What do you do with the wind?

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Today we had our first match of the adult season. In Delaware it is always cold and windy early in the season and this seems to be the big equalizer.

Today I played singles against a guy that I smoked 2 seasons ago. On that day two years ago it was warm and still ... I completely out hit him and felt great doing it.

Today the weather stunk ... we played on crappy courts with no wind breaks and although I did win the match, nothing about it was satisfying. There were points in the match I felt like an 8 year old playing ping pong. Just knocking the ball back and forth being careful no to put in to close to the sidelines because the wind would move it 8-24 inches almost unpredictably.

So the question is what strategies do you employ when the conditions are awful?

 

[tennis005]

Just stay in it no matter how unpleasant it is. Good footwork is also very helpful.

 

[pyrokid]

Into the wind (usually around 30 mph or none around here), I hit INCREDIBLY heavy topspin shots, significantly harder than usual, but up about maybe four or so feet above the net. It works well, because the ball bounces really high for a regular rally ball, and makes it much more likely the opponent will spray the ball long. When I have to be aggressive, I flatten it out a lot, and try to follow it in. At the net, dropshots are great. Even if they see them coming, they can't do anything about them, as about half the time they'll bounce back into the net.
Hitting with the wind, I also try to hit really heavy, but lower over the net and with more pace. That makes the ball really jump up at them.
Also try to get into the net on this side. (It's a generally useful tactic, as the wind has less time to blow the ball off course.) Lots of slice at the net. It bounces low, and makes it really hard to hit topspin off of that ball, and they usually pop something up for you to whack.

If it's going to either side, hit in the direction of the wind at a short angle.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Interesting to read Pyrokid's remarks. 'Cause I played in some serious wind today, and I really didn't know what to do.

I was serving with the wind at my back (with some crosswind going from right to left). I'm sorry, but I had a devil of a time with this, as my serves kept going long at first. Not to mention the difficulty with keeping my toss to my right.

So I kind of improvised. I aimed my serves toward the right. I deliberately aimed my tosses too far to my right, letting the wind bring it back to me. And I did not, under any circumstances, lob.

It was tough sledding, but my opponents were struggling as much or more. So it's all good.

Is the consensus that it is easier to serve into the wind rather than with the wind?

 

[larry10s]

in fl. there is always some wind. up to 10-15 mph its not too disturbing once you are used tp it. past 20 mph its a real factor. agree with most of pyros comments would add tho
wind side to side if angle WITH the wind it blows it past the opponent. if you angle into the wing yes you can hit it harder and less chance of going wide but the wind holds it up for the opponent to get to.
in real tough wind problem serving into a 20 mph wind is your serve has nothing on it when it gets to receiver. so now they have a short ball with the wind adding 20mph to thier ground stroke.(watch out net person).
with the wind at your back you need more spin to get the ball down but the decrease in pace from more spin is offset be the tubo charge of the wind.

 

[JavierLW]

Interesting to read Pyrokid's remarks. 'Cause I played in some serious wind today, and I really didn't know what to do.

I was serving with the wind at my back (with some crosswind going from right to left). I'm sorry, but I had a devil of a time with this, as my serves kept going long at first. Not to mention the difficulty with keeping my toss to my right.

So I kind of improvised. I aimed my serves toward the right. I deliberately aimed my tosses too far to my right, letting the wind bring it back to me. And I did not, under any circumstances, lob.

It was tough sledding, but my opponents were struggling as much or more. So it's all good.

Is the consensus that it is easier to serve into the wind rather than with the wind?

It's easier to keep the ball in obviously, but if you can somehow get the ball in on the side with the wind it's better. (because it's more aggressive)

When Im serving with the wind in singles, I usually move out toward the corners more like I would in doubles, that puts more distance between me and the service box.

And since their shots are going to get slowed down by the wind I have enough time to cover all the court that Im giving up.

I think playing against the wind in doubles is very difficult when your opponents are good at the net. If the ball gets hung up in the wind that makes it even easier for them to put it away at the net.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I think playing against the wind in doubles is very difficult when your opponents are good at the net. If the ball gets hung up in the wind that makes it even easier for them to put it away at the net.

Probably because of my poor technique and because the ball was arriving either slower of faster than I expected I was having a lot of difficulty volleying. I like to serve and volley in singles but I had to change my plan.

