I understand your point as it pertains to raising your ability and game. However, there are strategies that are effective against aggressive baseliners such as pulling them into the court (they like to move side to side but not back and forth), varying your speed, spin and height, hitting deep and taking off all the pace so they overhit, going to net to rush them and hitting behind them.
Hi Ian, I think this might be an interesting subject to cover: how do you maintain your own style of play and stay true to your own rhythm with different opponents? I have noticed that I tend to mimic the styles of my opponents rather than keep playing the way I want to. For example, when I play against an aggressive guy I can also play aggressive and maintain on par with him. But when I play a pusher, who hits shots slowly, deep and with high bounces - then I can't find a way to be aggressive with him like I know I can be with other players. It seems like that the better my opponent is - the better I play, and the other way around. This makes playing with lower level opponents sometimes difficult and uncomfortable. So how do you stay true to your own style/speed/level with different opponents? I hope I explained it well. Thank you for the videos, they are very useful and interesting.
here are some of the plays i will use against an aggressive baseliner- Play 1: i would hit a high topspin shot which bounces near the baseline and towards the middle of the court to push him back and cut his angle, if he is impatient, he will often try to hit an aggressive shot to the corner which is lower percentage shot since the ball is high and he is in the middle of the court, harder to work angles there, and he can self destruct from that. Play 2: high topspin shot to the middle of the court to push him back, followed by another high topspin shot towards his backhand to push him off the court, preferably with the inside out forehand, and then move in to volley the ball or finish with an approach shot to the open court Play 3: low slice towards backhand to draw him in, followed by approach shot and volley Play 4: rally until you get a short ball, then approach down the middle into his body to cut angle and time, followed by a volley or an overhead Play 5: get into a forehand rally, then slice down the line to switch to backhand rallies, down the line again for forehand rallies. basically you are testing his patience, as well as making him move about and not build up momentum on his forehand or backhand by constantly switching. if he is impatient, he may go for a low percentage shot, which can be in your favor if he is not on fire that day.
I've found it's also helpful to try bringing them to the net. Most, but not all, heavy baseline hitters aren't the most comfortable at the net and I find I can lob, pass, or force an error to win the point. I think that strategy might help some players out.
Cody Werner always a good idea. Also practice your cross court FH and hit it w good pace pulling him off court similar to a serve that pulls him wide. See how he handles that and cross court slice BH and deep slice backhand w low to medium pace. Some power baseliners have problem generating pace of deep soft slices. Also when you get short ball come to the net to volley. Some baseliners get pressed when having to hit passing shots. The classic way to see a player beat a baseliner is watch McEnroe v Borg second Wimbledon final or more recently when Dustin Brown beat Rafa at Wimbledon a few years back. He never gave Rafa the same shot twice seemingly and destroyed his timing which baseliners thrive on. Course Dustin had a big serve and awesome volley and overhead. But the basic pattern is in both matches. You have to study stuff like this in earnest then practice it a lot then use it in a match. You probably surprise yourself.
Jason Sotiri That's a tough one, Jason. It's all about making adjustments! Typically you're going to see the fast (flat I assume you mean) serve 1st and the big kicker second. Generally speaking the best approach is to back up for the first serve (start two steps back from the baseline) and then move back into the baseline for the kick serve so it doesn't get way up out of your strike zone. Depending on the specific serves you may need to adjust, of course!
As a variant to this, I play many people at 3.5 who are neither true pushers nor aggressive b-liners, but they backboard everything and keep it deep right down the middle. If I go into the net they hit perfect lobs. It is the only style they have every played. I hit really heavy topspin right down the middle at them but with marginal success. How can I beat all these players 6-0, 6-0? :)
i'm not Ian but my take... try aiming more for the corners and, when you get an opportunity with a good approach, don't close too quickly on the net? you will get an overhead, half-volley or a high one. if you can hit those shots, that's when you get even more angle and make them really run for the short ones. then close further... if they lob you, they'll hit short sometimes and then it's an easy overhead. remember, with the overheads, the most common mistake is to hit it in the net. if that doesn't work and they are too perfect with their lobs, why not see how they like it? bring them to the net. if that doesn't work, find a weakness. just don't rush but break them down step-by-step.
