S&V ok, but....what else ?!

[Genesys]

Hi folks,

I'm a 4.0 S&V. Here is my problem: I'm good at S&V no problem, I can change serve pace, spin and direction as I want. But the problem is that I need more variety in my game. And this is why I want for help.

I'm not consistant enough to stay behind my baseline and play the spanish way so I won't change my game to do that. But in order to stay a S&V and play on my assets (serve, volley, touch and 2 handed backhand) can you imagine some others game plan ?

Edit: by the way, I'm also trying this gameplan: the guy play the spanish way, I make a dropshot to bring it to net and I go to net to volley against him. Works pretty well. This is the kind of new options I want to add to my game

Thanks !

 

[T E N N I S]

I used to play s&v off of every point, until I got to a level where I was getting ripped by great returners. Instead, I tried only going in off the serve a maximum of around 2 points per game. The rest of the points I would serve, and then look to come in of the very next ball. This added a certain degree of unpredictability to me game, as the returned wasn't quite sure when I was going to come in.

 

[Genesys]

I used to play s&v off of every point, until I got to a level where I was getting ripped by great returners. Instead, I tried only going in off the serve a maximum of around 2 points per game. The rest of the points I would serve, and then look to come in of the very next ball. This added a certain degree of unpredictability to me game, as the returned wasn't quite sure when I was going to come in.

You mean sometime you do S&V and sometime you come to the net just after the return ? And what if the return is great and long, you just stick to the baseline and tinker ?

 

[T E N N I S]

Not much you can do about a great return. I generally would rally for a little while and wait for a short ball. Or sometimes a may throw up a low paced high ball with lots of topspin to give me time to move forward.

 

[Genesys]

Not much you can do about a great return. I generally would rally for a little while and wait for a short ball. Or sometimes a may throw up a low paced high ball with lots of topspin to give me time to move forward.

Yeah I've never think about that, a low paced topspin ball. Great idea, does that work well for you? you try to hit the center of the court or a side with that very ball ?

 

[joe sch]

Either you SV or stay back when serving. If your playing better returners then you improve your serve or learn to stay back and compete from the baseline. If you dont have the ground game or footwork to win from the baseline then you need to work on an agressive approach attack. You can also try chip and charge. Hope some of these options work for you

 

[VaBeachTennis]

Maybe you can work on being more consistent from the baseline, use aggressive shots, and punish the "short ball" with an approach shot and use your volleying skills. Also work on chip and charge if you are not doing that already.

 

[Genesys]

Yeah I'm playing chip & charge often, especially on backhand. My forehand is pretty spinny, do you think we can build up comething with that kind of forehand for my game ?

Do you have other options ?

 

[Blake0]

Your best option is to come to net with a approach shot, chip, or dropshot. Learn to become more consistent and come up to net as quickly as possible.

 

[Genesys]

This is sure, I've been working on it since October, it is constantly improving and will continue I hope.

About aproach shot, do you have any piece of advise, concerning target, pace or spin ?

 

[VaBeachTennis]

This is sure, I've been working on it since October, it is constantly improving and will continue I hope.

About aproach shot, do you have any piece of advise, concerning target, pace or spin ?

Here's some advice I found:
"COMMON APPROACH SHOT ABUSES

1. Attempting to hit the corners perfectly thus the ball lands out much of the time. This is most common in players having a serve-and-volley game style. Direct your approach shots deep, just to the wide side of the backcourt target points.
2. Hitting an approach shot with too much pace. Remember, it is good depth that makes for a good approach shot. Power is always secondary to good depth.
3. Hitting an approach shot on the dead run. That is, not attempting to stop to regain balance and control before executing the stroke.

APPROACH SHOT TECHNIQUES (Listed in their order of importance)

1. Decide how accurate your approach shot should be
2. Watch the ball all the way to the strings (watch impact)
3. Hit the ball from a motionless, balanced position
4. Turn sideways completely when preparing to hit your approach shot
5. Approach the net in the direction of your intended shot (if you decide to approach the net)
6. Maintain firm wrist(s) through the entire stroke; backswing, hit, and follow-through
7. React quickly; get your racket back and wait (early preparation using a two-step stroke)
8. Use full strokes; follow-through completely with a three-second follow-through
9. Recover quickly back to the ready position"
SOURCE

 

[OHBH]

If you don't have much baseline game increase your margin for error and keep your opponent back with moonballs. If your opponent regularly goes many feet behind the baseline to hit it back you have the oppurtunity to sneek into the net behind the moonball.

 

[fuzz nation]

Got to love an approach shot that's deep and often on the opponent's backhand side. I prefer to use a slice for an approach shot and I usually wait for a short ball so that I can make a quicker transition. The slice is a slower moving ball and it typically skids and stays lower. That lets me get an extra step to the net and often makes my opponent hit a low ball that's tougher to be aggressive with under pressure.

A couple of years ago I had to rethink my game as I started playing more hardcourt singles along with a lot of doubles. I grew up playing serve and volley, but I didn't learn to hit very good topspin strokes for maintaining rallies from the baseline. While I still prefer to press my opponents at the net as much as I can, I realized that I needed to have better strokes to at least keep points going until I could get to the net.

My game has much better balance now and I can do a better job of going to net in a stronger position because of my more developed strokes. Most importantly, I can hit some extra shots and wait for the right moment to go on the attack. I even have better returns of serve. Based on my experience, I encourage you to keep after your entire game, including your ground strokes. If you're a little more capable at the baseline, you'll probably be in better shape more often when you go to net.

 

[featherlight]

be an all court player like roger , good serves finish the point fast and good to the net at the right time

 

[moroni]

unless you have 2 or more first serves up ur sleeve with enough pace and depth you will get sluaghtered by good returners ... and going up the net every point will make you look stupid .. here are some solutions which may work for you:

1. through in a loppy ball with loads of topspin to the backhand and rush to the net this works especially against 2 handed backhanders

2. wait for a short ball hit a powerful groundy near the side lines and go to the net.

3. a solid slice offensive slice to the backhand always confuses 4.0 and lower ranked oponets maybe even some 4.5s

 

[larry10s]

Hi folks,

I'm a 4.0 S&V. Here is my problem: I'm good at S&V no problem, I can change serve pace, spin and direction as I want. But the problem is that I need more variety in my game. And this is why I want for help.

I'm not consistant enough to stay behind my baseline and play the spanish way so I won't change my game to do that. But in order to stay a S&V and play on my assets (serve, volley, touch and 2 handed backhand) can you imagine some others game plan ?

Edit: by the way, I'm also trying this gameplan: the guy play the spanish way, I make a dropshot to bring it to net and I go to net to volley against him. Works pretty well. This is the kind of new options I want to add to my game

Thanks !

if you want to get higher than 4.0 you need to develop a sound enough ground game to bide time until you get the short ball to attack and come in. you dont need to be an aggressive baseliner ,counter puncher,not pusher because you wont force short balls as a pusher. pure serve and volley wont get you farther up the chain in most cases. imho