I ended up purposely not taking anything out of the air on my first volley. I took a smaller than normal approach after the serve, played the ball off the bounce and then followed that in. Eventually I was able to make that work for me, but I felt dirty afterwards. Not at all like the "Sampras-esk" vision of myself I want to believe.

 

[Ad0ut]

Footwork is key. Keep making those small adjustment steps to help you stay in balance. As for serving, really focus on keeping the toss consistent. Helps if your toss isn't too high.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Is the consensus that it is easier to serve into the wind rather than with the wind?

If I could pick I would hit first serves with the wind and 2nd serves against the wind. I am tall, so the flat serve is only aided by the extra umpf the wind provides. I can hit the second serve hard enough to cut through the wind and keep it in, which is sometimes harder with the wind at my back.

 

[pyrokid]

wind side to side if angle WITH the wind it blows it past the opponent. if you angle into the wing yes you can hit it harder and less chance of going wide but the wind holds it up for the opponent to get to.

Wait, didn't I say that?

And I just played in some pretty decent wind (our school courts are on the top of a hill.) so I got some stuff figured out for doubles, too.

First off, NEVER lob high. The wind gets more unpredictable the higher you go, and so even though it's really windy down on the court, it you lob it really long into the wind, there's a good chance the wind is either stronger or weaker up there, and that varies the depth of your shot by a lot, especially because it's so high and has so little momentum.
With that being said, get into the net ASAP. Ever if it means taking risks. Because with two good volleyers in at the net, a passing shot will be incredibly hard, and that forces them to lob.
Chips can be very effective here. A chip is hard to return well period, but because the wind has so much effect on them, in the wind it can be crazy. I got about 10 points off of chips that they sailed or didn't get over.

That's just from my experience, I'll keep trying new things each windy meet and tell you guys what works and what doesn't. Obviously, not everything I said will be good advice for you, as you might be great at lobs, or terrible at chips. But it worked for me, so there's a good chance the same will happen for you.

Most importantly, though, NEVER B#$@# ABOUT THE WIND.
Both sides have to deal with it, so whining about it makes you look like a sore loser, it brings down your team/partner to hear your negativity, and it gives the other team hope. Not to mention, it has no effect on what the wind actually does.
That last bit was one of the best bits of advice I've gotten this season. In junior high, I hated the wind, and blamed it for everything when I played in it. This year, I got over that, and I play about twice as well in the wind because of the lack of negativity.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Avoid powerful shots that aim for lines.

 

[mental midget]

i listen to the wind. to the wind of my soul.

 

[coloskier]

Wind behind you, hit at 75% with more topspin and the ball will jump into your opponent. Forget about lobbing. Same with the serve. Hit at 80-90% and make sure the 1st one goes in. His return will almost inevitably be a floater because he is hitting into the wind that you can put away easier.

Wind in your face, hit harder, use the lob more frequently, and attack the net. It will be harder for your opponent to lob over your head because the ball will carry long, and if he tries to pass you, he has to back off on his shots or they will go long or wide.

Wind coming from the side, try to avoid aiming for the line on the downwind side because it will probably be blown wide, but make it a point to go for the lines on the upwind side because the wind will keep it in.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Wait, didn't I say that?


With that being said, get into the net ASAP. Ever if it means taking risks. Because with two good volleyers in at the net, a passing shot will be incredibly hard, and that forces them to lob.

+1. When I came into net in my match, I rarely had to hit a volley. Forcing your opponents to lob or hit passing shots means they have to do the most difficult things in the most difficult conditions.

Wind rewards the players with the better footwork and technique. A lot of folks my level still push and/or cannot hit with spin. There's not much they can do to adjust to wind.

 

[sureshs]

Pretend it came from somebody else

 

[rasajadad]

i listen to the wind. to the wind of my soul.

I break the wind.

 

[ProgressoR]

when its windy here, its very windy, the balls lying on the ground moving across the court at walking pace. And it blows lenghtwise on the court not across. When hitting into the wind, i really go all out top spin, knowing it will never go long, and the spin can help the ball cut through the wind and not lose pace. Hitting groundies with the wind, its a gently stroke, aiming to hit no deeper than the sevice line, again with top spin but higher path, so it bounces very high into the opponent.

Serving into wind is better, as my serve is spinny. Serving with the wind, again a gentle stroke, perhaps one which i would normally net.

Have to watch the ball carefully, but inevitably you will be out of position very often, then its a case of just getting the ball back any which way.

I hate playing in strong wind, but will if i have to. Its more a case of who copes the best, as long as skill level is similar.