Where should I hit this approach shot? (CC or DTL)

[Chadillac]

Never approach cross court unless it really offensive, hit a drop shot up the line if you stand that close to the net and he is over there. It will make him move in the next time, making the deep one even more effective

 

[samarai]

why would u not go down the line? all the money u spent on lessons and this is a question u need answered? why would u hit it stragiht back to him?

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Because CC approach shot to the BH

 

[Wise one]

See my response to the OP above. Also, as I think you know, very few modern pro players understand the fundamentals of high percentage net play.

yep, all of them are morons!

 

[Wise one]

I can't speak for you. But, I do know that most pros don't know how to play the net or volley very effectively compared to the pros of the Big Game era. Did you see my posts 21 and 23?

Yep, all of them are morons!

 

[Wise one]

A CC approach shot is a tactical error at the pro level even moreso than the rec level.

Yep! Unfortunately, an all-too-common one!

 

[Dartagnan64]

Because CC approach shot to the BH

The purpose of the approach shot is to get an error or sitter you can volley away with ease. The best way to do that is to make the opponent hit the shot on the move. Most rec players cannot hit a passing shot on the dead run, at least not reliably.

So if someone is camping out in the ad court protecting his backhand, every approach shot should be to the deuce court until he realizes he can't just sit over there expecting you to try to hit to his BH.

You have the short ball. That's a huge advantage. You have to be able to put that anywhere in the court reliably. Then you have to not show tendencies. If I knew you were going to hit every approach to my BH, I'd be camping over there too. And ready to hit a DTL winning passing shot everytime.
My wife hits almost all her approaches from the FH side CC too. I know its coming so I'm already sprinting over there to intercept. I've told her I know its coming, but she still does it. You can't be totally predictable. People will figure you out.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

You can't be totally predictable. People will figure you out.

The only exception is if, even though they know where it's going, they still can't deal with it. Example would be someone with a lousy backhand: I don't care if they know I'm approaching to his BH. Until he shows me he can pass me reliably, I'll just keep attacking that weakness.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I started hitting DTL for my approach.

I like mixing this up.
Sometimes, I still go CC to the BH.
I like that I am in position for a volley when I go DTL..

Righties are probably told to approach DTL since that goes to the BH.
I was trained to go CC, to attack the BH.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I started hitting DTL for my approach.

I like mixing this up.
Sometimes, I still go CC to the BH.
I like that I am in position for a volley when I go DTL..

It's good to mix things up and not be predictable. If you can hit that FH with as much pace DTL as you do CC, that's a good weapon to have.

Righties are probably told to approach DTL since that goes to the BH.
I was trained to go CC, to attack the BH.

I was trained to go DTL, regardless of whether I or my opponent is righty or lefty. It's due to court geometry.

The exception is if my opponent has a pronounced weakness on one side; then I'll usually attack the weakness.

 

[Raul_SJ]

If his Div I coach has trained him to go CC on a short ball, that may be the the right play.

He is a lefty attacking their backhand with an aggressive forehand approach.

The opponent's passing options:
1) Redirect a deep ball down the line with their backhand.
2) Hit a sharp angle cross court backhand.

Both passing options are difficult for a 3.5 backhand.

Given the diagram in the OP, I think the geometry works out for an aggressive deep CC lefty approach. After hitting the deep approach, move towards the center and force the opponent to pass with their backhand. Make them prove that they can execute that backhand pass.

 

[weelie]

"Thinking aloud" is good. But clearly, if you have a guy sitting on his backhand side, the gap is on his forehand side. And the basic law is the DTL for approach shots as you need to follow the ball to the net, so for a CC shot you have too much distance to cover to move to position on the other side of the court.. plus your CC shot takes longer to reach the opponent, he has more than to react. Also likely a guy who has a weak backhand and takes your CC approach with the backhand usually goes down the line on the passing shot anyway, so better to cover that well. (If he is a bit slow, probably more likely to go DTL on the forehand passing shot too, as quicker to run around to that? If a guy gives me )

For CC... I'd rather go for an extreme CC (corner of service box) and move to no man's land to wait for the weak reply and kill it to the other corner. I do this a lot, because my backhand is my strongest shot for the final kill (usually). I also do 1+2 with serve out wide to forehand and then backhand to the BH corner.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I have been hitting this approach shot DTL and mixing it up a lot better.
Even making the opponent take ONE extra step towards the ball can ruin his shot.
Placement is everything. Mixing up shot selection also frustrates the opponent, and makes you look like a genius when he guesses wrong 3-4x in a row (random luck)

 

[FiReFTW]

Most of the time DTL is better as you leave less room for opponent to pass you, CC is a more dangerous aproach shot, and imo should be used only if opponent is on the other side of the court or past the middle so he has to run towards the ball, if he is already set at CC its tougher than going DDL, since he is set and you have alot of space you need to cover in a short amount of time to ur side, otherwise u leave a huge open space for him to pass you.