Saw a real life moonballer in USTA.

[TimeToPlaySets]

I never knew this was a thing.
This was a spectacle to behold.

Player A would launch 7 or 8 moonballs during every point.
I'm talking straight up. Almost as high as the lights.

Player B did not take one overhead smash.
He would just bunt it back in play.

The cycle would repeat, ad infinitum
The points would go on forever.
I am talking 20-30 ball points.
The match lasted almost 3 hours.

Player A would bagel me, straight up, in 45 mins. 6-0 6-0.
I would be spraying overheads everywhere, and each point would be over in 2 shots, LOL

Player A is undefeated at the 4.0 level.
Smart strategy and master tactics are what it takes to win at 4.0
The topspin bashers stay at 3.5 or 4.5

 

[Cindysphinx]

I played like that at 3.5. I hit every ball as a topspin lob, FH or BH. Because I did it so much, I was deadly accurate. Lacking an overhead or the ability to hit on the rise, no opponent had the answer. I played a ton that year, and I won all the way to Nationals.

Despite all that winning, my pro was super unhappy with me. He said I’d never be successful at the higher levels with it. Sure enough, I wasn’t. 4.0s ate that right up. They would hit short and I lacked the skills to approach. They would hit slice to make my lobs harder to pull off.

Worst of all, they would camp behind the service line and pound overheads.

Humbled, I returned to my pro, ate crow, and worked on my transitions.

 

[Nostradamus]

I never knew this was a thing.
This was a spectacle to behold.

Player A would launch 7 or 8 moonballs during every point.
I'm talking straight up. Almost as high as the lights.

Player B did not take one overhead smash.
He would just bunt it back in play.

The cycle would repeat, ad infinitum
The points would go on forever.
I am talking 20-30 ball points.
The match lasted almost 3 hours.

Player A would bagel me, straight up, in 45 mins. 6-0 6-0.
I would be spraying overheads everywhere, and each point would be over in 2 shots, LOL

Player A is undefeated at the 4.0 level.
Smart strategy and master tactics are what it takes to win at 4.0
The topspin bashers stay at 3.5 or 4.5

Uhhhh,, Come into just behind the service line or stay on noman's land and hit overheads into the corner. Overhead doesn't even have to be hit hard. even if he gets the 1st overhead, next one will be shorter lob, and you can put that away

 

[Dartagnan64]

Player A is undefeated at the 4.0 level.

Must be the weakest 4.0 league ever. Every 4.0 I've come across is pretty decent at overheads and many are decent at taking moonballs on the rise and smacking them hard into corners.

As Jolly says, you learn to hit Overheads so you don't have to. I've faced these people in mixed and after a couple overheads from the service line, they kind of quit doing it. Or look entirely lost that plan A isn't working.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Uhhh, the moonballs would land at the baseline.
But yes, everyone on the internet hits every moonball away for a winner. Old news.

Player B is a crafty slicer, and would never risk taking an overhead from the baseline.
He'd rather play a 30 ball point.

The fact that player A is undefeated speaks volumes about how brutally lethal the 4.0 baseline landing moonball is against non-ATP players.

 

[jbot]

Your tennis life seems to be just one crazy hyperbole after the other.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I don't fraternize with generic geezer hackers.
You gotta have something interesting to bring to the table.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Uhhh, the moonballs would land at the baseline.
But yes, everyone on the internet hits every moonball away for a winner. Old news.

Player B is a crafty slicer, and would never risk taking an overhead from the baseline.
He'd rather play a 30 ball point.

The fact that player A is undefeated speaks volumes about how brutally lethal the 4.0 baseline landing moonball is against non-ATP players.

If you can hit a sky high moonball that lands on the baseline over and over again, you've got some mad skillz right there. that takes amazing control. Seems to be a stupid way to play tennis if you are that gifted.

Just like everyone on the internet can put away a moonball for a winner, every lobber in TTPS world can nail the baseline repetitively. Truth is, neither happens in real life.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Yes, INSANE skills that command mad respect from me. MAD. 'pect.
These 4.0 junker tactics are not born overnight.
These guys perfect this stuff over 20-30 years. Basically quadruple the average ATP career.
That is why, if I see an opponent has white hair, I am 100% guaranteed to lose.

