First off, awesome job everybody with all of the feedback that was left in our Question segment of this episode of “What’s The Right Shot?”.
Your feedback, comments, and questions really help me better understand what’s goin g on with your tennis game and how I can best help you improve.
Thanks …
OK, here’s the Answer segment video.
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Gang …
I’m heading outta here to give a lesson. Will be back in a few hours.
What’s on your mind with this point?
Let me know. Thanks in advance …
Brent
I totally agree with a deep lob. I would have thought one to the ad court would have been a better option, expecially since the returner was stretched out.
Hey Al.
For sure, a deep lob, especially cross court would have worked nicely here.
Brent
If I’m dealing with that low and slow slice forehand to the middle, we’d find out how fast Brian can get to the other alley near the net to deal with my dropper.
BTW, it *did* look like Phil might have managed some topspin on that lob.
KB…
OK, that would be a great response to a slow and low slice if Phil doesn’t cover it up.
And you’re right, Phil did manage some top on that lob, but in the end, I don’t think a topspin lob winner is necessary there.
Just shove it deep with an open racket face and scoot on in …
Brent
Brent,
I like your idea of middle low,slow slice, but Don’t know if that player had enough time to get to the ball to set up for that more difficult shot.
The lob seems like the only alternative, given that he was a bit behind that ball and needing some pretty fast foot work to catch up and get ahead of that ball.
The cross court lob to the ad court corner, hopefully over the opponent’s backhand would have given him more room to get the lob to bounce into the court and keep that point going.
Thanks for the thoughtful video,
Mark.
Hey Mark.
Good to hear from you.
Maybe not. But, in response to all of the heavy grip and rip topspin drive suggestions from the prior video, if you go to the middle with a groundie in this situation, I’m sliding it down low …
Brent
Your full forehand and backhand slices course has been good for me. I’ve matched those concepts with a review of swing freedom concepts in May 2010 archives. I’m pretty good at keeping tension out of my grip, but I needed to keep it out of my arm and mind as well. One of the drills I have been doing is to just hit a basket of a variety of shots without looking o see what happened to my ball…really helps to let go of that portion of the feedback and instead just pay attention to how the stroke feels, looking at the outgoing blur, the sound of the bounce or skid on the other side of the court, as well as the sound off my strings….as you said, let go of the outcome.
Glad you’re enjoying those courses RS.
That’s a great way to practice the “no peeking” response.
Just drop and hot different shots and mostly feel how you could keep your head and eyes down and not having a need to look at your result too early.
Brent
One of the connections I have made lately is to be aware of my court position in relation to taking advantage of a setup opportunity, designed or accidental, particularly when it is happening in front of me. Conversely, I have been paying more attention when watching other doubles players and my partners as to how often they are trying to set up their partner or me vs how often they don’t involve their partner or me.
I’m also more tuned into now whether or not my partner is positioning themselves in anticipation of my setups. I’m finding that most of my partners simply are not use to the idea of setting up their partner or being ready for setups.
I mostly just let them know what I’m doing and let them know they have a choice to work the setups with me as I understand it or just do what they like. Regardless, just the fact I’m getting better at anticipating setups, even if accidental, is helping my poaching and preparation.
Frankly, I had not before made the mental link between starting 1/3 of the way inside the baseline and moving forward to being ready for setups. When I’m watching the videos or at the local courts I’m now always looking to see how well the two partners are working together – so far, very poorly.
Correction: very poorly at the local courts, not in the videos.
Ah, whew
Brent
The last comment today is that also, for some reason, until recently, and until I reviewed youf Plan B, 5 doubles lesson, I was not sufficient clear on my basic shot selections and placements to set up my doubles partners.
Just keep reminding yourself that doubles is ALWAYS to play for your partner …
If you always have that in mind whenever you play a shot, you’ll forever be in high demand as a doubles partner.
Brent
Brent, my experience with keenly focusing on plan B the last few weeks, is that so few players at the rec level are use to someone who is constantly effecting the set up (drop/low slice) shots vs rallying, that you end up with a lot of winners as they are usually planted on the line in anticipation of another rally shot. Furthermore, since they are not constantly engaged that way they are mentally not ready to effect footwork/spacing/anticipation shot after shot after shot. Against the weaker/soft serves 1st and 2nd, these two shots wreak havoc, even at the 4.0 level.
I do have an advantage going in and that is a lot of practice making my drop shots off the rise and effecting the short low slices. Your return of serve drill for Plan B is really great for getting in the constant mental habit of trying to set up your partner.
Correction: not only winners but also unforced errors.
From the video, it looks like Phil i backing up a small bit to hit the shot. I don’t know how many rec players have the stroke mechanics to hit a low slice on that shot. For me, I know that I’d probably contact the ball out front, which would pop up and leave an easy put away.
Hey John.
OK, fair enough.
Plus, I think Phil may have been a bit surprised by Brian not intercepting that last shot and that may be why Phil was a hair late getting to this last shot.
Brent
A slow low slice down the middle would be great if you can pull it off. If you are a little high its a sitter, a little low and you lose the point into the net. I think the lob is the only percentage shot here.
Hi Patrick.
So, even if you lose this point by playing your slice a bit too high, you may get some good residual benefit from it down the road in the match when your opponent has to account for the possibility of you playing another low and slow slice forehand.
