Pro Techniques / Tactics That Are Easy to Emulate?

[mnttlrg]

I have been trying to watch more college / pro tennis videos lately to see if I can pick up anything useful. For example, I have tried to model my baseline rallying game after the tactics Nishikori used against Lester Cook in a Youtube video.

I am curious if there are any particular ones you have found success with trying to copy. I know I will never have the power or coordination that any of those guys can hit with, but I think some of them have methods / techniques that are easier to copy than others.

 

[mnttlrg]

I'll try another example...
Right now I am watching the Nadal vs Pouille match from this year. Most what Nadal does is stuff that average players would completely fail at trying to copy. Pouille's backhand is a simple but very effective mechanic that I might try to emulate if I can find a slow motion video to break it down.

 

[Crocodile]

Most simple strategy is to make less unforced errors than your opponent and then once you have mastered this learn to force errors from your opponent.
Number 2, understand what your strengths and favourite plays are and implement them.

 

[GuyClinch]

Agassi 1/2 tactic. Serve out wide to force your opponent into the Ally - attack the open court on the return.

Fed inside/out tactic - run around backhand hit forehand back to opponents backhand - repeat until bad/short return /DTL return (all of which will represent opportunity to attack).

 

[5263]

Most people can get pretty good topspin on their crosscourt Fh. Use that good topspin to get the ball to dip well enough so that you can hit a pretty good angle to their Fh side that will pull them pretty wide. From there you can look for a ball that will let you hit sort of wide to the Bh which forces a Fh on the run. This is one of the tougher balls to hit on the run and will often earn errors and weak replies.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

I'll try another example...
Right now I am watching the Nadal vs Pouille match from this year. Most what Nadal does is stuff that average players would completely fail at trying to copy. Pouille's backhand is a simple but very effective mechanic that I might try to emulate if I can find a slow motion video to break it down.

How would an average player fail to copy that? Throw a ton of high balls to the backhand and look for openings to attack with the forehand. It's a very simple game that only requires the ability to consistently 1) throw high balls to the backhand, and 2) attack with the forehand when given the opportunity.

 

[5263]

How would an average player fail to copy that? Throw a ton of high balls to the backhand and look for openings to attack with the forehand. It's a very simple game that only requires the ability to consistently 1) throw high balls to the backhand, and 2) attack with the forehand when given the opportunity.

Yes, this is my favorite low risk pattern....like on a break point you can't afford to lose.

 

[TennisCJC]

as far as technique: 1. Agassi's FH and 2HBH are very simple and good models, 2. Fogninni has good FH and 2HBH strokes to model too, 3. Federer's FH while straight arm is a simple compact stroke with reasonable grips, 4. Svetlana Kuznetsova also has excellent FH and 2HBH to model. Federer serve is great platform model. Ferrer's and Serena's serves are great pin point models.

Tactics:
1. hit aggressive topspin rally balls cross court until you get a short ball. Then hit a DTL approach shot and go to net. Hitting inside out FHs to opponents BH is same as hitting cross court BH.
2. alter #1 from cross court to target weaker side if opponent has significantly weaker side. Just be careful when you go DTL to find the weakness that you do it smartly. You want to wait for a ball that is a bit shorter and/or slower before you go DTL and you want to realize when you are just trying to hit DTL to a weakness vs hitting an aggressive approach DTL. If targeting a weakness, use a bit more height over the net and stay away from the lines.
3. serve wide and hit first groundstroke into the open court.
4. if opponent hurts you with depth or pulls you wide, lift your shot high and CC or down the center to reset the point
5. get 60% of first serves in to avoid opponent feasting on your 2nd serve

These are basic tactics

 

[Deleted member 120290]

+1 on Fognini strokes. Looks like updated version of Agassi strokes.

 

[mnttlrg]

I will throw a few more out there, just for fun:

1. Michael Chang used to play with a 28" racket, but he choked up on his groundstrokes. That way, he could get the extra power on his serves, but could hit groundstrokes more like a regular racket.

2. Guys like David Ferrer hit with a gap between their right and left hands on their backhand, which allows them to change the direction on the shot / spin the ball easier. I haven't tried this one yet, but I am going to play around with it.

3. Sometimes when Nadal is returning a serve, he will hit a funky moonball shot off of his backhand that forces his opponent to either move back or hit it almost like a half-volley. If the other guy doesn't come in off their serve and volley it, it takes away a lot of the pressure the server gets to put on the returner on that second shot. It also buys him time to recover.

These are all just things I've seen or heard about pros doing that might be worth trying out on my own.

 

[heninfan99]

Pro Techniques That Are Easy to Emulate?

No

Pro Tactics That Are Easy to Emulate?

Some