And why stupid? He is top of the heap at 4.0. Undefeated.
And 1 in a million will ever reach 4.5
He has MASTERED his niche.
He basically has WON the tennis.

 

[jbot]

I don't fraternize with generic geezer hackers.
You gotta have something interesting to bring to the table.

You know, its possible to participate in social media without going balls deep cray cray ALL the time. We all get it, you think 4.0 is hard.

 

[Dartagnan64]

And why stupid? He is top of the heap at 4.0. Undefeated.

Because rec tennis isn't necessarily about winning. Playing dreary vertical tennis just to win is not much fun for either player. I know absolutely no one that likes playing that kind of tennis and when we encounter those types of players we immediately strike them off our invite list for social matches and if we play in a league full of those players, we quit league and just go back to social tennis with guys that prefer to play horizontal tennis.

So that's what is wrong with it. It drives others away from you and tennis altogether. Thats probably why he's winning at 4.0. All the good 4.0
s have quit USTA to avoid playing this guy. Annoy your opponents to be king of your small hill.

No rec trophy is worth the agony of running a gauntlet of lob kings.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Well, some people play to win. That is why they play.
They would not even understand your convoluted logic of intentionally losing.
Why do you hit topspin? Because it's fun? Maybe he finds hitting moonballs massively satisfying.
It is a shot that takes years of practice, just like any other.
Also, the SPORT of tennis is about making your opponent uncomfortable.
If you can't handle that, yes, you are better suited for not playing serious tennis and should just rally with friends

 

[travlerajm]

I played like that at 3.5. I hit every ball as a topspin lob, FH or BH. Because I did it so much, I was deadly accurate. Lacking an overhead or the ability to hit on the rise, no opponent had the answer. I played a ton that year, and I won all the way to Nationals.

Despite all that winning, my pro was super unhappy with me. He said I’d never be successful at the higher levels with it. Sure enough, I wasn’t. 4.0s ate that right up. They would hit short and I lacked the skills to approach. They would hit slice to make my lobs harder to pull off.

Worst of all, they would camp behind the service line and pound overheads.

Humbled, I returned to my pro, ate crow, and worked on my transitions.

But don’t you wonder, just a little, what would happen if you continue to hone your moonball game, and continue to improve, until your moonballs get so precise and frustrating that not even a 4.0 lady can handle your high balls over her backhand shoulder?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Because rec tennis isn't necessarily about winning. Playing dreary vertical tennis just to win is not much fun for either player. I know absolutely no one that likes playing that kind of tennis and when we encounter those types of players we immediately strike them off our invite list for social matches and if we play in a league full of those players, we quit league and just go back to social tennis with guys that prefer to play horizontal tennis.

So that's what is wrong with it. It drives others away from you and tennis altogether. Thats probably why he's winning at 4.0. All the good 4.0
s have quit USTA to avoid playing this guy. Annoy your opponents to be king of your small hill.

No rec trophy is worth the agony of running a gauntlet of lob kings.

That view is fine in a vacuum. However, the problem I see is that people use this as an excuse to not practice their OHs so that when they do run into the lob, whether it's 5 per match or 50, they flub the OH and blame vertical tennis.

Also, in sanctioned matches, you have no control over your opponent. So I make sure that if someone does try that strategy, I at least have a response. Whether they change things up depends on how flexible and aware they are.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Also, the SPORT of tennis is about making your opponent uncomfortable.

The sport of tennis is to stay away from your opponents weapons and play to your weapons. You can do that any number of ways that don't require hitting lobs repetitively.

I've watched ooodles and oodles of 3.5-5.0 men's tennis at my club and the number of incessant lobbers in that group. Zero. Are they all playing to intentionally lose?

I've only seen lobbing as a tool to victory in ladies tennis and men's 3.0.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

But don’t you wonder, just a little, what would happen if you continue to hone your moonball game, and continue to improve, until your moonballs get so precise and frustrating that not even a 4.0 lady can handle your high balls over her backhand shoulder?

You'd have to judge how much that would be worth it vs spending the effort improving more conventional shots.

Her pro already gave his opinion.

 

[Dartagnan64]

That view is fine in a vacuum. However, the problem I see is that people use this as an excuse to not practice their OHs so that when they do run into the lob, whether it's 5 per match or 50, they flub the OH and blame vertical tennis.

