What are your in game strategies?

ssonosk

ssonosk

Semi-Pro
What are some shots/plans you use to win points?

1. I try to get into bh to bh cross court rallies then either: hit an extreme angle with lots of spin off my bh, or go for a flat inside out shot.

2. Serve & volley

3. In a cross court rally hit a flat dtl then rush the net

4. Penetrate the court by stepping into all my shots and either: wait for an error, winner opportunity, or drop shot if they're far from the baseline.

5. hit to one side of the cour continuously, and catch my opponent wrong footed

I can't really think of anything else atm, but what are some of your strategies?
 
It varies a lot, but some things I always do:

--see how they handle the low ball at their feet. Some people don't do well with this shot, particularly tall players.

--test the BH both deep and short

--see how they do with a slow, spinney serve. I see a lot of players pound this into the net with surprising regularity. Sometimes I nearly get killed trying this, so I have to be on my toes.

Beyond that, I look for their tendencies, then figure the best way to deal with them.
 
Maui19 said:
--see how they do with a slow, spinney serve. I see a lot of players pound this into the net with surprising regularity. Sometimes I nearly get killed trying this, so I have to be on my toes.

Beyond that, I look for their tendencies, then figure the best way to deal with them.
Click to expand...

lol one way to get a free easy point is if you're serving bombs back to back is throw in a slow kick serve. So many people either get aced, or they give a weak return. Also going for broke doing 1st serves on 2nd usually gets points if you make it.
 
I like to play cc forehand to forehand and then wait for them to hit dtl to my bh.From there it's easy to step up from the baseline and hit a flat bh on the rise cross court to put them under pressure.
 
gregor.b said:
I like to play cc forehand to forehand and then wait for them to hit dtl to my bh.From there it's easy to step up from the baseline and hit a flat bh on the rise cross court to put them under pressure.
Click to expand...

unless you are5.0 or better
you are dreaming
icbw
 
-I usually like to work the point cross court and gradually increase pace and then approach net or go dtl on a short ball.
-slice some backhands short to bring them in a little and then hit some deep topspin.
-on someones weaker side (say backhand) mix in different paces like some floaty spinny junk, slice, high topspin, drive
-get the forehand topspin to bounce high and deep out of the strike zone, usually on the backhand
-slice the serve wide on the deuce side and then hit back to that same side to go behind them.

Pretty much just trying to get them to play shots or situations they aren't strong at. For someone with weak volleys I try to use drop shots and short slices to bring them in, if they aren't consistent just play the percentages, hit cross court, reduce your errors. It mostly depends on their habits and strongest/weakest shots. If it works, I keep doing it, unless they adjust.
 
Serve tactics are the most important, that is how you really setup the point. If you can force something to happen, then you can be in command. If you are waiting for rallys to present themselves well, then you are being reactive.

So, tactics 101...
use your best serve, variate with the other when they don't expect it, and do not overuse jam serve, but USE it by the love of god.

I usually jam serve on the first points of the first games, they don't usually expect that.

On serve return, hit to the corner where the other guy is serving regarldess of side on first serves, its high percentage.

IF your opponent reads what you are doing, then you add more tactics and change, if not you are in for a cruise into the next round or you will get a beer or bragging rights for a day or whatever you egomaniac tennis players put on the line. hehehehe
 
larry10s said:
unless you are5.0 or better
you are dreaming
icbw
Click to expand...

hitting backhand half volleys aren't hard for me, I'd say that hitting forehand half volleys are harder.

salsainglesa said:
Serve tactics are the most important, that is how you really setup the point. If you can force something to happen, then you can be in command. If you are waiting for rallys to present themselves well, then you are being reactive.

So, tactics 101...
use your best serve, variate with the other when they don't expect it, and do not overuse jam serve, but USE it by the love of god.

I usually jam serve on the first points of the first games, they don't usually expect that.

On serve return, hit to the corner where the other guy is serving regarldess of side on first serves, its high percentage.

IF your opponent reads what you are doing, then you add more tactics and change, if not you are in for a cruise into the next round or you will get a beer or bragging rights for a day or whatever you egomaniac tennis players put on the line. hehehehe
Click to expand...

honestly i'm in the process of re-doing my serve so it's not exactly that accurate. I only hit second serve kickers, but I usually try to either hit down the T or out wide.
 
I find myself constantly attacking my opponent's forehand, and sometimes I get punished for it.

