also write down some things on a notepad ( this has always helped me when im playing a person im fimilair with ) Say something like " If I lose the first set because he's to consistant then I should try to come into the net"

"if he starts passing me I will start slicing my approachs to his backhand and make him create his own pace to pass me"

Little notes like that will prepare you for anything to come. It may seem dumb but its a lot easier to think stratagy when your not in a match.

I hope this has helped a bit

-Steven

 

[5263]

Hit your big rally shots, but to big fat targets, not near the lines. This should earn you some real nice mid ct type balls to be more aggressive like you want to do.

Just make sure you are patient enough to get that good look, that is on the short side where you have both feet clearly inside the court before turning up the heat that next gear, then look to force errors more than to hit a clean winner. Often you will still get the winner, but make your intent to hit good enough to make him miss.

 

[GetBetterer]

HunterST:

This makes me a little nervous because I have a couple of bad habits. I sometimes get impatient and start going for too much. Once that happens, things get worse when I start not going for my shots and might not even finish my strokes completely.

Are you Kim Clijsters?

To be clear, this is NOT a pusher. He has real strokes, doesn't moon ball and dink or any of that. He's just not a slugger.

So he's a counter puncher...I see.

I'm considering trying to get to net pretty frequently even though my volleys aren't one of my strengths.

That's a smart choice. Even if your volleys aren't good, at least you add in pressure. I mean, from his point of view, if he wants to hit it to you without any strong pace, then you can get it back which will have to change his reaction time and move him around the place.

In addition, you could bring HIM to the net with either a chip shot which will take him out of position, or force him to the net. The next best thing is the drop shot. The drop shot allows him to come to the net, which he may not be comfortable with either. Maybe his volleys aren't so good either so you could take advantage of that. Not to mention the standard drop shot, then lob to make him burn a lot of energy quickly with sprints - if he chooses to.

 

[aphex]

Alright so I'm playing a tournament at my club. I know the guy that I play in the first round but I've never played him. The people I know that have played him, though said he's a very consistent player but doesn't have too many weapons. They said the key to beating him is not getting too anxious and taking too many risks.

To be clear, this is NOT a pusher. He has real strokes, doesn't moon ball and dink or any of that. He's just not a slugger.

This makes me a little nervous because I have a couple of bad habits. I sometimes get impatient and start going for too much. Once that happens, things get worse when I start not going for my shots and might not even finish my strokes completely.

Any tips on how to beat this type of player? I have a good serve and powerful groundstrokes when I'm playing well, but my "shot tolerance" is not where I'd like it to be, especially during competitive matches.

I'm considering trying to get to net pretty frequently even though my volleys aren't one of my strengths.

thanks for any strategy ideas or tips in general!

If you don't have a good net game, don't base your gameplan on this...you could go a few times to give him a different look, but no more than that..

There are no shortcuts I'm afraid...you'll have to be consistent and look for openings to attack...

DONT START GOING FOR WILD WINNERS!

 

[anchorage]

You must get your own game in order. From the tone of your initial post, he's already points up. You're going into the match accentuating your own weaknesses!

OK, so what to do. Work out the strengths of your game. If you can't volley well, doesn't make sense to make that the core of your strategy. If your opponent is consistent, he'll make you play a lot of volleys since you won't be putting them away. Once again, he's got the advantage.

However, you must get to the net sometimes. Make sure that, when you do, it's on your terms. In other words, only approach the net when you've got him under pressure.

How are you on short balls? If you can hit these consistently with some pace and depth, here's your chance to get to the net.

So, my advice would be; establish your own game. Have a plan to move him around. Don't care how consistent he is, people make more mistakes when they're being moved around. Then, be clear about a core strategy to win points. One element of that should be to see short balls as an attacking opportunity. Remember, you don't have to blast winners off every short ball. The aim is to, minimum, put him under pressure and you in control so that the next shot is a put away.

Finally, be clear about shot selection. If he's pushing you deep with his groundstrokes, you ain't going to be blasting winners from there. Just don't surrender the initiative when this happens. Return a good rally ball. That's a ball which is high over the net & deep.

Get your own rhythm going, focus on execution & you'll beat this guy.