Also, in sanctioned matches, you have no control over your opponent. So I make sure that if someone does try that strategy, I at least have a response. Whether they change things up depends on how flexible and aware they are.

I have no problem facing lobbers because unlike TTPS fictitious 4.0 winning lobber, no one I've ever played can hit the baseline lob after lob. They all inevitably hit a short one I can put away with an overhead.

There is an answer to most lobbers but there are few answers for someone that could hit sky high lobs to the baseline 8 times in a row.

 

[travlerajm]

Must be the weakest 4.0 league ever. Every 4.0 I've come across is pretty decent at overheads and many are decent at taking moonballs on the rise and smacking them hard into corners.

As Jolly says, you learn to hit Overheads so you don't have to. I've faced these people in mixed and after a couple overheads from the service line, they kind of quit doing it. Or look entirely lost that plan A isn't working.

Um... I’ve yet to see a 4.0 who can defeat a steady diet of good moonballs. Same goes for 4.5. I would say 5.0 is the lowest level in singles where the majority of players have enough skill to deal effectively with a solid moonballer with good wheels.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Um... I’ve yet to see a 4.0 who can defeat a steady diet of good moonballs. Same goes for 4.5. I would say 5.0 is the lowest level where the majority of players have enough skill to deal effectively with a solid moonballer with good wheels.

depends on your defintion of a moonballer. A good topspin moonballer, most certainly can win until 5.0. A pusher lobber? They start disappearing around 3.5 men's.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Um... I’ve yet to see a 4.0 who can defeat a steady diet of good moonballs. Same goes for 4.5. I would say 5.0 is the lowest level in singles where the majority of players have enough skill to deal effectively with a solid moonballer with good wheels.

Conversely, I've never seen a 4.0 who could consistently hit great moonballs, which is possibly why I've never seen such a matchup. I'd imagine at 4.5 there is enough skill but that's not how people were taught to play.

It would be an interesting match to play a moonballer. My OHs would get a severe test. Key #1 is probably don't overhit and think I have to end every point immediately. Work the point and those 50' high, baseline-kissing moonballs will degrade.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I have no problem facing lobbers because unlike TTPS fictitious 4.0 winning lobber, no one I've ever played can hit the baseline lob after lob. They all inevitably hit a short one I can put away with an overhead.

There is an answer to most lobbers but there are few answers for someone that could hit sky high lobs to the baseline 8 times in a row.

Agreed. I have only once run into someone who was lobbing within 5' of the BL consistently and that was only because we weren't challenging him enough with our volleys. If he tried that against a peer, it probably wouldn't end well.

This brings up a more fundamental point: a x+0.5 player can beat an x player by using any number of strategies. He wins not necessarily because the strategy is good but because he's a better player.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I've watched ooodles and oodles of 3.5-5.0 men's tennis at my club and the number of incessant lobbers in that group. Zero. Are they all playing to intentionally lose?
.

Well, it's been long established that rec tennis players are fools.
They only want to play guys who hit the ball directly to them.
I've seen numerous (winning) junker ballers and pushers get socially blackballed.

As @Cawlin said, he had issues at ALTA b/c he was better than them. Pathetic.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Remember when people who suggested UH serve to Nadal ?
They were told a 3.0 could smash back every UH return for winner, and that it was idiotic.
If it worked, the ATP would do it.

Well, that was proven wrong by the King yesterday.
On CENTER-F'ing-COURT Wimbledon
KK just proved what mindless sheep the entire ATP tour is. (twice)

People assume moonballs don't work,
when they admit they have never even seen anyone using them,.

I'm just reporting what I saw.
4.0 moonballer is undefeated this season.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

People assume moonballs don't work,
when they admit they have never even seen anyone using them,.

@Cindysphinx posted that, not only has she seen it, she was the one doing it. And it worked all the way through 3.5 Nationals. And when she got to 4.0, it didn't work anymore. And her pro told her that would happen.

So the 4.0 moonballer has found his comfort zone and if people are going to beat him, they have to get better at certain skills.

Does the moonball strategy work? Yes...against certain people and up to a certain level. Then the effectiveness drops off.

Do I want to adopt this as my strategy? No. At the very least, even if I win, it won't be fun. And I play tennis for fun.

