Smacking the ball at the guy at the net as hard as you can

[ohplease]

Singles or doubles - this is a tactic that scales poorly as you go up the ladder.

It works early because people can't volley, can't control the depth or pace of their approach shots, and don't understand ceding court position if they've given up a sitter to someone who can consistently do something with it.

People tend to figure most of those things out at the same time though. I personally view this tactic as the mark of someone who usually plays against poor net players more than anything else (especially in doubles). And it's not like they give up easily because now they absolutely have to prove they can back you off the net so you get frustration passing shot errors in addition to volleys right to you, too

 

[ichaseballs]

4.0 players should be fine.
if they are really good, they will know which ones are gonna fly long....

 

[Ronaldo]

Singles or doubles - this is a tactic that scales poorly as you go up the ladder.

It works early because people can't volley, can't control the depth or pace of their approach shots, and don't understand ceding court position if they've given up a sitter to someone who can consistently do something with it.

People tend to figure most of those things out at the same time though. I personally view this tactic as the mark of someone who usually plays against poor net players more than anything else (especially in doubles). And it's not like they give up easily because now they absolutely have to prove they can back you off the net so you get frustration passing shot errors in addition to volleys right to you, too

Players need to know when to hold them, when to fold them, when to walk away & when to dive. Had a teammate who chased a guy off the net, off the court, past the alley and still hit him. Receipt for a tag

 

[bitcoinoperated]

Now if I met an opponent that on purpose would try to target my head from a short distance, our tennis match would soon turn into another sport.

Sounds like a sport where you have a higher chance of busting up your eye

 

[Ronaldo]

Sounds like a sport where you have a higher chance of busting up your eye

Poached before my partner and he struck my eyelid at a tennis party. Needed 5 stitches. Nurse mentioned I was lucky. She saw guys lose an eye in racquetball. Felt much better, so much so I returned to the party!!!
Did not play with one good eye and a patch. Free food

 

[MoxMonkey]

To borrow pickleball terminology:

If you can't handle the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen.

Edit:

Poor choice of post looking at the preceding one. My Bad, I wasn't referencing the prior post.

 

[Ronaldo]

To borrow pickleball terminology:

If you can't handle the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen.

Edit:

Poor choice of post looking at the preceding one. My Bad, I wasn't referencing the prior post.

The Kitchen is hot even from your partner,

 

[Happi]

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[Ronaldo]

Forgotten a Sunday morning tournament match between four of us on the same team. My partner was a headhunter. He kept saying to hit that old man, our precious captain. He finally ripped a new hole in him who exclaimed that every time he goes home his wifey sees a new bruise from one particular player on our team. Kinda put a damper on our victory. Sure put butts in seats instead of pews on Sunday morning.

 

[Morch Us]

unless it’s going miles out the reflex is to try to hit the volley

Would you rather lose with class or win with ugly strategy

Of course this is a personality question to yourself, how ugly you want to be to win that (apparently unimportant) match? As ugly as someone getting hurt? Wouldn't it be better to just hit the opponent right at the eye then, since you automatically win the match when the opponent is in ambulance or hospital ? What is your opinion about cheaters who hook you on line calls, who apparently thinks it is OK to hook opponents as long as they don't get caught, since it is part of the (ugly) process to win the match. How about gamesmanships, like faking an injury... or taking an extra long bathroom break (with the specific intention of breaking the rythm of opponent).

Rulewise there is nothing really wrong with head hunting, which apparently is what you are doing. It is no different than trying to hit directly at the head of the return teams net partner, during your serve on a doubles match. But that does not mean you should do it. This is not pro-boxing, it is just recreational tennis.There are better ways to win the point. Your head hunting shot is 100% "uncontroled" and is a big safety issue at lower levels of rec tennis.

Change your mindset. You don't have to win the point right on that shot. You don't have to hit a passing shot or a lob winner. Learn to do topspin, to get it low to their feet. Pace doesn't matter, you just need to get them to volley "up". Of course you are still hitting the ball "at them" or more clearly at their direction. But now you are NOT head hunting, you are making it difficult for them to hit an offensive volley, without causing any safety issue, and with a "controlled shot". Now the next shot is going to be a lot more easier for you to pass or lob since the defensive volley should sit up for you.

Once you get better at this (specifially about controlling the depth and height of the shot), you can also learn to use the same tactic to "move" the opponent to a specific spot, and still make them hit a defensive volley. The idea here is that you get a bigger opening for the next shot. For example bring them more closer to net for an easier lob. Or bring them to one corner to be able to pass them to the other corner.

