Match Tactics – A Few Of My Favorites

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GENERAL THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

  • ALL YOU CAN ASK FOR IN A MATCH IS TO PLAY ON YOUR OWN TERMS.
  • Nothing has a more devastating effect on your opponent than consistent play.
  • PLAN YOUR PLAY AND PLAY YOUR PLAN. Think tactically not technically as you “play your plan”.
  • Know your RALLY SPEED FOR % TENNIS.
  • How can you hit shots that HIDE YOUR WEAKNESS?
  • How do you make them play an all court game?
  • KEEP AN EYE ON RECOVERING. HIT SHOTS YOU CAN TRACK DOWN.
  • Ask yourself :  Will it set up a point? Will it neutralize the point? Will it defense the point?
  • Understand the court, cover the court, take time away from your opponent, and transition from defense to offense.

SPECIFIC THINGS TO REMEMBER

  • Go BIG early. Take some early cuts at the ball. It will help as the match progresses.
  • Against a big hitter, open up the court.
  • HEAVY TOPSPIN PLAYERS LIKE TO PASS CROSS COURT.  FLAT HITTERS LIKE TO GO DOWN THE LINE.
  • THE SUN
    –  1 O’CLOCK SUN is toughest for a right handed server
    –  11 O’CLOCK SUN is toughest for a left handed server
  • LOBBING
    –  When LOBBING WITH the wind – AIM HIGHER.
    –  When LOBBING AGAINST the wind – AIM LOWER
  • RETURNING SERVE:
    –  Pick the ball at the top of the bounce
    –  Most deep serves are returned cross court
    –  Deuce court -shallow serves are returned down-the-line (DTL)
    –  Ad court -shallow serves are returned cross court
  • POACHING – Best times to POACH in Doubles
    –  When your partner serves
    –  When your partner returns serve
    –  After your partner hits an overhead
  • HOW to GET to the Net in SINGLES:
    – By forcing the serve
    – By forcing the return
    – Attacking a short ball
    – Hitting an offensive lob
  • Where to AIM on your Down the Line PASSING SHOTS:
    – Inside the service line is too short and too risky.
    – Just past the service line is perfect.
    – Hitting the ball close to the baseline is too high over the net.
  • ON ATTACKING A SHORT BALL:  DON’T BE TENTATIVE. WORK ON EXACTING POSITIONS. THE MORE AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE WITH YOUR FEET THE MORE CONFIDENT YOU ARE WITH YOU SHOT. COMMIT AND TRUST IT.
  • WORK on SHOTS that SHORTEN and LENGTHEN your BACK SWING.
  • AN APPROACH SHOT SHOULD BE LIKE A SECOND SERVE, DON’T DOUBLE FAULT BUT DON’T BABY IT.