 

[NastyWinners]

You plateau utilizing that strategy. It may work for a point or two to change up pace. But to continually use it as your 1A option, you'll never advance into the high 4.0's and onward.

 

[blai212]

Remember when people who suggested UH serve to Nadal ?
They were told a 3.0 could smash back every UH return for winner, and that it was idiotic.
If it worked, the ATP would do it.

Well, that was proven wrong by the King yesterday.
On CENTER-F'ing-COURT Wimbledon
KK just proved what mindless sheep the entire ATP tour is. (twice)

People assume moonballs don't work,
when they admit they have never even seen anyone using them,.

I'm just reporting what I saw.
4.0 moonballer is undefeated this season.

your sample size is probably very limited. I’m 4.0 and have had people try this tactic to which my reply is to move them around the court alternating hitting short/deep and/or side to side...how does player A hit a successful moonball against an effective dropshot/slice where he cant get under the ball? Your league probably sucks cuz there are no 4.0s that can beat this guy or they all jus quit like a previous poster said. I, for one, would have quit this league as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

You don't dictate against a moonballer,
you just try to stay in the point.

Trying to short hop / half volley a moonball on the baseline takes years of training
And the 1 in 10 you get over the net, he is waiting to volley it away, and you have almost zero control on this reply
It's a lethal strategy, and that is why he's undefeated.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

You don't dictate against a moonballer,
you just try to stay in the point.

Trying to short hop / half volley a moonball on the baseline takes years of training
And the 1 in 10 you get over the net, he is waiting to volley it away, and you have almost zero control on this reply
It's a lethal strategy, and that is why he's undefeated.

Of course, there are ways to defeat this strategy but it requires a certain skill set that his current opponents lack. Just like perhaps beating a pusher.

I would hope his opponents would then take the time to learn and practice these skills but that's a large commitment of time and effort that few are willing to invest.

 

[NastyWinners]

No reason arguing with ttps.

your sample size is probably very limited. I’m 4.0 and have had people try this tactic to which my reply is to move them around the court alternating hitting short/deep and/or side to side...how does player A hit a successful moonball against an effective dropshot/slice where he cant get under the ball? Your league probably sucks cuz there are no 4.0s that can beat this guy or they all jus quit like a previous poster said. I, for one, would have quit this league as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dartagnan64]

No reason arguing with ttps.

Yes this moonballer with sky high lobs on the baseline now has become a serve and volleyer.

I played a guy that would hit a big moonball to my BH side then come in and was so long that he was almost impossible to pass off a paceless moonball to my BH. Thats a tactic that almost always works against me. But it requires a) good moonball depth, b) long reach and height c) good volley skills. People that have those things will beat me by many other tactics as well.

I'd never call this guy a moonballer or pusher. A strategist for sure. But he had physical attributes (6'3" and quickness) and mastery of depth and deft touch, that were what made him a good player. It wasn't the moonballing that made him good. He just used it as part of a gameplan to someone that didn't have the skills to defend it.

As a consequence I've worked on defending it by practicing BH lobs, running around the BH to hit FH, or moving in earlier so I can hit it in the air. All effective strategies I never had mastery over at the time.

 

[Cindysphinx]

But don’t you wonder, just a little, what would happen if you continue to hone your moonball game, and continue to improve, until your moonballs get so precise and frustrating that not even a 4.0 lady can handle your high balls over her backhand shoulder?

No, not really.

Being one dimensional is not a good thing in tennis, no matter what that dimension is.

I went 3-0 on topspin lob winners in a mixed match against the opposing guy the other night. They worked because of the element is surprise. Had I been hitting them on every shot, he would have been ready.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Because rec tennis isn't necessarily about winning. Playing dreary vertical tennis just to win is not much fun for either player. I know absolutely no one that likes playing that kind of tennis and when we encounter those types of players we immediately strike them off our invite list for social matches and if we play in a league full of those players, we quit league and just go back to social tennis with guys that prefer to play horizontal tennis.

So that's what is wrong with it. It drives others away from you and tennis altogether. Thats probably why he's winning at 4.0. All the good 4.0
s have quit USTA to avoid playing this guy. Annoy your opponents to be king of your small hill.

No rec trophy is worth the agony of running a gauntlet of lob kings.

Um, . . . .

Being a 3.5 with a killer lob was loads of fun. Loads.

