Short ball to deuce court - DTL approach vs. short cross-court angle

[eah123]

A shot I'm working on this summer is the short cross-court angle. There 2 main times I'm thinking about this shot, when the ball is hit wide to my forehand (but not too wide) behind the baseline, and when it's hit short to the deuce court.

Currently, my go-to shot for the short ball to the deuce court is the down-the-line approach to the backhand. It is sometimes a winner, but usually I will need to follow it up with a volley to the open court or an overhead. For me, it's a very high percentage play as I focus on top spin and good net clearance which ensures the ball lands well within the court, and results in the ball kicking high to the opponent's backhand.

So I was wondering, when are the right times to go for the short cross-court angle instead?

 

[dkmura]

To me, the only time I'd go to a sharp angle CC FH is if my opponent has anticipated the DTL approach. If my peripheral vision picks up a hard sprint by my opponent AND I'm in good position to get my footwork right, I'd go after that shot. Otherwise, the percentages with my game are to go DTL and cover the pass or lob.

 

[ubercat]

Yes on the short one. On the behind the baseline I d say keep going CC high rollers until you get the short ball. Agassi practiced the high roller an hour a day.

 

[LeeD]

A slice approach gives you more time and also varies the spin on your opponent.

 

[LuckyR]

A shot I'm working on this summer is the short cross-court angle. There 2 main times I'm thinking about this shot, when the ball is hit wide to my forehand (but not too wide) behind the baseline, and when it's hit short to the deuce court.

Currently, my go-to shot for the short ball to the deuce court is the down-the-line approach to the backhand. It is sometimes a winner, but usually I will need to follow it up with a volley to the open court or an overhead. For me, it's a very high percentage play as I focus on top spin and good net clearance which ensures the ball lands well within the court, and results in the ball kicking high to the opponent's backhand.

So I was wondering, when are the right times to go for the short cross-court angle instead?

Either is fine... as long as you don't use the cross court as an approach.

 

[Fintft]

A shot I'm working on this summer is the short cross-court angle. There 2 main times I'm thinking about this shot, when the ball is hit wide to my forehand (but not too wide) behind the baseline, and when it's hit short to the deuce court.

Currently, my go-to shot for the short ball to the deuce court is the down-the-line approach to the backhand. It is sometimes a winner, but usually I will need to follow it up with a volley to the open court or an overhead. For me, it's a very high percentage play as I focus on top spin and good net clearance which ensures the ball lands well within the court, and results in the ball kicking high to the opponent's backhand.

So I was wondering, when are the right times to go for the short cross-court angle instead?

I used a DTL ripping against my coach, former WTA, 27, today and she said that I have potential for ITF But she was expecting CC.

 

[eah123]

I've been testing this shot out. Best times to hit the short CC angle forehand it in my limited experience so far is when 1) opponent is camping out in the ad court 2) opponent is spring back from hitting a wide cross-court ball. Bad time to hit it is when the opponent is around the center hash behind the baseline. When I hit the CC angle to a centered opponent, it results in the opponent hitting a running forehand which is very unpredictable, may be hit hard, and can land anywhere in the court. The DTL approach is much better. Even if the opponent can get to it, if the approach is hit well, the opponent needs to hit a backhand and the angles can be cut off easily.

 

[Fintft]

I've been testing this shot out. Best times to hit the short CC angle forehand it in my limited experience so far is when 1) opponent is camping out in the ad court 2) opponent is spring back from hitting a wide cross-court ball. Bad time to hit it is when the opponent is around the center hash behind the baseline. When I hit the CC angle to a centered opponent, it results in the opponent hitting a running forehand which is very unpredictable, may be hit hard, and can land anywhere in the court. The DTL approach is much better. Even if the opponent can get to it, if the approach is hit well, the opponent needs to hit a backhand and the angles can be cut off easily.

Well in general, best time to hit a CC FH is...always, so why go short angled?
Having said all of that I just did it a couple of times tonight, against my coach who moves like the wind.