Serve +1 getting neutralized, help!

jdawgg

jdawgg

Semi-Pro
I'm struggling with serve +1 on the deuce side, I hit a great out wide serve and my opponent forehand slices it short angle CC (service line area). In general I struggle with low/medium height no pace shots on the run to my forehand side -- not sure why yet (maybe I lean back too much, I suspect it's footwork related). My reply is to FH slice it back CC or DTL, or sometimes slow loop it to BH corner.

The thing is, I want to punish the opponent and force errors rather than just hit a neutral back. I think that will help me hold serve more often/easily. So, please help with any advice and/or videos. Maybe certain footwork patterns to handle this? Keep in mind my level is 4.5/5.0, UTR 9.82.

Thanks!
 
Rosstour said:
If this dude is slicing a FH back to that spot then it isn't a great serve. At least not against that player.
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"great serve" is relative. It's a great serve for me. I don't look to hit big serves even though I can, just looking to hit a high percentage serve (60-70%) with good spin to a good target. If I do that it's a great serve in my book because it's setting up my forehand and serve +1.

My opponent is not really hitting a crazy angle or shorter in the service box. Generally marginal angle and hitting the service line. Maybe I'll draw a picture in a bit.
 
Rosstour said:
If this dude is slicing a FH back to that spot then it isn't a great serve. At least not against that player.
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To add to this, if you're opponent continues to hit a certain reply you don't like, then don't hit them that shot.

Sounds simple, but really, save that serve for someone who gives you the reply you're looking for. Maybe go body-forehand instead of wide, or just up the tee until they take a step to their left, then go out wide.

Patient: Hey doc, it hurts when I do this (raises arm)
Doc: Then don't do that.
 
jdawgg said:
"great serve" is relative. It's a great serve for me. I don't look to hit big serves even though I can, just looking to hit a high percentage serve (60-70%) with good spin to a good target. If I do that it's a great serve in my book because it's setting up my forehand and serve +1.

My opponent is not really hitting a crazy angle or shorter in the service box. Generally marginal angle and hitting the service line. Maybe I'll draw a picture in a bit.
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I guess my point is that he's hitting you back something you aren't comfortable with. So, the serve isn't as good (in this context) as you think it is.

So, most likely it's giving him time and angle to go back to your FH in a way that makes you dig for the shot.

Solution, don't hit that serve anymore. Go up the middle or at the body.

For my part, I don't hit my best serves against my best opponent (5.0+). He just hits them back harder so it's useless to try. But my best serves will get me free points all day against people at my level or below.
 
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1. How do would you like to hit that FH slice return? DTL+approach? Or deep CC then retreat? Maybe short CC then retreat? What is the intent?

2. How is it failing? Is it hitting the net? Are you having problems lifting and getting enough spin to have it come back down? Are you hitting to long? Too wide? Not able to get pace on that shot? Whats wrong?

3. Does the power from your FH mainly come from weight transfer or unit turn? What grip do you use? Do you use a hammer or pistol variant of that grip? Do you hit this shot OTR or do you stop to a standstill before hitting this shot? Open vs closed stance?
 
OP - Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you want to fix this +1 because you have the +1 you want on the deuce side figured out for your other service spots, right? At your level, I'm betting you don't only serve to this spot, but moreso want to shore up this call and response. One thought would be to try and either slow roll or slice to the opponents toes and see how he handles (because these sound like shots currently in your arsenal) Ideally, use this to take away net and finish on the +2. To punish this, I think you'd need to determine how to get comfortable on that mid/offspeed ball for your game but if not, using what you have been and keeping him guessing may be the best option. My goto here would be a hard slice to the toes, take net knowing the angles aren't there for the response. That being said, I'm a lower to midling 4.5 so YMMV.
 
jdawgg said:
I'm struggling with serve +1 on the deuce side, I hit a great out wide serve and my opponent forehand slices it short angle CC (service line area). In general I struggle with low/medium height no pace shots on the run to my forehand side -- not sure why yet (maybe I lean back too much, I suspect it's footwork related). My reply is to FH slice it back CC or DTL, or sometimes slow loop it to BH corner.