Oh, I loved watching the opponents try to figure it out. I would FH lob, and the ball would go way over their heads. They would confer, resolving to hit to my BH. Another BH lob way over their heads. Then they would start improvising with strokes they didn’t have — whiffing swing volleys, botching OHs, hitting on the rise right to my partner. And sometimes just conceding the point. This was hilarious to watch, especially when they lost the ball in the sun.

The most fun was seeing if I could bounce balls right into the desert at nationals in Indian Wells. Remember, our league plays indoor, so the ceiling is always a factor. With no roof, the only height restriction was the strength of my arm and my arm was strong After my first couple of matches, the roving officials actually gave my court extra cans of used balls because they knew I would send them over the fence.

Playing a lobber is no fun for the person being lobbed, but it if quite fun for the lobber.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Playing a lobber is no fun for the person being lobbed, but it if quite fun for the lobber.

This is why I have two strategies for lobbers. If you are a weak lobber i'll play the midcourt overhead game. If you are a good lobber I'll send those suckers right back with my "anything you can lob, I can lob better" attitude. I'm actually a very good lobber when I set my mind to it. I just like to think I can be more than that. But if its called for I'll hit lob after lob until the opponent finally admits its stupid and starts playing more horizontally. I think my record was 10 straight lobs before their will to keep going broke.

 

[GrandSlam45]

There was a guy at my club who would do this. Every shot was 60 feet in the air and deep in the court. Your only options were to hit on the short bounce, a swinging volley, or overhead from deep in the court. It was a losing battle.

He destroyed every 4.0 player in the league. He eventually got cocky and started entering 4.5 tournaments. At this level he didn't do so well. 4.5's were able to hit the overheads, win points off their serves, and drop shot him.

It's actually a really fun thing to watch... a 4.5 player beating a moonballer.

 

[davidtennis123]

I never knew this was a thing.
This was a spectacle to behold.

Player A would launch 7 or 8 moonballs during every point.
I'm talking straight up. Almost as high as the lights.

Player B did not take one overhead smash.
He would just bunt it back in play.

The cycle would repeat, ad infinitum
The points would go on forever.
I am talking 20-30 ball points.
The match lasted almost 3 hours.

Player A would bagel me, straight up, in 45 mins. 6-0 6-0.
I would be spraying overheads everywhere, and each point would be over in 2 shots, LOL

Player A is undefeated at the 4.0 level.
Smart strategy and master tactics are what it takes to win at 4.0
The topspin bashers stay at 3.5 or 4.5

I am a 4.0 and I will launch up a bunch of moonballs myself, sometimes. It's not that this is the only shot I can hit, but if I want to win and I see my opponent not handling moonballs well, then you better believe I'm going to be launching up some moonballs into the stars to try to befuddle my opponent.

Last year, during 4.0 flex league, I got called a "dinker" and a "moonballer" by one guy. Yeah, I was hitting a bunch of moonballs, but if he was dealing with them well, then I would have went to a different strategy.

Sometimes, the player is not a "moonballer", but rather, someone who is using the moonball strategy as a low risk, high reward way to win.

 

[travlerajm]

I am a 4.0 and I will launch up a bunch of moonballs myself, sometimes. It's not that this is the only shot I can hit, but if I want to win and I see my opponent not handling moonballs well, then you better believe I'm going to be launching up some moonballs into the stars to try to befuddle my opponent.

Last year, during 4.0 flex league, I got called a "dinker" and a "moonballer" by one guy. Yeah, I was hitting a bunch of moonballs, but if he was dealing with them well, then I would have went to a different strategy.

Sometimes, the player is not a "moonballer", but rather, someone who is using the moonball strategy as a low risk, high reward way to win.

This. Any time I find myself in a competitive situation with something on the line against a player who is uncomfortable coming to the net, he is going to get a lot of moonballs.

 

[davidtennis123]

This. Any time I find myself in a competitive situation with something on the line against a player who is uncomfortable coming to the net, he is going to get a lot of moonballs.