 

[Morch Us]

Just to add to this, a lob is effective ONLY if your opponent is really close to the net (at least within 15 feet).
You can hit a shot with effective topspin to drop low to their feet only if they are not too close to the net, you need at least "6 feet" space between the opponent and the net.

Of course based on your skill the range may change a bit. But just know your range, and if the opponent is too close to the net go for a lob (does not necessarily have to be a winner lob), if the opponent is not that close for for a low dipper.

Also be mindful about the opponent skill/physic a bit. For example a tall opponent may have harder time with dippers, than lobs.

 

[Fintft]

if you are intentionally hitting the ball as hard as you can AT the person and you aren't a pro you are a complete jerk.

And why is that? Any 4.0 and above would defend and probably even put away an easy volley...But it's a valid play and has merits. And if you go lower, ideally at the feet, I don't see a problem with doing it.
@Morch Us With top spin, you can still hit hard and it would go lower, at their feet, won't it?
Now if you are a low rated player, that's a different story, but you may want to work on your net game and improve.

 

[PMF]

Doubles
At close range, I prefer to volley around people and into open areas, or perhaps aim for an opponents feet. I never try to intentionally hit anyone above the waist. Also, if I’m running up to a short ball and have time to wind up my swing, I try to attack the center net and keep the ball very low or go DTL. Headhunting is dangerous at any level, and the outcome is unpredictable.

Singles
If my opponent is volleying, and I’m at the baseline, I may occasionally hit the ball right to them and try to force an error, but most of the time I’m looking for the opening pass or a lob. In the rare situations where both of us are close to the net and I have a choice to either pass or intentionally hit them with the ball, I’m going for the pass 100% of the time.

 

[Fintft]

It's even mentioned as an option here:
Drive at the net guy or at the singles line

https://fb.watch/nXWTwa85a8/

 

[Morch Us]

@Morch Us With top spin, you can still hit hard and it would go lower, at their feet, won't it?

Of course, there will be a natural pace based on the level of play.

But again, the focus is not on the pace for the play I am suggesting. It is the "trajectory" which is important, and should be the focus. Infact more pace may "kill" the intented trajectory. (you are not purposely slowing it down, or dinking... but you will have a natural pace based on your skill when trying a specific trajectory).

If you are not used to this play, at least till you get really comfortable, the way to think about is, you rather want the opponent to NOT mishit the volley (for a lucky winner), but you WANT them to volley it UP defensively to a more comortable area for you to hit the next ground stroke (of course it is just a minset to help you ... in the end partially it is upto the opponent as well). The next level of thikning is "from where" you want them to hit this shot.

 

[Fintft]

Of course, there will be a natural pace based on the level of play.

But again, the focus is not on the pace for the play I am suggesting. It is the "trajectory" which is important, and should be the focus. Infact more pace may "kill" the intented trajectory. (you are not purposely slowing it down, or dinking... but you will have a natural pace based on your skill when trying a specific trajectory).

If you are not used to this play, at least till you get really comfortable, the way to think about is, you rather want the opponent to NOT mishit the volley (for a lucky winner), but you WANT them to volley it UP defensively to a more comortable area for you to hit the next ground stroke. The next level of thikning is "from where" you want them to hit this shot.

From anywhere Morchy Usually from the BL.

 

[Morch Us]

From anywhere Morchy Usually from the BL.

What I meant is..... place this dipper to a specifc spot, so that the opponent has to "reach" there and dig it out. Now you "successfully" placed the opponent in a specific spot, and you have the ball at a preferred spot. Court geometries does wonders on how easy or difficult next shot is. But again this is ONLY after you get comfortable with the "trajectory" and able to hit that trajectory even under pressure. Till then don't worry about "moving" the opponent.

 

[Rafaboy]

Never hit directly at an opponent.
ive seen people get seriously injured by this.

my friend got hit in the eye, could have lost her eyesight.

but its ok, if it feeds the egos of no name wanna be losers, that need to prove they are somebody in the tennis world.

hey, no problem right? we all know you're gonna be the next fed or nadal incarnate, right?

so go ahead and hurt someone, dont forget to pretend to be sorry after, but you sure showed them all, didnt you?

now all you need to complete the package is to have a stadium named afte you.

 

[Ronaldo]

Never hit directly at an opponent.
ive seen people get seriously injured by this.

my friend got hit in the eye, could have lost her eyesight.

but its ok, if it feeds the egos of no name wanna be losers, that need to prove they are somebody in the tennis world.

hey, no problem right? we all know you're gonna be the next fed or nadal incarnate, right?

so go ahead and hurt someone, dont forget to pretend to be sorry after, but you sure showed them all, didnt you?

now all you need to complete the package is to have a stadium named afte you.