The thing is, I want to punish the opponent and force errors rather than just hit a neutral back. I think that will help me hold serve more often/easily. So, please help with any advice and/or videos. Maybe certain footwork patterns to handle this? Keep in mind my level is 4.5/5.0, UTR 9.82.

Thanks!
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feels like you already answered your own question... but some thoughts that came to mind;
* if they are "always" responding with a short low cc angle... just step into the court after the serve, and go to that spot to attack it early.
* learn to deal with low balls on the fh side... low balls are not typically the ball i choose to attack, but if it's short in the court and i can anticipate that, it it is an opportunity to approach the net (you already pulled him out wide it sounds like, so you've given yourself a bigger target)
* if i've figured out that you don't like low short balls, i'm going to do that to you all the time... so eithher figure out how to get better at it, or you have to respect that he's effectively neutralized you (no different than if he hit deep)
* you can't think "i deserve to punish the next shot, because i hit my best shot"...
* what happens when you s&v? my favorite shot to many is my kicker to the bh, but against one opponent he's very good at hitting back a short angle low slice return... so i started s&v'ing, and going "against the rule" for following the ball path, and would shade to his favorite return target... figured out that he was not nearly as good at going dtl or lobbing... so while he took away my favorite serve, i was able to take away his favorite return..
* vary serve locations & spin: what happens when you go body or T? guessing you have alot of side action on your serve which helps it curve away on an out wide deuce serve... but maybe not great for T serves (which tends to curve to the opponent)... maybe learn to hit flatter T serve. or kicker up the T, just so they can't cheat and over cover your out wide deuce serve (which is what i do when i see someone with a very good slice serve, i'll immediately just stand in the doubles alley until they can prove they can go flatter T consistently)
 
Some good advice in here. One more thought, develop a top spin forehand that you can use against low balls around the service line. This isn’t a power shot, it’s more of a placement shot that you can follow up to the net.

But that’s just my preference as I hate hitting a slice forehand against a short slice.
 
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CosmosMpower said:
If you're a 9.82 UTR not many people on this board can help you.
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Not necessarily. Brad Gilbert is widely regarded as one of the best coaches, and as a player he was mediocre at best.

Conversely, Connors and McEnroe have done poorly in their brief coaching careers.

Now, if we’re talking instruction and stroke techniques, then yes. But tactics don’t require you to be a great player.
 
McLovin said:
To add to this, if you're opponent continues to hit a certain reply you don't like, then don't hit them that shot.

Sounds simple, but really, save that serve for someone who gives you the reply you're looking for. Maybe go body-forehand instead of wide, or just up the tee until they take a step to their left, then go out wide.

Patient: Hey doc, it hurts when I do this (raises arm)
Doc: Then don't do that.
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For sure. I served exclusive body and T serves against this guy late in the second set and tiebreak. It's just something I learned from the match, and I am looking to take to the practice court to work on it.
 
Fairhit said:
If he returns always the same, is not that an advantage? For the reply described, I think it would be a good tactic to serve and volley.
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Definitely, that's a good point. I have a tendency to adjust to things slower in matches but usually do way better in my second match against people. I'm more of an analytical/slower thinker, should probably get better at making in match adjustments like that. If I start expecting that return and cheating towards it, then I could probably pounce on it sooner and hit a better quality shot.
 
McLovin said:
Not necessarily. Brad Gilbert is widely regarded as one of the best coaches, and as a player he was mediocre at best.

Conversely, Connors and McEnroe have done poorly in their brief coaching careers.

Now, if we’re talking instruction and stroke techniques, then yes. But tactics don’t require you to be a great player.
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Generally yes but a bunch of 2.5 to 4.5 hacks on this board are neither great players or bright coaching minds in tennis.
 
McLovin said:
Not necessarily. Brad Gilbert is widely regarded as one of the best coaches, and as a player he was mediocre at best.

Conversely, Connors and McEnroe have done poorly in their brief coaching careers.

