Hello. Thanks for stopping by. Have you ever noticed how your second match against somebody you had never played before is often much easier than the first time? Once you get to know their strengths and weaknesses, their preferences, and their patterns, deciding what strategies to use is much easier.
Hi, I'm Adrian, lifelong player and coach, and here on Personal Best Tennis we explore ways to compete better, starting with the strokes you've already got. It can take a lot of repetition and practice to change technique, but very little time to understand how to play smarter!
Today we look at how to pick up early clues about a new opponent's groundstroke game, starting in the warm-up.
1.Ideal Strike Height?
The first useful thing to look at is their preferred strike height. So, in the warm up send them balls that bounce at different heights. Do they look more comfortable when it is around waist level? Do they seem to hit the ball harder off a lower ball? How about shoulder height? Do they have more trouble with that? Try out both forehands and backhands. Players who hit a double-handed backhand often have less trouble with high balls than single-handed players.
It is a function of the type of grip used. An extreme western grip for the forehand for example, is an ideal grip for a high bouncing ball. At the other end of the scale, a continental grip is ideal for very low bouncing balls, but uncomfortable for those high bounces!
Double-handed backhand players find high balls a lot easier than those using one hand. Watch the outcome of balls hit off different heights, and notice their grips. In my experience players usually have more trouble with higher bouncing balls.
Forehand or Backhand Preference?
Float some balls right down the middle of the court. Some players will choose to take these on the backhand. If they hit comfortably it could mean they feel more confident off that side. Useful to know in a tight situation. If they hit it awkwardly it could mean they are not so confident on that side and want more practice in the warm up.
Movement?
Feed a few balls short, some deep, some a little wider. What do you notice about your opponent's movement? Do they move equally well in all directions? What do they look more comfortable doing? Moving side to side? Up and back? Do they look 'bouncy' or 'sluggish'?
Sliced backhand?
A useful thing to learn is whether your opponent is confident hitting a sliced backhand off a wide ball. Even double-handed players need to be able to hit a single-handed backhand slice off a very wide ball.
Watch the comfort level? Is their grip change done early? Noting this can help in anticipating a drop shot from them off that side.
Test conclusions
After the match warm-up you will have come to a few tentative conclusions about your opponent. The first few games of the opening set is the time to put these to the test. It may well pay you to avoid going for quick points, to give you a greater opportunity to see them hit more shots. Playing steadily, extending the rallies, can be much more valuable to you in the later stages of a close match than winning the early points very quickly, and learning very little! The smartest players work out the best plays to use on big points. So, try to be more observant, even in the warm-up, you may spot things that you can use effectively against tough opposition.
Be sure to catch the video on what to look for in your opponent's serve, that could make all the difference between a close loss and a win!
Bye for now. Happy Hitting!