 

[Ronaldo]

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

It's even mentioned as an option here:
Drive at the net guy or at the singles line

https://fb.watch/nXWTwa85a8/

Driving the ball at the net person is not quite the same thing as “smacking the ball as hard as you can at the net player” (as the OP suggests) — especially near the net player’s head (as Lendl & other have been known to do).

 

[blue12]

I'd say depends who you are playing.

 

[Crocodile]

To tube someone at the net - it’s not something I would do or recommend doing because I have seen some pretty bad repercussions of this including heart attacks and detached retinas.
Do I sometimes try to pass someone down the line or hit the ball at their feet - yes off course,

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

To tube someone at the net - it’s not something I would do or recommend doing because I have seen some pretty bad repercussions of this including heart attacks and detached retinas.
Do I sometimes try to pass someone down the line or hit the ball at their feet - yes off course,

I had partially detached retinas in both eyes from tennis ball impacts. Partially recovered from these impact but never fully. The near vision in my dominant eye is very poor as a result of a particularly bad impact to that eyeball.

 

[Crocodile]

Just as a supplementary comment to my previous one, another way of looking at things from a tennis enthusiasts perspective is that we all want tennis to flourish in our respective countries and we want to encourage new players and keep existing players in the game so it makes sense to act and play in a manner that’s going to be a positive experience.
Just remember that 99 percent of tennis participants are social, recreational or local competition players up to district and regional
level so think about what you are doing when you walk on a tennis court.

 

[TennisDawg]

You say you’re 3.5 bumping to 4.0, you should be able to hit a passing shot. Try blasting the ball past him not directly at him. I’ve hit people before. It wasn’t intentional but still felt kind of s**ty. In one incident it was an overhead that bounced in front of a guy and smacked his privates. He had to quit and go home. I had to call to check on him it ruined his weekend. It could have been worse.

 

[MoxMonkey]

For me it's the guys that crowd the net, putting them self in a position to cut off the angles. It's ridiculous to me to assume that I am gonna let you stand there without challenging the ground your holding.

 

[Happi]

For me it's the guys that crowd the net, putting them self in a position to cut off the angles. It's ridiculous to me to assume that I am gonna let you stand there without challenging the ground your holding.

Perhaps try another sport like MMA to get these aggressions out. Tennis is suppose to be a gentlemans sports.

 

[TennisDawg]

For me it's the guys that crowd the net, putting them self in a position to cut off the angles. It's ridiculous to me to assume that I am gonna let you stand there without challenging the ground your holding.

…………

 

[MoxMonkey]

It's not about hitting someone, it's that jamming up somebody with a good stroke can be hard to handle. I don't see how this is bad sportsmanship at all

 

[MoxMonkey]

There's levels to it, but especially on ROS it seems like good strategy to go down the line if the net guy is up close, and you can put a good ball on it.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

It's not about hitting someone, it's that jamming up somebody with a good stroke can be hard to handle. I don't see how this is bad sportsmanship at all

I’ve often directed shots towards an opponent’s feet or knees but have never felt the need to hit a ball full blast at their head / chest (or even at their jewels). There are almost always (99.9%) other options that would be effective w/o the risk of seriously injuring an opponent.

Intentional headhunting is poor sportsmanship.

 

[MoxMonkey]

I’ve often directed shots towards an opponent’s feet or knees but have never felt the need to hit a ball full blast at their head / chest (or even at their jewels). There are almost always (99.9%) other options that would be effective w/o the risk of seriously injuring an opponent.

Intentional headhunting is poor sportsmanship.

I wasn't referencing intentional head hunting. It's more if someone is way up at the net it can be hard for them to react to a solid stroke in their direction. This especially applies to ROS, where you everyone knows what box the ball is landing in. I've been in matches where I get my BH attacked when on ROS and the net guy jumps all over it. Good for him, be aggressive.

But the server hangs it im gonna bang it. I'm not trying to hurt anyone, but if opponents expose weaknesses in my game by crowding the net and jumping on my weak returns, that's fine. BUT, if the serve is not that great I see exposing net crashing poach happy play with a fastball as just good sense. I'm exposing court position that they put themselves into while starting the point.

The net guy can let Xcourt returns go, if gets up there to jump on it and gets jammed up with a fastball how is it bad sportsmanship that he ran up on it?

Its just like crowding the plate in baseball to impose on a pitcher. Batters can do it, but no one makes em get way up in there.