Now, if we’re talking instruction and stroke techniques, then yes. But tactics don’t require you to be a great player.
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Mediocre at best? He peaked at #4 in the world...
 
d-quik said:
1. How do would you like to hit that FH slice return? DTL+approach? Or deep CC then retreat? Maybe short CC then retreat? What is the intent?

2. How is it failing? Is it hitting the net? Are you having problems lifting and getting enough spin to have it come back down? Are you hitting to long? Too wide? Not able to get pace on that shot? Whats wrong?

3. Does the power from your FH mainly come from weight transfer or unit turn? What grip do you use? Do you use a hammer or pistol variant of that grip? Do you hit this shot OTR or do you stop to a standstill before hitting this shot? Open vs closed stance?
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Good question!

1. The intent: I'm looking for the main pattern to be a forehand DTL to his backhand. I think DTL is safe (high %) on a slice that's slow enough and not angled enough. He's so far off the court that if he's running to hit a backhand I have control over the point and get a decent amount of forced errors from that. Secondary pattern would be forehand roller CC, keeps him off balance. Unfortunately I'm reduced to slice forehands or slower looper to BH.

2. Problem: not enough pace

3. Power? From upper body rotation and right leg. Grip: semi-western with pistol. Hit this shot standstill I think, open stance.
 
sphinx780 said:
OP - Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you want to fix this +1 because you have the +1 you want on the deuce side figured out for your other service spots, right? At your level, I'm betting you don't only serve to this spot, but moreso want to shore up this call and response. One thought would be to try and either slow roll or slice to the opponents toes and see how he handles (because these sound like shots currently in your arsenal) Ideally, use this to take away net and finish on the +2. To punish this, I think you'd need to determine how to get comfortable on that mid/offspeed ball for your game but if not, using what you have been and keeping him guessing may be the best option. My goto here would be a hard slice to the toes, take net knowing the angles aren't there for the response. That being said, I'm a lower to midling 4.5 so YMMV.
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The +1 is most powerful on the out wide serves (ad and deuce sides) because it stretches your opponent off the court. I have no problem going up the middle or T with my serve it just doesn't put my opponent in much of a compromised position. I've found though if I'm getting weaker replies from T and body I just switch to those. I do mix up my serve depending on the game score.

+1 isn't really about hitting a winner on the first shot like I used to think, more about taking control of the point early and forcing errors.

I do think FH slice can be a good option, just gives my opponent more time that I would like.
 
nyta2 said:
feels like you already answered your own question... but some thoughts that came to mind;
* if they are "always" responding with a short low cc angle... just step into the court after the serve, and go to that spot to attack it early.
* learn to deal with low balls on the fh side... low balls are not typically the ball i choose to attack, but if it's short in the court and i can anticipate that, it it is an opportunity to approach the net (you already pulled him out wide it sounds like, so you've given yourself a bigger target)
* if i've figured out that you don't like low short balls, i'm going to do that to you all the time... so eithher figure out how to get better at it, or you have to respect that he's effectively neutralized you (no different than if he hit deep)
* you can't think "i deserve to punish the next shot, because i hit my best shot"...
* what happens when you s&v? my favorite shot to many is my kicker to the bh, but against one opponent he's very good at hitting back a short angle low slice return... so i started s&v'ing, and going "against the rule" for following the ball path, and would shade to his favorite return target... figured out that he was not nearly as good at going dtl or lobbing... so while he took away my favorite serve, i was able to take away his favorite return..
* vary serve locations & spin: what happens when you go body or T? guessing you have alot of side action on your serve which helps it curve away on an out wide deuce serve... but maybe not great for T serves (which tends to curve to the opponent)... maybe learn to hit flatter T serve. or kicker up the T, just so they can't cheat and over cover your out wide deuce serve (which is what i do when i see someone with a very good slice serve, i'll immediately just stand in the doubles alley until they can prove they can go flatter T consistently)
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I think you hit the nail on the head. Comes down to anticipation and mindset. Need to recognize that he's doing it a lot (maybe take some time to analyze whats going on during the changeover and start looking for that shot). Thanks!