The issue I have is when I hit back a heavy agressive ball with enough power to prevent him from bullying me, we start a rally of 10 until one of us misses, it goes on and on, we both get tired at the same rate but he wins most points in the end because he is the heavy hitter. - Volleys used to be decisive against him but recently I could not create openings because he bullied me faster so it's my fault. - However when I play medium-powered 'high' ball at the back, he cannot start his 10 ball rally which helps a lot. But when I try to vary my shots with an agressive ball, my bad technique fails me because I had to start the rally from a medium powered ball.
you just need to practice how to make them hit shots which are outside his comfort zone, like a high topspin shot to push him back, or a low slice to draw him in, or backhand/ forehand angle shots to make them move left and right. you don't want to hit a casual ball straight to their strike zone because that will mean they will have time to charge up his shot for the power, and then you will be on the defense. make them run about, a running shot is a lot more difficult than a shot you hit when it is coming towards you. basically, you want to make them run about while you control the middle of the court and wait for an opening to put an approach shot, a volley or an overhead away, or just wait for an unforced error
I understand your point as it pertains to raising your ability and game. However, there are strategies that are effective against aggressive baseliners such as pulling them into the court (they like to move side to side but not back and forth), varying your speed, spin and height, hitting deep and taking off all the pace so they overhit, going to net to rush them and hitting behind them.
Exactly, bringing them to the net frustrate them or let's say bore their game
I would have liked to have heard about some patterns of play against a baseline - ie like bringing them forward to an area they dont like playing
Hi Ian, I think this might be an interesting subject to cover: how do you maintain your own style of play and stay true to your own rhythm with different opponents? I have noticed that I tend to mimic the styles of my opponents rather than keep playing the way I want to. For example, when I play against an aggressive guy I can also play aggressive and maintain on par with him. But when I play a pusher, who hits shots slowly, deep and with high bounces - then I can't find a way to be aggressive with him like I know I can be with other players. It seems like that the better my opponent is - the better I play, and the other way around. This makes playing with lower level opponents sometimes difficult and uncomfortable. So how do you stay true to your own style/speed/level with different opponents? I hope I explained it well. Thank you for the videos, they are very useful and interesting.
Oh my god this is exactly me
4SeasonPro That's an awesome question! I've added it to my list of topics to use.
Hi Ian, did you ever do a video on this topic? Cheers
@@EssentialTennis
here are some of the plays i will use against an aggressive baseliner-
Play 1: i would hit a high topspin shot which bounces near the baseline and towards the middle of the court to push him back and cut his angle, if he is impatient, he will often try to hit an aggressive shot to the corner which is lower percentage shot since the ball is high and he is in the middle of the court, harder to work angles there, and he can self destruct from that.
Play 2: high topspin shot to the middle of the court to push him back, followed by another high topspin shot towards his backhand to push him off the court, preferably with the inside out forehand, and then move in to volley the ball or finish with an approach shot to the open court
Play 3: low slice towards backhand to draw him in, followed by approach shot and volley
Play 4: rally until you get a short ball, then approach down the middle into his body to cut angle and time, followed by a volley or an overhead
Play 5: get into a forehand rally, then slice down the line to switch to backhand rallies, down the line again for forehand rallies. basically you are testing his patience, as well as making him move about and not build up momentum on his forehand or backhand by constantly switching. if he is impatient, he may go for a low percentage shot, which can be in your favor if he is not on fire that day.
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!
I've found it's also helpful to try bringing them to the net. Most, but not all, heavy baseline hitters aren't the most comfortable at the net and I find I can lob, pass, or force an error to win the point. I think that strategy might help some players out.
Cody Werner Great idea!