Also, I hear a lot of people saying that players should be able to overhead moonballs from the baseline, and well, it isn't that simple. I'm very quick around the court, so unless you're smashing it with high velocity near the lines, because the smash is coming from the baseline and players around the 4.0 level aren't great at high-velocity smashes with accuracy from the baseline, even when my opponents will take an overhead from around the baseline, most of the time, I'm able to track them down.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Also, I hear a lot of people saying that players should be able to overhead moonballs from the baseline, and well, it isn't that simple. I'm very quick around the court, so unless you're smashing it with high velocity near the lines, because the smash is coming from the baseline and players around the 4.0 level aren't great at high-velocity smashes with accuracy from the baseline, even when my opponents will take an overhead from around the baseline, most of the time, I'm able to track them down.

You know what’s easy to hit from the baseline? Another moonball. What’s your solution if the opponent just lobs you back?

I’ve found that the moon ballers have just as much trouble handling the crap they dish out as their opponents do. So giving them a taste of their own medicine has been my best strategy. I’ve not encountered a moonballer that hits strong overheads from the baseline. In fact they are usually pretty shocked when someone just replies every moonball with another one back.

 

[davidtennis123]

You know what’s easy to hit from the baseline? Another moonball. What’s your solution if the opponent just lobs you back?

I’ve found that the moon ballers have just as much trouble handling the crap they dish out as their opponents do. So giving them a taste of their own medicine has been my best strategy. I’ve not encountered a moonballer that hits strong overheads from the baseline. In fact they are usually pretty shocked when someone just replies every moonball with another one back.

That's a little tougher to deal with, but I figure I am in better shape than my opponent, so, generally, I will just get in a moonball battle with the person and try to wait till they miss/get them impatient. If that doesn't work, then I will just move to a different strategy because my moonballs weren't working.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I am a 4.0 and I will launch up a bunch of moonballs myself, sometimes. It's not that this is the only shot I can hit, but if I want to win and I see my opponent not handling moonballs well, then you better believe I'm going to be launching up some moonballs into the stars to try to befuddle my opponent.

Last year, during 4.0 flex league, I got called a "dinker" and a "moonballer" by one guy. Yeah, I was hitting a bunch of moonballs, but if he was dealing with them well, then I would have went to a different strategy.

Sometimes, the player is not a "moonballer", but rather, someone who is using the moonball strategy as a low risk, high reward way to win.

That's a distinction many have difficulty comprehending, especially when they're on the losing end.

 

[Nostradamus]

your sample size is probably very limited. I’m 4.0 and have had people try this tactic to which my reply is to move them around the court alternating hitting short/deep and/or side to side...how does player A hit a successful moonball against an effective dropshot/slice where he cant get under the ball? Your league probably sucks cuz there are no 4.0s that can beat this guy or they all jus quit like a previous poster said. I, for one, would have quit this league as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

poor excuse for underhand serve. I can hit that so much better. Mine twists side ways and takes 90 degree turn after the bounce and lands in the doubles alley

 

[OnTheLine]

I definitely agree with others who have said that the just don't enjoy playing with the moonballer ... it is not fun. It is boring if that is all they can do.

I also really just don't understand why so many people say taking it out of the air at the baseline is so hard .... it is not that hard .... either take it as an overhead or as a volley. You do that a few times and you just stop getting that many moonballs. In doubles against a lobber, I take a step or two into the court and towards the center hash daring the lobber further to have to hit a perfect lob. I rarely miss an OH .... its kinda my thing.

It is also fairly easy to play in such a way that makes it difficult to be moonballed in the first place. Low slice tends to lessen it, exploit the middle taking away angles (and court length), serves to the body also tend to be hated by the lobber.

All that said, I would still like to have a better lob myself ... working on it ...

 

[travlerajm]

your sample size is probably very limited. I’m 4.0 and have had people try this tactic to which my reply is to move them around the court alternating hitting short/deep and/or side to side...how does player A hit a successful moonball against an effective dropshot/slice where he cant get under the ball? Your league probably sucks cuz there are no 4.0s that can beat this guy or they all jus quit like a previous poster said. I, for one, would have quit this league as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have got to practice that type of disguise move. I’m playing on clay these days, and some players like to return from 20 feet behind the baseline.

 

[davidtennis123]

That's a distinction many have difficulty comprehending, especially when they're on the losing end.

Yep. If I'm playing someone who I can out-grind from the baseline with moonballs, I'd rather hit those than go for higher-risk shots. I view tennis as a way to exercise anyways, so I don't mind grinding out a long match if my strategy is working.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You know what’s easy to hit from the baseline? Another moonball. What’s your solution if the opponent just lobs you back?