I do think accepting that I've been neutralized in the match at the time is a good mindset to have. Sometimes I get stubborn and reel off errors (especially when I'm ahead and feeling like I can go for more) because I want to be more aggressive and feel like I should be able to hit that shot. If the match is close I know to just hit neutral back, probably why I let my opponents back into matches sometimes.

Truth be told going out wide on the deuce side a lot is a new pattern for me. I'm still learning things about it. Generally a serve I wasn't great at and just mixed it in to keep my opponent honest. Now it's becoming a good serve for me and puts my opponent in a compromised position. I can hit with top only, top slice or just slice. I try to hit the outwide with mostly top or top/slice, the slice floats on me too much.

I think mixing in the kicker down the T is a good pattern for me. I've started to hit my kickers with a 1st serve toss so I think my opponents can't reed that easily anymore.
 
CosmosMpower said:
If you're a 9.82 UTR not many people on this board can help you.
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I think there's more high level players on this forum than some people realize. I think so far there's been like three 4.5 level player responses. I think I always learn something when I post for advice on things like these.

Also I meant to post this on tennis tips section, but I guess this is league related because this happened in a league match. Some good advice in here!
 
ServeBot said:
And 9.82 is solid 5.0. What is this 4.5-5.0 silliness!!
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I think I'm a bit overrated but we'll see. I suspect I'll settle in at a low 9 with more matches. High ceiling player but also can play down to my opponents.

n=14

Technically a 4.5 but likely a 5.0 next year. I beat a UTR 10 (with like 30 matches under his belt) and a couple of 9s and that skyrocketed my UTR.
 
If you’re a 4.5 or higher, you should be able to take a ball below the net and roll it deep with topspin. If so, watch your opponent out of the corner of your eye. If he’s staying home, go up the line. If he’s sprinting to cover up the line, hit cc behind him. If he’s moving to the middle neutral position, drop shot cc. If he’s moving in, push it past him up the line.

You have what you wanted out of your serve, a short ball to attack. You still have to do what you would on a normal serve +1; hit to where the opponent isn’t. Just be ready to finish off a weak reply at the net in case your opponent manages to get a racquet on it.
 
tennis tom said:
I've been playing most of my life and never heard of "serve +1" until recently spouted by Paul Annecone on Tennis Channel-can someone please define this new bit of tennis jargon?
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It's using your serve to setup your next shot, the forehand, that's the +1. This can be accomplished by serving out wide, stretching your opponent off the court then hitting a forehand to the open court or going behind them.

The idea is to get in control of the point early with your forehand, not necessarily hit a winner on the 2nd shot. Also its sort of a mentality of not going for too much on your first serve to try and hit unreturnables. More important to hit a high first serve percentage that gets your opponent out of position or gives you a weaker ball and attack with the forehand. Only used in singles not doubles.
 
jdawgg said:
I'm struggling with serve +1 on the deuce side, I hit a great out wide serve and my opponent forehand slices it short angle CC (service line area). In general I struggle with low/medium height no pace shots on the run to my forehand side -- not sure why yet (maybe I lean back too much, I suspect it's footwork related). My reply is to FH slice it back CC or DTL, or sometimes slow loop it to BH corner.

The thing is, I want to punish the opponent and force errors rather than just hit a neutral back. I think that will help me hold serve more often/easily. So, please help with any advice and/or videos. Maybe certain footwork patterns to handle this? Keep in mind my level is 4.5/5.0, UTR 9.82.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I think the key is to recognize when you've hit a good serve and work on that explosive first step forward. It also sounds to me like it's footwork related (I have this too), so you have to really make sure you're set with your feet and drive through the approach and come to net.

My dad and I do a lot of dead ball drills inside the service line off lower balls because that's a common shot that is set up but often flubbed. I would focus on that if you have a partner to practice it with.

The other thing you can do is serve and volley to force you to get comfortable with moving in after the serve. I've started doing that a lot more in singles.
 
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@jdawgg

As usual, @nyta2 wrote just about everything I would have. But here's one more: adjust your serve position to closer to the sideline. Not because you want to serve wider but because it puts you closer to where he's hitting his returns.

