Standard Drop Shots and Slice Drop Shots

[jussumman]

Next season I'd like to focus on these shots as I've been totally negligent of practicing them or learning them (I figure I had to know how to serve and hit regular ground strokes first, the ABCs before going on). But I want to know, other than the factor of the opponent being far back, what type of ball coming at you would be best time to use a drop shot, or slice drop shot?

How do you practice your drop shots? Would have to get a player with ball hopper to feed me so I can go on dropping them..

 

[Topslice]

Next season I'd like to focus on these shots as I've been totally negligent of practicing them or learning them (I figure I had to know how to serve and hit regular ground strokes first, the ABCs before going on). But I want to know, other than the factor of the opponent being far back, what type of ball coming at you would be best time to use a drop shot, or slice drop shot?

How do you practice your drop shots? Would have to get a player with ball hopper to feed me so I can go on dropping them..

Dont really bother practicing them, they are a rare shot. Most of my practice comes from matches or messing around playing touch tennis.

 

[Avles]

Next season I'd like to focus on these shots as I've been totally negligent of practicing them or learning them (I figure I had to know how to serve and hit regular ground strokes first, the ABCs before going on). But I want to know, other than the factor of the opponent being far back, what type of ball coming at you would be best time to use a drop shot, or slice drop shot?

Is there a difference between a drop shot and a "slice drop shot"? Seems like the only difference between a dropper and a slice is the amount of backspin and the target location.

Best time to use them is when you are inside the court. The closer to the net you are the better your margin is. It's one way to respond to short balls and dinked second serves (especially against opponents who aren't super comfortable moving forward and back). The drop shot-lob combination can make some rec-level opponents pretty miserable.

This article seems like a pretty good intro: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/28/tennis-tactical-dropshot

 

[jussumman]

Thanks, that was an interesting read. lol With so much of the players strictly baseline now, it seems like it can be a real weapon if mastered and is not implemented enough (other than clay).

..and I really want to try this now.

It is considered quite a cheeky shot, so you might also use it to toy with people. You can dropshot someone, and when they get that ball back you lob them, and then when they have run back really hard and only just managed to return the lob, you dropshot them again. Some players will get quite annoyed with you for even trying this, and once you've won a point this way you'll feel really pleased with yourself, if a little embarrassed, because it looks like you've been messing with them - which you have!

 

[Bobby Jr]

How do you practice your drop shots? Would have to get a player with ball hopper to feed me so I can go on dropping them..

The wall.

The wall is great for practising shots that require feel. You can start but hitting some ground strokes then throw in a drop-shot then chase it down and lob yourself etc... It may not be perfect but you'll repeat it so many times in one session you'll develop a feel for them really quickly.*

(*assuming you don't have iron-like feel).

 

[MauricioDias]

Next season I'd like to focus on these shots as I've been totally negligent of practicing them or learning them (I figure I had to know how to serve and hit regular ground strokes first, the ABCs before going on). But I want to know, other than the factor of the opponent being far back, what type of ball coming at you would be best time to use a drop shot, or slice drop shot?

How do you practice your drop shots? Would have to get a player with ball hopper to feed me so I can go on dropping them..

I usually use them against junk serves and when i want to bring my opponent to the net in a difficult way. When well executed these balls are really hard to come back and difficult your response.

 

[LeeD]

If you're serious, you have your partner hit topspin shots, underspin shots, and flat shots into your court, and you practice them and recognize the spin of the incoming ball. Note also the depth, and the speed, of the incoming ball and FEEL your underspin drop shots.
Seldom is there a need for you to hit a really hard backspin ball to stop it or to bounce it back into your court, as an unsuccessful one hands your opponent a winner.
Better to use the drop to make them run forwards, then you have sometime planned for their digging return...lob, angle, shot at the body.

 

[anubis]

I thought all drop shots were slice shots. To practice them, stand at the baseline and have your partner, or a ball machine hit at you. The key to executing them isn't to actually hit the ball, but you want to use the ball's pace to send it to just past the net. Don't focus on actually hitting the ball, it's more of a blocking shot with a lot of back spin. The harder your opponent's shot, the easier it is to use the pace given to you.

