Real match vs a slicer (VIDEO)

[comeback]

I was reading the other thread" How do i deal with a slicer"..I played a guy who slices almost all shots backhands and forehands..It took me a while to get used to him but i had to remember to go after my forehand and not let the ball play me. I have the hat on and it was a colder day so the ball was staying low..All comments positive or negative are welcomed.
http://youtu.be/qCacZMeMoiE Part #1 4 minutes
http://youtu.be/wgh1wcCX4-o Part #2 6 minutes
http://youtu.be/v8LP9Y8DSJk Part #3 5 minutes

some match play vs a non slicer
http://youtu.be/QBsUxg5svVc
http://youtu.be/S1YSfunUVCQ

 

[TennisCJC]

OK, the guy without the hat does slice every ball but he actually is the more aggressive player in that he is hitting more firm balls deeper into the court. You are just floating back high soft flat balls allowing him lots of time and he is hitting aggressive shots running you around.

At this level of play, I think the best advice is work on technique. Try to learn an aggressive FH that you can hit with more pace and some topspin. Take a lesson or 2 to accomplish this. Learn a top/slice serve that you can get in and hit with a bit more pace.

If you want a quick fix, try keeping the ball out of the middle 1/3 of the court. Target CC shots into the outside 1/3 of the court and try to keep them deeper - try to land them beyond the 1/2 way mark between the service line and baseline. If you get a short ball that allows you to setup, take some risk and try hitting your FH firm up the line.

 

[Cowboyardee]

There are two kinds of slicers:

Guys who slice a lot because it's working well against you.

And guys who slice everything because that's the only shot they're comfortable with.

Your opponent was the latter. I didn't watch all 3 vids, but you were winning a lot of points when you either took the net (if he can't hit topspin, he'll be weak at passing shots and offensive lobs), or when you hit semi-short low balls up the middle (obligate slicers tend to either dump these into the net or give you floaters in return, though you should be on the lookout if he can hit a good drop shot on a low ball or if your shot sits up). I saw you hit the low short ball often enough. But you seemed wary of taking the net, even though you tended to win points when you did. Consider even just plain hitting a deep lob up the middle, charging the net behind it, and see what happens. If he can't reliably pass/lob you from there, just rinse and repeat.

On the other hand, you probably won't win a ton of points running him side to side along the baseline unless your shots have enough heat on them to push him back and force a sitter or pass him outright (they didn't). Barring injury or bad conditioning, he could return those all day.

 

[Cowboyardee]

OK, the guy without the hat does slice every ball but he actually is the more aggressive player in that he is hitting more firm balls deeper into the court. You are just floating back high soft flat balls allowing him lots of time and he is hitting aggressive shots running you around.

At this level of play, I think the best advice is work on technique. Try to learn an aggressive FH that you can hit with more pace and some topspin. Take a lesson or 2 to accomplish this. Learn a top/slice serve that you can get in and hit with a bit more pace.

If you want a quick fix, try keeping the ball out of the middle 1/3 of the court. Target CC shots into the outside 1/3 of the court and try to keep them deeper - try to land them beyond the 1/2 way mark between the service line and baseline. If you get a short ball that allows you to setup, take some risk and try hitting your FH firm up the line.

It's not that I disagree with you, but I just think that the OP is probably a while away from being able to hit with enough pace to bother this kind of opponent. Improving your strokes and technique to that point is a great goal, but it will require many months if not years of hard practice. No offense intended to the OP.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Maybe I am misunderstanding the OP but from his wording I inferred that he won this match. The biggest take away from this video is the importance of being patient.

 

[comeback]

Thanks for the tips guys..I should have mentioned that i won the match 6-2, 6-1, 6-0..

 

[Cowboyardee]

Thanks for the tips guys..I should have mentioned that i won the match 6-2, 6-1, 6-0..

Oh. Well, congrats. At any rate, I like the dog.

 

[comeback]

Yeah it was his dog but she became MY good luck charm

 

[comeback]

Maybe I am misunderstanding the OP but from his wording I inferred that he won this match. The biggest take away from this video is the importance of being patient.

Thanks SpinDoctor, I had to be patient and I made most 1st serves and didn't double fault the whole match..as i said it was a cold day and the ball wasn't bouncing up..If you see i was really scraping low to get any assemblence of topspin. For me it's not about power but good placement.

 

[Spin Doctor]

You have very good anticipation, consistency and placement in addition to patience. These qualities are often not appreciated when seen on video but it wins matches. I think being aggressive with slicers is a recipe for lots of unforced errors and, ultimately, losing the match.

Do you still play competitively. If so, what level? And what is the highest level you achieved? ( I am assuming you were at a higher level at one time given your age).

 

[comeback]

Thanks SpinDoctor for the kind words..I'll be 64 in 3 months..I was a coach for 20 years but never played in a USTA league so i'm a self rated 4.0-4.5..I used to be a serve and vollyer but stopped due to too much pounding and just try to be consistent to win..I do play a lot of 4.5 guys..here's another thread i started about my paleo diet and there is a video near the end (hit the last page) of the thread of me playing a guy half my age.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=476866

 

[onehandbh]

comeback, looks like you're in pretty good shape, move well for a 64 year old guy, and will probably be able to play tennis for years to come.

I sometimes play doubles with a guy in his 60's and due to surgeries in both knees years ago, he can no longer run and can only walk gingerly even with knee braces on. Any incoming shot with moderate pace that is more than a few feet from him will be a winner.