I’ve found that the moon ballers have just as much trouble handling the crap they dish out as their opponents do. So giving them a taste of their own medicine has been my best strategy. I’ve not encountered a moonballer that hits strong overheads from the baseline. In fact they are usually pretty shocked when someone just replies every moonball with another one back.

My moonball was way better.

I used to love it when my opponent started a moonball war. I would finish it.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I definitely agree with others who have said that the just don't enjoy playing with the moonballer ... it is not fun. It is boring if that is all they can do.

I also really just don't understand why so many people say taking it out of the air at the baseline is so hard .... it is not that hard .... either take it as an overhead or as a volley. You do that a few times and you just stop getting that many moonballs. In doubles against a lobber, I take a step or two into the court and towards the center hash daring the lobber further to have to hit a perfect lob. I rarely miss an OH .... its kinda my thing.

It is also fairly easy to play in such a way that makes it difficult to be moonballed in the first place. Low slice tends to lessen it, exploit the middle taking away angles (and court length), serves to the body also tend to be hated by the lobber.

All that said, I would still like to have a better lob myself ... working on it ...

It is hard. All of the options are 4.0 skills that 3.5s dont have. Swing volley. Approach volley. Hitting on the rise. OH from deep in the court. And in doubles, all of these shots must be accurate enough to avoid the net player from a deep position.

Remember, I went 6-0 at nationals with that one shot, and the players at Nationals are not weak 3.5s.

It isn't easy to play in a way to prevent topspin moonballs. At 3.5, players usually dont own FH and BH biting slice good enough to stop me from lobbing. And I could even execute it from the midcourt, so just hitting short wasn't sufficient.

Bottom line is most of my 3.5 victims were seeing this shot for the first time and had to figure it out while losing points and games. Even if they could get one lob back somehow, I would just hit an even better one.

 

[mad dog1]

But don’t you wonder, just a little, what would happen if you continue to hone your moonball game, and continue to improve, until your moonballs get so precise and frustrating that not even a 4.0 lady can handle your high balls over her backhand shoulder?

Yes, after you rise to the top of the 4.0 ranks with your 4.0 moonball, you start encountering 4.5s who have no trouble crushing those for winners all day long. Back to square one.

 

[mad dog1]

Um... I’ve yet to see a 4.0 who can defeat a steady diet of good moonballs. Same goes for 4.5. I would say 5.0 is the lowest level in singles where the majority of players have enough skill to deal effectively with a solid moonballer with good wheels.

Good is relative.

My coach hits a “good” moonball that lands a few feet inside the baseline with a ton of topspin so you run out of room if you try to move back to hit the ball on the way down. I can’t win the battle of moonballs against him.

A 3.5 guy I occasionally hit with hits a “good” moonball and I can either take 2-3 steps back and hit a groundstroke to either corner and make him run to draw an error or I can step in and take it on the rise and hit it for a winner. You know what he said after i hit a few of these for clean winners? “None of the guys I normally hit with can attack that ball.”

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I would pay to see footage of a moonballer making the other player/team self-destruct since they have ZERO CLUE how to answer.

 

[Dartagnan64]

That's a little tougher to deal with, but I figure I am in better shape than my opponent, so, generally, I will just get in a moonball battle with the person and try to wait till they miss/get them impatient. If that doesn't work, then I will just move to a different strategy because my moonballs weren't working.

That's why one of my plans is just to fight fire with fire. As I said earlier, 10 lobs in a row was the max I ever saw someone persist with lobs in a rally before they said, "Ok this is stupid, I might win but we'll be here for hours."

My moonball was way better.

I used to love it when my opponent started a moonball war. I would finish it.

If you can hit a true topspin moon ball and not just a lob, then you have something to work with because that will come off the court faster and push the opponent back. Much harder to win that battle. If its a 60 foot lob, I'll just send those back 60 feet high in return. That's just batting the ball up in the air and is far easier than trying to match a good topspin moonballer.

Everyone talks about having to crush these balls on the rise to defeat the lobber, but I find that having a decent overhead or a good lob in reply generally does the trick toning the vertical game down. You learn overheads and lobs so you rarely have to use them.