Cody Werner always a good idea. Also practice your cross court FH and hit it w good pace pulling him off court similar to a serve that pulls him wide. See how he handles that and cross court slice BH and deep slice backhand w low to medium pace. Some power baseliners have problem generating pace of deep soft slices. Also when you get short ball come to the net to volley. Some baseliners get pressed when having to hit passing shots. The classic way to see a player beat a baseliner is watch McEnroe v Borg second Wimbledon final or more recently when Dustin Brown beat Rafa at Wimbledon a few years back. He never gave Rafa the same shot twice seemingly and destroyed his timing which baseliners thrive on. Course Dustin had a big serve and awesome volley and overhead. But the basic pattern is in both matches. You have to study stuff like this in earnest then practice it a lot then use it in a match. You probably surprise yourself.
It's cool to see the modest beginnings your started your channel from. Very sound advice.
These videos are AMAZING! Love em! Keep it up Ian!
Daniel Matveev I appreciate that, Daniel!
Daniel: You're his brother 'n law...right?
So ur advice is to get better?
what do u do before tournaments/how to get ready for them
Hi Ian, I was wondering how I could beat someone, who has a fast and kick serve, or at least play up to their standards. Thanks
Jason Sotiri That's a tough one, Jason. It's all about making adjustments! Typically you're going to see the fast (flat I assume you mean) serve 1st and the big kicker second. Generally speaking the best approach is to back up for the first serve (start two steps back from the baseline) and then move back into the baseline for the kick serve so it doesn't get way up out of your strike zone. Depending on the specific serves you may need to adjust, of course!
These videos help me so much thanks
anorexic BOB Great to hear, you're welcome!
So, be better basically?
As a variant to this, I play many people at 3.5 who are neither true pushers nor aggressive b-liners, but they backboard everything and keep it deep right down the middle. If I go into the net they hit perfect lobs. It is the only style they have every played. I hit really heavy topspin right down the middle at them but with marginal success. How can I beat all these players 6-0, 6-0? :)
i'm not Ian but my take... try aiming more for the corners and, when you get an opportunity with a good approach, don't close too quickly on the net? you will get an overhead, half-volley or a high one. if you can hit those shots, that's when you get even more angle and make them really run for the short ones. then close further... if they lob you, they'll hit short sometimes and then it's an easy overhead. remember, with the overheads, the most common mistake is to hit it in the net. if that doesn't work and they are too perfect with their lobs, why not see how they like it? bring them to the net. if that doesn't work, find a weakness. just don't rush but break them down step-by-step.
How do you beat really slow players that hit really hard
Finn Madigan just make them run
how do you beat someone with a big kick serve that jumps high and moves to net.
Jesus Hernandez Good question, I've added it to my list of topics to use!
Anticipate it as much as you can, so you keep pace off your opponent.
M.A.D. Mutual Assured Destruction lob them
The issue I have is when I hit back a heavy agressive ball with enough power to prevent him from bullying me, we start a rally of 10 until one of us misses, it goes on and on, we both get tired at the same rate but he wins most points in the end because he is the heavy hitter.
- Volleys used to be decisive against him but recently I could not create openings because he bullied me faster so it's my fault.
- However when I play medium-powered 'high' ball at the back, he cannot start his 10 ball rally which helps a lot. But when I try to vary my shots with an agressive ball, my bad technique fails me because I had to start the rally from a medium powered ball.
In other words, become a better tennis player.
haha....that would be a very overarching way of saying it, yes!
you just need to practice how to make them hit shots which are outside his comfort zone, like a high topspin shot to push him back, or a low slice to draw him in, or backhand/ forehand angle shots to make them move left and right. you don't want to hit a casual ball straight to their strike zone because that will mean they will have time to charge up his shot for the power, and then you will be on the defense. make them run about, a running shot is a lot more difficult than a shot you hit when it is coming towards you. basically, you want to make them run about while you control the middle of the court and wait for an opening to put an approach shot, a volley or an overhead away, or just wait for an unforced error