 

[KineticChain]

OP you're wearing the sickest tennis getup i've ever seen. the Petzschner knee-highs, the all-Wimbledon lower, the i'm-about-to-wrestle-a-bear upper, and a sprinkle of Tipsarevic glasses. you make me feel shameful of my tennis attire

 

[comeback]

i know, it looks comical. It was an unusually cold day. I just cannot get warm unless it really hot out. Here's a video of me in better attire.
http://youtu.be/QBsUxg5svVc

http://youtu.be/S1YSfunUVCQ

 

[comeback]

comeback, looks like you're in pretty good shape, move well for a 64 year old guy, and will probably be able to play tennis for years to come.

I sometimes play doubles with a guy in his 60's and due to surgeries in both knees years ago, he can no longer run and can only walk gingerly even with knee braces on. Any incoming shot with moderate pace that is more than a few feet from him will be a winner.

Thanks One hand, more often that is the case. Many of my peers have broken down...Look at LeeD, without his injuries he would be so much better..I'm pretty lucky but i have worked hard on my conditioning if you check out my paleo thread..

 

[oble]

Agreed that OP moves really well for a guy in his sixties.

It's also amazing how your opponent's dog isn't tempted to chase after the tennis balls at all. My dog would not have hesitated to try and run down every single ball, even if she's leashed. :lol:

 

[comeback]

Thanks Oble, i used to make fun of the "old geezers" at the courts. Now i am one of them.
I love when he brings his dog as it throws him off more than me..

 

[GuyClinch]

You are pretty consistent and move well. But on video anyway your game looks pretty soft. There are a number of balls that you should really swing out on and finish off against that guy..

In the first video there is a ball hit close to the net that bounces pretty high. Instead of ripping it you just kinda casually push it in with a touch of topspin and he hits a lob on you.

It's cool that you run it down and all but you should have been able to hurt him earlier..

 

[heninfan99]

Nice dog.

You look pretty fast but it seemed you didn't run full on for some of the short balls.

This type of slicer would be fun to play.

 

[heninfan99]

The dog seemed to be watching the match in the 2nd clip and was disinterested in clip 1.

 

[comeback]

You are pretty consistent and move well. But on video anyway your game looks pretty soft. There are a number of balls that you should really swing out on and finish off against that guy..

In the first video there is a ball hit close to the net that bounces pretty high. Instead of ripping it you just kinda casually push it in with a touch of topspin and he hits a lob on you.

It's cool that you run it down and all but you should have been able to hurt him earlier..

Yes, i have to agree, i hit the same speed most of the time..I've had arm problems and other injuries so i'm always hesitant to hit full out.

 

[comeback]

Nice dog.

You look pretty fast but it seemed you didn't run full on for some of the short balls.

This type of slicer would be fun to play.

Yes, i didn't run after some of those drop shots but you have to admit they were good drop shots..yes i love playing him because he is a challenge and never gives up.

 

[heninfan99]

You are fit and agile. Do you do anything else besides tennis to stay in shape?

Yes, i didn't run after some of those drop shots but you have to admit they were good drop shots..yes i love playing him because he is a challenge and never gives up.

 

[JonC]

The racquet manipulation on the forehand will hurt you against anyone who hits with decent pace.

 

[comeback]

You are fit and agile. Do you do anything else besides tennis to stay in shape?

Yes, i only play serious matches twice a week from April-Oct...then once a week or just doubles in the offseason..then alternate days of stationary bike, elitptical, and short sprints..mixed in with medicine ball for core stability and some free weights..nothing heavy or long.. mostly my paleo diet keeps me lean so i can still move well for my age.

 

[comeback]

The racquet manipulation on the forehand will hurt you against anyone who hits with decent pace.

Thanks John, I'm not sure what you mean by racket manipulation but pace doesn't bother me too much if you look at my other video..But if my opponent can hit winners i'm in big trouble.

 

[LakeSnake]

The racquet manipulation on the forehand will hurt you against anyone who hits with decent pace.

I noticed his forehand looked very "wristy" to me, but it seemed very consistent, regardless.

 

[GuyClinch]

Its not so much that its wristy - its kinda loosey goosey his whole game. He is pretty good at that loosey goosey style but it seems like he can't power the ball when he needs to with his style..

http://www.feeltennis.net/how-to-hit-a-tennis-ball/

Go like 5.30 into this video and he will describe how amateurs tend to hit the ball. The 'long and loose' style is pretty close to comebacks.

He is pretty effective with it - and has nice touch but I do think even at his age he could improve more. If you look at someone like Brent Abel - and his strokes which are more like how you would expect a 60 something to hit..

Even though it does sound bizarre this 'compress and roll' stuff from Tomas - comeback is like some real world test case..

 

[comeback]

Its not so much that its wristy - its kinda loosey goosey his whole game. He is pretty good at that loosey goosey style but it seems like he can't power the ball when he needs to with his style..

http://www.feeltennis.net/how-to-hit-a-tennis-ball/

Go like 5.30 into this video and he will describe how amateurs tend to hit the ball. The 'long and loose' style is pretty close to comebacks.

He is pretty effective with it - and has nice touch but I do think even at his age he could improve more. If you look at someone like Brent Abel - and his strokes which are more like how you would expect a 60 something to hit.
Even though it does sound bizarre this 'compress and roll' stuff from Tomas - comeback is like some real world test case..

Thanks for the long look you took at my forehand GC, Yes it looks loosey goosey like my whole game which i think i do on purpose..I hold the racket in the palm of my hand and try to get topspin and keep the ball deep in the court (not great for flattening out a winner i admit)..Also my forehand and racket Steam 105s are relativley new to me and a work in progress as i used to hit a Brent Abel type forehand..But i think a side view of my forehand might not look as bad..Anyway the video you provided is very detailed and informative and can see your point exactly..That's the whole reason i got the camera;to improve.