Now, at some point, he will catch on and stop returning there but until he does, try it and see what results. And you don't have to move there all at once; you can be sneaky and gradually do it over the course of a game or two.

You can also start moving towards that return position before he hits the return, although that's risky because a good player should pick up on that and maybe wrong-foot you by going DTL.
 
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jdawgg said:
Problem: not enough pace
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swing harder?

If you swing harder and still feel like it is too slow then there is something biomechanically wrong with low+slow balls. All slow balls, regardless of height, means you need to generate your own pace, and unless you are just naturally powerful, pace generation usually comes easier from a change in mechanics rather than just becoming stronger.

Do you struggle with all short/low/slow balls (ie. in the MIDDLE of the point) or is just ONLY after the return?

It could be that your forehand technique is maybe a tad flawed? I say only a tad because it seems to serve you well with other shots, and that only under these specific circumstances does this minor flaw expose itself.

Hard to say what to do until I actually see how you hit it
 
MaxTennis said:
I think the key is to recognize when you've hit a good serve and work on that explosive first step forward. It also sounds to me like it's footwork related (I have this too), so you have to really make sure you're set with your feet and drive through the approach and come to net.

My dad and I do a lot of dead ball drills inside the service line off lower balls because that's a common shot that is set up but often flubbed. I would focus on that if you have a partner to practice it with.

The other thing you can do is serve and volley to force you to get comfortable with moving in after the serve. I've started doing that a lot more in singles.
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Definitely an explosive first step when I'm on offense needs a lot of work. I have explosive first steps but seem to only use them for defense. Getting there early and setting up well and driving forward is the way! thanks.

Going to practice it quite a bit. Some serve and volley is probably in the cards as well.
 
MaxTennis said:
It kind of sounds like this is the shot you want to practice?

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That's one that I used to miss but can now hit pretty well. Been working on that serve out wide then pound the forehand DTL off outside balls that aren't too far out wide like that one. Mostly just the low slice return that hits the service line, CC on the FH side.
 
d-quik said:
swing harder?

If you swing harder and still feel like it is too slow then there is something biomechanically wrong with low+slow balls. All slow balls, regardless of height, means you need to generate your own pace, and unless you are just naturally powerful, pace generation usually comes easier from a change in mechanics rather than just becoming stronger.

Do you struggle with all short/low/slow balls (ie. in the MIDDLE of the point) or is just ONLY after the return?

It could be that your forehand technique is maybe a tad flawed? I say only a tad because it seems to serve you well with other shots, and that only under these specific circumstances does this minor flaw expose itself.

Hard to say what to do until I actually see how you hit it
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Here's a video:


I'm the black shirt guy. Not sure you'll find many low/off pace shots midcourt to my forehand in this one, my opponent is pretty aggressive.

Edit: and yeah I struggle with slow/low balls when stretched CC to my FH side on the run, any ball not just my opponents return. By struggle I mean I can't get much pace on them, can't punish them, and loop it back. Or just FH slice.
 
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Why are you hitting a FH slice shot DTL if your problem is that you are not generating enough pace? The bread-and-butter shot I use on a serve+1 is a FH DTL to open space which is a drive. If I get to the ball early enough and the contact point is above the net, I can hit it flatter with more pace to hurry the opponent even more. If the ball has dropped and my contact point is below the net, I have a more vertical swing to impart enough topspin to clear the net and aim a slower topspin shot closer to the lines. A flatter shot might be an attempted serve+1 winner while the topspin shot is more of an approach where I can then volley away the serve+2 shot. So, your only problem might be that you are hitting a slice FH DTL instead of a drive if you want more pace.

As with any mid-court short ball, you still have to execute all your fundamentals such as:

- Get to the ball early and have body/off-hand coiled with early takeback
- Stop with proper spacing - common problem is to run too close to contact point and get jammed
- Stay in balance by stopping/pivoting with back foot before bringing the front foot forward to transfer weight forward.
- Bend your knee and drop your racquet head at the start of the swing to generate a low-high swing that can impart topspin
- Turn more sideways with a closed stance for DTL shots - it is tough to hit hard DTL especially if the ball is being contacted close to the sideline with an open stance - that is easier done on inside-out shots where the ball is more to the middle.
- Exaggerate follow through and finish high to make sure that your low-high swing helps the ball clear the high part of the net.
- Follow the shot to the net in case it comes back.
 