If you find that you're sending the ball too deep into your opponent's court, then you'r applying too much force on the ball. You don't need much force, if any.

If your opponent hits a really heavy topspin, then that will only make it more difficult for you. if you can anticipate that your opponent hit a lot of topspin, then I would advice against hitting a drop shot. Hit it back normally and wait for a better opportunity.

Sometimes, succeeding in tennis is just about keeping the ball in play long enough to be given the opportunity you're looking for. More often than not, it happens more often than you think.

what you're looking for is a relatively flat ball, or side spin ball, or a slice from your opponent.

 

[RogueFLIP]

Is there a difference between a drop shot and a "slice drop shot"? Seems like the only difference between a dropper and a slice is the amount of backspin and the target location.

I have a 2HBH....my "drop shot" kinda cuts under the ball and my follow thru is more at a downward motion rather than my 1 handed slice which my follow thru is more outward.

Now on more than one occassion, I've been pulled out wide to my BH and was just trying to just hit a regular slice and wound up hitting a "slice drop shot".
Completely fooled my opponents bc they said my motion looked exactly like my normal slice which I usually can get quite deep, so they didn't start to move up. Plus there was no arc of the ball like you normally see on a typical drop shot. My motion looked like a slice, and the ball coming over looked like a slice, but it landed shorter than my normal slice and just died once it bounced.

So, for me...there is a difference. My problem is I have no idea how to replicate the slice drop shot hahaha.

 

[goran_ace]

OP, this is an attacking shot. Your opponent behind his baseline and you inside of yours. If you hit it, don't count on it being a winner, you have to move forward and finish the point.

 

[djNEiGht]

...messing around playing touch tennis.

I pref to warm up playing touch/mini tennis. This helps w getting the feel of the delicate shots. Also good to play mini tennis when cooling down.

Also mentioned was hitting against the wall. Play within 5 ft or less. It helps me w control and quicker reflexes for doubles volley action. Those are so fun so it's good to practice.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ I agree that short-court tennis or mini-tennis is a great opportunity to work on drop shots. Not a bad idea to do the same thing from no-man's-land (mid-depth). You don't really want to execute drop shots from the baseline (or a deeper position) in matches unless you are playing on clay. I can hit decent drop shots from the baseline and sometimes do so against students in order for them to work on their split step, their powers of observation and their footspeed. Would not, however, execute a dropper from the baseline on a hardcourt in a competitive match (unless the situation was ideal).

Like most other posters here, I have no idea what the OP means by a standard drop shot. All proper drop shots are hit with backspin (aka slice). When you say "slice" are your referring to side spin rather than backspin (underspin)? Slice really only refers to sidespin when we are referring to serves (and not groundstrokes or volleys).

Note the steep-angle trajectory of the ball on the drop shot. A good drop shot is usually hit upward with backspin in such a manner that it falls at a steep angle for its bounce. A good dropper is not unlike an underspin lob. It has a similar trajectory but, obviously, the height & peak (depth) is different. A good (underspin) lob will be higher and and will usually peak on the opponent's side of the net. A good dropper will travel upward but not normally as high as the lob. It should peak on your own side of the net so that it drops just past the net.

Not a bad idea to work on some underspin lobs to get the general idea of hitting upward and getting the ball to drop at a steep angle. Use your a leg drive to assist the lifting of the ball. Note: you should can also use some leg drive when hitting drop shots. Bend your knees to set up for the shots. For the sale of disguise, you should assume the position .you would use if you were driving the ball.

 

[dominikk1985]

make sure that the apex of the shot is well in your field (about 10 feet maybe). if the apex is directly over the net it will drop too far.

better have the apex a little earlier and the ball flight higher although there are some situations where a short slice can be good (usually against a shorter and higher ball).

 

[Jay_The_Nomad]

Next season I'd like to focus on these shots as I've been totally negligent of practicing them or learning them (I figure I had to know how to serve and hit regular ground strokes first, the ABCs before going on). But I want to know, other than the factor of the opponent being far back, what type of ball coming at you would be best time to use a drop shot, or slice drop shot?