When their forehand breaks down, the match is mine, when it doesn't, things get interesting
 
Become a wall with legs - chase hard and fight for every point

Only go to the net to shake hands

Do not change direction

No high-risk shots such as drop shot, tweener, crazy angle, drop volley, etc.

Lob, lob, lob (to backhand side)

Use my strength (backhand) to finish point

There's only one tactic - hit the ball in. (this is my problem - I need a plan B)
 
My strategy varies depending on my opponent:

If my opponent is an offensive baseliner, I go for loopers and slice until I get a short ball. If it sits up, I go for the big backhand DTL, if not, IO forehand.

If my opponent is a defensive baseliner, I try to take control of the point with my forehand and force an attackable ball to my backhand, which I then either smack wide crosscourt or DTL.

If my opponent is a net rusher, I try to copy-paste my strategy against the offensive baseliner, except that when he comes to the net, I try to force him to volley to my backhand. I absolutely luuurve hitting backhand passing shots, especially half-volley passing shots.
 
Serve & Volley - 50%, Rip/Chip and Charge - 20-25%.

During rallies, keep the ball low and deep using flat/underspin. Wait for a short ball to approach, using flat/underspin approaches.

NO topspin or slice! Topspin is reserved only for passing shots :)
 
First choice was hit an ace or take the weak return and knock it in the corner. Returning was just going for the return or else hitting the ball short, drawing the opponent in and hitting a passing shot. Just was looking for the one break a set.

Now I'm stuggling with what to do. I can't pound aces anymore and because of my limited movement I have trouble with short balls (I'm still fast once I get going, but can't start and stop so it's more of a problem for quick movement in the forecourt than covering shots in the backcourt). If people would just cooperate and hit the balls to me at the baseline so I don't have to run I'd be fine.
 
Last edited:
this morning, just for fun, i tried nadal's strategy of hitting every ball to this guy's backhand side. wow he crumbled real fast but this guy's backhand was really weak.
 
I like to serve wide from both sides and then attack the short return into the open space, and then occasionally throw in a t serve. Also quite like backhand angle followed by an inside in/out forehand.
 
1. First strike when serving using a huge forehand
2. Use heavy topspin and move the opponent around
3. Slice my backhand deep
4. Chip return then back to #2
 
My personal favorite is to get the opponent into a backhand rally crosscourt. Most of the time, my backhand is stronger, so I can pull them wider and wider until they either miss or go down the line, leaving the court open. If they get to the resulting shot that I hit to the open court, I can either hit the backhand crosscourt if they go down the line or start a forehand crosscourt rally.

I do this over and over and repeat :) Works like a charm. I also enjoy hitting short forehand slices and bringing the opponent in so I can pass them. It's great fun...if it works!
 
TheOneHander said:
My personal favorite is to get the opponent into a backhand rally crosscourt. Most of the time, my backhand is stronger, so I can pull them wider and wider until they either miss or go down the line, leaving the court open. If they get to the resulting shot that I hit to the open court, I can either hit the backhand crosscourt if they go down the line or start a forehand crosscourt rally.

I do this over and over and repeat :) Works like a charm. I also enjoy hitting short forehand slices and bringing the opponent in so I can pass them. It's great fun...if it works!
Click to expand...

I'll bet people get pretty PO'd at you for that lol :)
 
ssonosk said:
honestly i'm in the process of re-doing my serve so it's not exactly that accurate. I only hit second serve kickers, but I usually try to either hit down the T or out wide.
Click to expand...

That is good enough... with time you will get better, but your intent on serve is very important. Kick serve is no piece of cake to return, so you will start to recognize wich weak returns are more likely, and to see wich serve causes more trouble to each player you play with.
 
Close out the corners and finish at the net. Over half my rallies in serious competition are over in less the 5 shots.

Serve and volley off a good twist or slice serve.

Twist serve from Ad side then smash to open court.

Pretty simple game and it kills any slow moving opponent! :)

-Fuji
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
Stepping in to your forehands or hitting flat-footed??
Replies
13
Views
5K
ttbrowne
ttbrowne
Z
Stroke mechanics vs strategies
Replies
27
Views
3K
5263
5263
R
mixed strategies?
Replies
5
Views
1K
shojun25
S
mdhubert
Drop shot on your BH... what do you do ?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Rickson
Rickson
W
Winning Strategies for the Underdog
Replies
20
Views
3K
WilsonWand12
W
Back
Top