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jdawgg said:
Edit: and yeah I struggle with slow/low balls when stretched CC to my FH side on the run, any ball not just my opponents return. By struggle I mean I can't get much pace on them, can't punish them, and loop it back. Or just FH slice.
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In watching your video, you seem to always hit DTL FHs with an open stance and you are going to have a problem hitting it close to the sideline at high pace without spraying it into the alley. So, you likely prefer to hit a slice. Practice a closed stance DTL FH drive on short balls with a ball machine or drilling partner with some cone targets in the DTL corner.

Compliments on high level of play otherwise.
 
socallefty said:
Why are you hitting a FH slice shot DTL if your problem is that you are not generating enough pace? The bread-and-butter shot I use on a serve+1 is a FH DTL to open space which is a drive. If I get to the ball early enough and the contact point is above the net, I can hit it flatter with more pace to hurry the opponent even more. If the ball has dropped and my contact point is below the net, I have a more vertical swing to impart enough topspin to clear the net and aim a slower topspin shot closer to the lines. A flatter shot might be an attempted serve+1 winner while the topspin shot is more of an approach where I can then volley away the serve+2 shot. So, your only problem might be that you are hitting a slice FH DTL instead of a drive if you want more pace.
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That's interesting thinking about the amount of spin based on the height of the ball. Also the intention. Good point.

Generally with my +1 on the deuce side after the out wide serve, my best ball even if it's higher would be a heavy forehand, spinny but lots of pace and net clearance, to the middle of the opponents AD side. That pushes my opponent further back so I can go TS angle on the next one.

As far as the slice, I'm only hitting that because I can't seem to generate enough pace on my forehand drive (for the reasons that some in the thread have highlighted). The slice seems to bother people more so I've been using it more.
 
jdawgg said:
That's interesting thinking about the amount of spin based on the height of the ball. Also the intention. Good point.

Generally with my +1 on the deuce side after the out wide serve, my best ball even if it's higher would be a heavy forehand, spinny but lots of pace and net clearance, to the middle of the AD side. That pushes my opponent further back so I can go TS angle on the next one.

As far as the slice, I'm only hitting that because I can't seem to generate enough pace on my forehand drive (for the reasons that some in the thread have highlighted). The slice seems to bother people more so I've been using it more.
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See my post above. You will get the DTL hard FH right once you turn more sideways and start hitting it with a closed stance. With an open stance, it is easier to hit drives to the middle, cross-court or inside-out which are your preferred drive-FHs. Actually you don’t hit DTL much on either wing even when you have opened up a lot of open space in the DTL corner. Once you master the closed-stance DTL shot, your baseline game can be amped up to be more aggressive.
 
jdawgg said:
Here's a video:


I'm the black shirt guy. Not sure you'll find many low/off pace shots midcourt to my forehand in this one, my opponent is pretty aggressive.

Edit: and yeah I struggle with slow/low balls when stretched CC to my FH side on the run, any ball not just my opponents return. By struggle I mean I can't get much pace on them, can't punish them, and loop it back. Or just FH slice.
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hehe, guy in red did it to you at 12:25.
do what he does :)
 
I think "serve +1" used to be called "serve + volley"--you'd serve, hit an approach deep DTL with slice, forcing your opponent to hit up-- then you'd angle your volley off for a winner.
 
tennis tom said:
I think "serve +1" used to be called "serve + volley"--you'd serve, hit an approach deep DTL with slice, forcing your opponent to hit up-- then you'd angle your volley off for a winner.
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In modern game it's more used to describe your first groundstroke after the serve. Most common being the serve + forehand. Like let's say wide serve on deuce side and then inside out forehand into open court.
 
fundrazer said:
In modern game it's more used to describe your first groundstroke after the serve. Most common being the serve + forehand. Like let's say wide serve on deuce side and then inside out forehand into open court.
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I first heard Paul Annacone use this phrase on during commentary on matches years ago. Whether or not he coined, I have no idea. It may have been around for years and commentators just never used it. His other key phrase is 'aggressive shots to big targets'.