How do you practice your drop shots? Would have to get a player with ball hopper to feed me so I can go on dropping them..

You hit the drop shot as an alternative to hitting an attacking ground stroke to one of the corners.

So ideally, your opponent will be deep and the ball he gave you is short / inside the court. If you got really good hands you might be able to hit a droppe off a regular rally ball.

To hit the drop shot, you can either hit a short slice by abbreviating the punch action. Or you can come under the ball a bit through the shot. This second method is probably the legit drop shot, but personally I don't find it a consistent shot especially after pounding away on the groundies.

Usually in matches I hit the short slice. I find it more reliable than my real drop shot.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I recall seeing a decent demo/instruction video on the drop shot from Sportskool featuring Kournikova and Gilbert. Probably some other decent instruction videos out there as well. Or you might just look for some videos of drop shots from some of the great drop shot artists.

Roger Federer might be the best of the current crop of drop shotters. He probably owes much of his mastery of the drop shot to his early training in badminton and squash. Other current ATP drop shot artists include Murray, Gulbis, Janowicz, Monfils, Nadal, Ferrer, Melzer, Djokovic and Nishikori.

On the WTA side look to A Radwanska and Sara Errani. In the not too distant past some decent drop shot artists include Hingis, Sanchez-Vicario, Kournikova, Tarabini, and Dulko. ATP players of the past include Coria, Santoro, Bahrami, Safin, Nalbandian, McEnroe and Chang.

Radwanka and Errani
Kournikova compilation

Salzenstein drop shot lesson
Drop shot compilation
.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Question to the OP... Are you referring to a simple backspin (only) drop shot as a standard drop shot? Your slice terminology is confusing (see post #12). The "inside" BH drop shot that Salzenstein talks about (in the link in prev post), in addition to backspin (aka slice), incorporates sidespin and spiral spin. The sidespin, not slice (backspin), causes the ball to break left or right prior to the bounce. It is the presence of spiral spin, not sidespin, that actually causes the sideways bounce (out to the alley for the DTL drop shot).

 

[jussumman]

Question to the OP... Are you referring to a simple backspin (only) drop shot as a standard drop shot? Your slice terminology is confusing (see post #12). The "inside" BH drop shot that Salzenstein talks about (in the link in prev post), in addition to backspin (aka slice), incorporates sidespin and spiral spin. The sidespin, not slice (backspin), causes the ball to break left or right prior to the bounce. It is the presence of spiral spin, not sidespin, that actually causes the sideways bounce (out to the alley for the DTL drop shot).

I'm a little overwhelmed by all the replies and I appreciate your insights.

By "standard dropshop" I was referring to pretending I'm about to hit a big ground stroke and then curling thru the ball (underspin/backspin) so it's apex is on my side of the court and drops just over the net. By "slice drop shot" I was referring to what Jay The Nomad says "short slice" See his post #14 "To hit the drop shot, you can either hit a short slice by abbreviating the punch action. Or you can come under the ball a bit through the shot. This second method is probably the legit drop shot, but personally I don't find it a consistent shot especially after pounding away on the groundies. Usually in matches I hit the short slice. I find it more reliable than my real drop shot."

I wasn't even thinking of sidespin or spiral spin (maybe next step). But I've had a player hit me these really short slice shots and they almost die and make me come into the court (I call it the slice drop shot). I've also played with a much more skilled player who was able to drop shot right after the net for a winner hitting from baseline (point over). Two different type of drop shots.

I'm going to watch some of the links you posted, thanks. I can't practice them now but I can form a good visual and mental understanding of it to be ready when I can.

 

[jussumman]

make sure that the apex of the shot is well in your field (about 10 feet maybe). if the apex is directly over the net it will drop too far.

better have the apex a little earlier and the ball flight higher although there are some situations where a short slice can be good (usually against a shorter and higher ball).

Thanks. Good advice for an ideal drop shot trajectory.

LeeD, Anubis, and everyone else, also thanks for your replies, very helpful.