the drop shot return of a drop shot

[YonexDude]

i keep getting beat by a pusher who drop shots me every chance he gets. i get to 95% of all of his drop shots, but since i break into a full sprint in order to get to the ball, i have trouble with the shot i hit in return to his drop shot. i can't take a full cut at the ball, so i end up poking it back and he puts it away for a winner or lobs me. how can i return his drop shot with a dropper of my own? is that what i should be doing?

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Or knocking it up the line and covering the net.

The bigger issue to me is how often he is able to effectively drop shot you. Most of these threads around here are the prevention of opponents tactics. Most of the time the cause is a lack of your own tactics.

You've got to keep the ball consistantly deep to prevent an offensive drop shot. Play inside the baseline and pay attention to his patterns. With your own game plan and offensive play, you'll prevent good drop shots from being hit. If he is still able to hit them, you will be better prepared to hit your own offensive shot off of them.

If you're drop shotting him back and he is putting them away for winners or lobs, two things might be happening. Either you're hitting awful drop shots or your opponent know what's coming because you're very predictable. You say you can't take a cut at the ball and go for a winner, why not? Why is your opponent able to do that?

The bottom line is this. Don't fall into any patterns and become predictable. Come out with a game plan of your own to destroy your oponents plan.

With that said, I get drop-shotted and lobbed all the time...

 

[XFactorer]

Well, first I'd like to congratulate on you being such an awesome person for picking the Yonex RDS001 MP racquets.

Anyway... my advice would be to head up to net if all he does is do drop shots as a return of serve... this way you can (hopefully) make a good volley and dictate points. Otherwise, learn to hit on the full run and stuff. I have a lot of opponents who hit drop shots and I hate goin' to net so I'm always rushed up there and I get to most of them... sometimes I slice it down the line other times I'd take my chances and take a full swing at the ball (hitting it cross court over the lower part of the net). If my opponent dinks it over into the center of the court, then I just have to get creative and dink it back or do something.

Hope that helps.

 

[KingOfTennis]

i rekon u shuld probably lob it into the baseline which will prepare u for their attack and run back behind the baseline.

 

[YonexDude]

you're hitting awful drop shots

That is pretty much what i am doing, i'd like to know how i can hit a nice angled drop-shot back at him. they always end up being terrible!

 

[103xStateChamp]

Pushers dont hit winners.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

I pretty much agree with Bottle Rocket that you are causing your own problems, here.

If an opponent dropshots you once or twice in a match, OK. SURPRISE! You run and do what you can. If the opponent dropshots you "every chance he gets" then the problem is yours.

Obviously, if he was not successful, he would not continue to dropshot you.

What to do about it.

Your choices include: dropshot back (if he stays back deep. Volley deep and force him to hit a low percentage passing shot or lob (you need good volley/overhead skills for this to work.

The best thing would be to watch for his patterns, motions/be observant/anticipate. Then get in quick and put the ball away before it drops below the net- This will cause him to stop doing that and try something else.

In addition, you should try some of the things mentioned above. Keep the ball deep, keep pressure on the opponent. Vary your shots so he can't get too comfortable hitting them back (change your shot paterns, spin, pace, speed...)

The best possible thing you can do is start a program for improving the weak aspects of your game (the ones opponents take advantage of).

Instead of just playing a game for fun, work with a partner on specific shots and tactics. Buy a book of drills and strategies and work on these things.

Good luck,

B

 

[coach]

personally I notice that the guys around here, in Los Angeles, who are 4.0 to 4.5's will hit a drop shot off my drop shot, so I am already running toward them and pick it off... but the BETTER players will just push it deep-- slice even, to the baseline when I am running in and then I'm screwed.

Since you mentioned not having time to do much with it when you get to it, I would say you need to recognize it sooner, anticipate it, most people don't disquise them all that well.. look at his racquet position before the drop... he probably isn't looping it so part of you getting there early I would say is anticipating it and getting that quick jump on it..

so many people also play AT or behind the baseline-- their protective blanket. Many feel naked or exposed just inside the baseline but if your opponent is not continually hitting deep or pushing you back I say get out of the comfort zone and get into a more assertive or aggressive place on the court.

 

[Andres]

i rekon u shuld probably lob it into the baseline which will prepare u for their attack and run back behind the baseline.

Are you nuts!?
If you're at the net, and you lob them into the baseline, you should stay in the net, perhaps, a couple of steps closer to the service line! You close the angles for the attack, and most likely, the other guy is going to throw a defensive lob, so you can smash it.