You just drop shot your opponent. What do you do next??

[Wise one]

Wait for the curses of your opponent, who believes you are some sort of evil monkey!

 

[M_k 87]

Federer generally does this, if it looks like his opponent can get to the ball, usually positioning himself just behind the service line. IMHO, he's a good one to study for proper court position after a drop shot.

Thanks @IowaGuy for the vid! Anyone else notice that Fedr hits virtually all backhand slices to the deuce court and forehand slices to the ad court?! The natural side spin sends it toward the sideline, making it even more difficult to get to. Brilliant!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Thanks @IowaGuy for the vid! Anyone else notice that Fedr hits virtually all backhand slices to the deuce court and forehand slices to the ad court?! The natural side spin sends it toward the sideline, making it even more difficult to get to. Brilliant!

In the videos I watch, Federer mostly slices crosscourt to his right-handed opponent's backhand, not to his opponent's FH in the Deuce court.

 

[IowaGuy]

In the videos I watch, Federer mostly slices crosscourt to his right-handed opponent's backhand, not to his opponent's FH in the Deuce court.

This is definitely true for his BH slices in general, but his BH slice drop shots go ~90% to the opponent's deuce court.

He follows a familiar pattern with his BH slice drop shots. It usually follows a deep crosscourt BH topspin, inside-out FH, or big kick serve which pulls his opponent wide and deep on their ad side. Then, with their deuce side wide open, he hits the short dropper. Sweet!

I've been working to incorporate this pattern into my own play, it can be deadly if you can disguise the dropshot with the racket prep of your normal BH. Fed has incredible disguise, it's rare that someone reads his BH dropper!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

This is definitely true for his BH slices in general, but his BH slice drop shots go ~90% to the opponent's deuce court.

He follows a familiar pattern with his BH slice drop shots. It usually follows a deep crosscourt BH topspin, inside-out FH, or big kick serve which pulls his opponent wide and deep on their ad side. Then, with their deuce side wide open, he hits the short dropper. Sweet!

I've been working to incorporate this pattern into my own play, it can be deadly if you can disguise the dropshot with the racket prep of your normal BH. Fed has incredible disguise, it's rare that someone reads his BH dropper!

Ah, OK; I mis-interpreted what you wrote. I agree. But it's not just Federer who does this; virtually everyone else follows the same pattern [BH drop shot DTL].

People with a 1HBH have an easier time pulling this off, IMO, because their off hand is already on the throat for balance. I have a 2HBH and if I move my hand up to the throat, I give away the fact that I'm going to hit a 1HBH [although he doesn't know whether it will be a normal slice or a DS]. If I don't move my hand up to the throat, I have good disguise but I don't feel as comfortable hitting the DS from this position.

 

[IowaGuy]

I have a 2HBH and if I move my hand up to the throat, I give away the fact that I'm going to hit a 1HBH [although he doesn't know whether it will be a normal slice or a DS]. If I don't move my hand up to the throat, I have good disguise but I don't feel as comfortable hitting the DS from this position.

Agassi had a nice dropper with 2HBH prep. Might just take some practice to feel comfortable?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Agassi had a nice dropper with 2HBH prep. Might just take some practice to feel comfortable?

Make that "a lot" of practice!

 

[dominikk1985]

Btw a drop shot isn't a "safe shot". Against good opponents it has to be executed well so that he either doesn't get to it or gets to it well below net height (ideally close to the ground). If you hit a high and long dropper against a good opponent and he can take a full cut on it around net cord height you are usually toast no matter where you stand.

In many cases a ground stroke or approach shot is actually the better choice, only do droppers if you are quite sure you can hit a good one.

 

[Simon_the_furry]

I would say still come in behind a weak drop shot if it has a lower trajectory and ends up more of a short slice.
If it sits up too high, stay back or you're basically done.