 

[dlk]

I agree with stevenwags, I can't seem to rely on others' assessment, as they don't match what I experience playing said individuals. I usually develop my strategy on-the-fly if it's the first time I play someone. I just focus on what I do well & implement long rallies to evaluate my opponent's game.

 

[armsty]

I'm with the first reply, get to the net on a short ball, the approach doesn't have to be a winner, just make sure approach shots are deep to the corners making him run. Work on court position at the net and working the volleys into the open court, it may take 2-3 volleys to win the point but keep at it and be patient.

 

[HunterST]

Thanks a lot guys. Every post has been helpful.

 

[stevenwags987]

Thanks a lot guys. Every post has been helpful.

Sure things, let us know how you do also.

Im egar to know if out advice helps your outcome, and goodluck!

 

[HunterST]

welp I lost 5 and 4.

The reason? I ONCE AGAIN started taking all the pace off of my strokes. It's a huge problem as it happens every single time I play singles. I tell myself it's because I've hardly ever played singles, but that doesn't make me feel much better.

One of the guys I play doubles with was there and I told him about my problems after the match. He said "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but your shots were about half the pace they are during doubles."

I made maybe 15% of my first serves and double faulted multiple times per game, I think because I wasn't going for it.

Any tips? I desperately need some help!

 

[5263]

welp I lost 5 and 4.

The reason? I ONCE AGAIN started taking all the pace off of my strokes. It's a huge problem as it happens every single time I play singles. I tell myself it's because I've hardly ever played singles, but that doesn't make me feel much better.

One of the guys I play doubles with was there and I told him about my problems after the match. He said "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but your shots were about half the pace they are during doubles."

I made maybe 15% of my first serves and double faulted multiple times per game, I think because I wasn't going for it.

Any tips? I desperately need some help!

this is one of the reasons that with MTM Topspin that we teach to accel up and across the ball to a good finish. If that is your whole thought process on TS strokes, it is harder to get sidelined into not using your normal pace. Much less to go wrong and if most of your stoke comes from that accel right at the ball it is less likely to leave you.

 

[kiteboard]

Your body clock is locking up due to tens. You need to be able to play a lull game, just like he is doing, taking no risks, to put him to sleep, then a jam game, with shots that change speed radically after the bounce, such as super top, flat, or driven or stopped slices, and then a flat finish game, to hit the winner/force the error. Practice these transitions: Ten easy shot lull type in row, ten jam in a row, ten flat/or winner short in a row without missing any. Then you will be ready for a match. SErve and return practice also every time you go out. Learn a twist serve. Learn a fast slice dtm deuce for a second serve. Swing freely at all times. Move your feet fast at all times, even on a slow incoming shot. Longer follow through on your volleys. Learn an over head putaway.

 

[HunterST]

this is one of the reasons that with MTM Topspin that we teach to accel up and across the ball to a good finish. If that is your whole thought process on TS strokes, it is harder to get sidelined into not using your normal pace. Much less to go wrong and if most of your stoke comes from that accel right at the ball it is less likely to leave you.

What is it, exactly, that you teach with the up and across thing?

I'm really not sure what I do during singles that robs me of so much pace. Some things I think are possibilities:

Not getting set/getting my weight into the shot
getting tight/losing racket head speed
Not hitting through the ball enough.

all of the above

I also seem to have trouble attacking balls that are at all out of my strike zone.

 

[5263]

What is it, exactly, that you teach with the up and across thing?

I'm really not sure what I do during singles that robs me of so much pace. Some things I think are possibilities:

Not getting set/getting my weight into the shot
getting tight/losing racket head speed
Not hitting through the ball enough.

all of the above

I also seem to have trouble attacking balls that are at all out of my strike zone.

We keep it simple by stalking the ball with the left hand on the throat (for a righty)
till time to start the loop. During the loop there is no concern for racket speed or power, but about finding the ball from below with your hand, dragging the racket butt first. This loop is all about timing and getting into the slot; the slot where all that is left is to accelerate up and across the ball. When you pull up and across the contact, there is centrifugal force from the change of direction that along with acceleration, throws the racket head out thru, as well as "up and across" the ball.

Of course little of this has to be thought of, and simply think of finding the ball from below, accel up and across to the desired finish.

One of the things I like best is you don't have to trash all you have done before, but more to start working in the direction of doing things more this way, allowing your stroke conform right into the new norm.