Another thing Annacone likes to stress is he feels players shouldn't necessarily work hard to 'improve their weakness', but rather work hard to improve their strength. That doesn't mean you never try to add a dimension, or try to develop confidence in a weak shot (like when Federer started driving his backhand), but you should spend more of your time learning how to setup the point to your advantage.

So, in the case of @jdawgg having issues w/ a short forehand cross court, instead of spending a bunch of time & effort trying to improve that shot, spend more time trying to prevent your opponents from hitting that shot. Learn to hit serves that elicit a response you want. As much as I hate his game, Isner does this probably better then anyone. Sure, at 6' 10" his serve is a massive weapon, but he also works hard at hitting the serve that most likely will give him a forehand. And this will change from opponent to opponent depending on their strength.
 
@McLovin good info. I really like the agreesive shots to big targets line.

My only caution is that, don’t you think a player at 4.5 or higher should have a response to a low ball around the service line? That’s a pretty common shot to have to address in any match, even if that shot is not a strategic shot by the opponent but instead them just trying to get your ball back in play.

But I do like the advice of beefing up your strengths and finding shots that maximize your opportunity to hit them.
 
EggSalad said:
My only caution is that, don’t you think a player at 4.5 or higher should have a response to a low ball around the service line?
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Well, probably, but I guess Anacone's point is, if you can improve your strengths, then your weaknesses become less of a weakness. For example...

I'm a 4.5+ player who routinely plays 5.0 guys. One, who absolutely crushes the 'serve + 1' pattern, has a mental block on a slow deep roller to his backhand. When he's 'on', I have literally no chance on his service games. I can be up 15-40, and lose the game barely touching the ball.

But, when he's 'off', I'm getting looks at 2nd serves, or because he didn't hit the usual '+1', I got it to his backhand.

So, does he spend more time working on his backhand, or does he spend more time improving what he's already good at (big serve, big forehand), and he knows wins him games? I'm sure there are good arguments for each approach, and again, Anacone doesn't say "don't work on weaknesses", he just stresses "don't abandon your strength". So what if I get one or two slow rollers to his backhand? I still have to win 4 points on his serve to break him, and if he can consistently do his 'serve +1', then I'm going to have a hell of a time breaking him.

Also, it's my understanding that @jdawgg does have a response to a low ball around the service line...it's just not the response he wants.
 
Ime, short CC returns on the ad side are often a result of weak returns, esp. if it's not first serves with pace. That doesn't mean they're easy to handle though, as you point out. But if this is the reply you get against a certain type of player, you need to figure out if this is deliberate, and ime, this is where S&V comes in, as you then apply pressure on them to go DTL, and if you manage to pull them outside the doubles corridor, that's a low % shot.

If that doesn't work (i.e. they're able to neutralize your S&V attempts) or this isn't your thing, you need to be able to close the S+1 with your backhand DTL (or a short angle CC if you're really close to the net), esp. if the return is short and low.

You could also try a drop shot, but ime, the players that are successful with these type of returns, are aware of short and low replies, and often close out the point if you try this.

Great playing btw.
 
This is one of the most difficult shots for me to change direction AND spin. When I'm serving deuce court and I receive a backhand or a weak ball over the middle I'm going to the ad court nearly every time but if I receive a heavy topspin ball that challenges my forehand I'm sending it back exactly the way it came in. I don't encounter too many players who use a slice FH as a weapon but if they are aggressively slicing cross court I will hit one of 4 shots depending on what I feel is right against that player in that moment: slice cross court, topspin cross court, slice down the line, drop shot. I don't expect to win the point on any of these shots except maybe the drop shot and I hit more slice forehands than my most opponents so any of these options are not unusual to me.

I'm a 4.5.
 
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