Passing shot from the middle of the court?

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Passing shot from the middle of the court?

by Dene
(Melbourne Australia)

This is a typical point that I play against a good net player: He serves right handed into my backhand with spin pulling the ball into my body.

I return a one handed right handed topspin backhand, usually I can manage to get the ball low to the net. He has come in to volley and usually volleys to the middle of the court, short and bouncing low..

This leaves me in an a poor position: he is in the middle of the net, and I have to dig up a low bouncing ball up to clear the net.

If I hit to the middle I am hitting toward the volleyer, If I try a lob it's a difficult one as I've had to dig the ball up anyway and the volleyer is not that far away, so he is covering that angle, hitting toward the lines gives me a very low margin for error as I'm hitting over the high parts of the net.

There do not seem to be many good options.

1. How do I best avoid getting into the situation in the first place?

2. If I am in this situation, what is my best option?

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Passing shot from the middle of the court?

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Feb 09, 2009
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A few options but your return is probably the better one
by: Anonymous

Tough one but there are ways out that will probably require practicing some new skills. More than anything I think you should try to work on your return. I'm saying that because you describe it as directed at him or close around his reach. I understand you may not at this time be able to aim anywhere else and it's understandable BUT... it used to be a hard wired habit of mine that most of my returns would go back right down the center and that's why I mention it. You actually have a few options.

This guy might have noticed that about your game and that's why he's consistently successful serving and volleying against you. A slight racket head angle may change the whole thing. It could be either down the line or aimed in a short angle to his left as he comes in. Both of these shots do not require lots of pace or anything, they are about placement.

A lob aimed down the line might work very well too. Or aimed to go over him as he comes in could stop him or force him to hit an uncomfortable overhead. Don't forget that as he comes in he gains speed and momentum, any ball that is even slightly not over his head will throw his footwork off and make it difficult for a successful overhead.

The last one. A torpedo back at him. It's legal and very discouraging... :-) not to mention the fact that it works like a frame seeking missile since it's harder to track the ball to the strings...

Hey I hope that helps a little. I'd say work on your return rather than what happens AFTER he hits it. You in control not him.

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Feb 09, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Tough one but there are ways out that will probably require practicing some new skills. More than anything I think you should try to work on your return. I'm saying that because you describe it as directed at him or close around his reach. I understand you may not at this time be able to aim anywhere else and it's understandable BUT... it used to be a hard wired habit of mine that most of my returns would go back right down the center and that's why I mention it. You actually have a few options. This guy might have noticed that about your game and that's why he's consistently successful serving and volleying against you. A slight racket head angle may change the whole thing. It could be either down the line or aimed in a short angle to his left as he comes in. Both of these shots do not require lots of pace or anything, they are about placement. A lob aimed down the line might work very well too. Or aimed to go over him as he comes in could stop him or force him to hit an uncomfortable overhead. Don't forget that as he comes in he gains speed and momentum, any ball that is even slightly not over his head will throw his footwork off and make it difficult for a successful overhead. The last one. A torpedo back at him. It's legal and very discouraging... :-) not to mention the fact that it works like a frame seeking missile since it's harder to track the ball to the strings... Hey I hope that helps a little. I'd say work on your return rather than what happens AFTER he hits it. You in control not him.

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Feb 09, 2009
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Forgot one very important....
by: Anonymous

Stand in a different receiving place altogether. Your new position might make him choose a different serve when he sees that you're setting up to go around the ball and return a forehand. This way you might never see that awful serve again! Nothing like having your opponent guessing or having to change his comfy and proven strategy... Or stand 10 feet behind the baseline (this depends on the serve's pace) and give yourself more time to set up for your down the line shot.

How about moving in as he's never seen it before? What's he going to do... anything that makes him change those methods he beats you with...

Good Luck!

Feb 09, 2009
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return
by: Walter

Hi,

1. work on your return

a. shot selection (trajectory and ball controls)
b. return position

2. play the the volley return

a. soft and low
b. hard to the body
c. to the weaker volley (there is always a weaker side)

Have fun and remember tennis with passion!

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Passing shot from the middle of the court?

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Passing shot from the middle of the court?