That accountability just might open up something else for you …
Brent
I agree with the shot he did, but it needed heavier Top Spin and maybe to the oposite corner, will have better results. Thanks
I disagree Jorge.
If I’m slightly stretched out as Phil was, and I decide to lob, I’m going slightly underspin for much better control.
Brent
I too don’t love the forehand slice here — Patrick is right – if you float it at all the two guys at net will put it away. If Phil has a decent buggywhip forehand he could hit a relatively soft dipping forehand down the middle even while moving slightly backwards — not a winner but it would make the net guys hit up…
Hey Peter.
I think it’s more likely that your buggy whip forehand is going to stall out and set up the net guys because Phil’s having to slightly reach for that forehand.
Buggy whip, heavy topper, whatever we call it, that shot requires really, really good spacing and balance.
You can be much more improvisational with a slice in Phil’s situation.
Brent
Once again, Brent, thought provoking situation. I did not respond to the earlier request because all the options had been taken several times by the time I read it. I would have said topspin lob or lob to ad corner area.
The topspin shot down the middle would be fine if the player has Courier’s forehand, but few of us do. Santoro could pull off your slice recommendation and a guy at my club who hits all his shots with nasty slice can and does do that in his devilish ways. IMO, going to the slice here requires a basic mindset change if someone’s normal forehand is topped. The slice would require a change of grip and recognition of that chance early on. It is worth noting that his previous shot had been basically that shot from his backhand and made Bill get low for his volley. He did however put it deep but not everyone can do that so slicing low could be effective here. And setting up for a slice can easily turn into a lob without giving it away early. I think it comes down to a matter of what shot you own and knowing your what your oppornents can and will do. Good lobs almost always work on old guys who don’t go back like we once did for kicking scissors overheads (god, how I miss having that shot).
Great reality check Robin. THANK YOU !
You’re right, with a continental grip, Phil could either play a slice forehand or a lob, which at our skill levels and age is realistic.
A grip and rip drive or topspin lob is possible, but much more likely to not get the job done.
Let’s deal with reality, and Robin, thank you, you just did
[ And oh yeah, I've got an app for that scissor kick overhead ]
Brent
My gut reaction when I’m that far back and moving backward is to hit a lob.
I’d be very afraid to hit the forehand slice when the two other guys are at the net.
That would be quite risky.
Hi Leslie.
Fair enough. Smart thinking to go with what you feel is your best shot given the situation.
What I am saying is that if you possessed a slice forehand, you could force your opponents to account for it rather than them always knowing that a lob is coming …
Brent
Woulda been my plan. . .
Hmmm. That was supposed to go under the “high lob and scoot in behind it” reply of Brent’s. Dern computer software.
Right Kevin.
This internet ‘thang’ still ain’t an exact science …
Brent
I would of lobbed either right or left, I see most people when there pushed back they tend to lob so they can recover
Most folks do Paul – you’re right.
Those lobs become even more effective when they have to account for the possibility of something short.
Brent
Brent,
I’m still reviewing your archives…sort of skimming through and stopping at what I think are the most helpful pieces to review at this stage of my game. I’m in the process of reviewing the Jan 2011 doubles workshop, and I have a question for you.
I was having a match with John, we were on the sun side of the court ,and they were taking advantage of the sun by hitting lots of lobs. John tended to stay back and so the one player just lobbed the heck out of John who rather than taking the lobs as overheads, hit a regular but weaker forehand shot after letting them bounce. It seems to me that letting the ball bounce, but still taking it as an overhead, yet using the non-dominant hand to block the sun might have been a better option??? I don’t recall if he puts his non-dominant hand up in the first place when hitting an overhead – a lot of players don’t.
You know, we do the best we can with the sun, and right, if you can find a way to block the sun with your other hand, that’s the best way to go.
But if not, let er bounce and regroup …
Brent
I agree with the lob over the backhand into the add corner. But two things also come to mind. Phils partner missed out on two volley opportunities. One where his opponent ran arround a backhand where if he had moved forward only slightly the backhand volley should have been a solid option. And two where Phil hit a low ball to the same opponents feet he should have been in to put away the bh volley. Move forward and reap the awards
Good analysis Rod, however, I think you mean Bill’s partner Paul, not Phil’s partner Brian …
Brent
Will the forehand slice segment tell us HOW to hit the shot with clear specifics ???
Hey Spencer.
Yes, the slice forehand mini course will detail the 6 specific stroke fundamentals of the stroke.
Brent
I thought the shot before Phil got pushed back and hit the lob that Bill on Phil’s previous shot could have closed and put the volley away. Phil hit a floater and Bill played a low soft volley at his ankles and gave Phil a shot to win the point. Just a thought!
Hey Jerry.
Isn’t it amazing to watch top world class senior players and be able to “see” so many things that fall under the woulda, coulda, shoulda …?
I agree, there were a couple of big opportunities that went by, but in the end, I’ll hedge on staying in the point a few shots longer to wait for a really golden opp …
Brent
The no peeking drill seems to transfer very well into a match situation for me and is helping me get back into the zone and keeping my head still. Seems like every time I move up a wee bit within my level, I have to find the zone again and practice keeping my eyes longer on the contact zone again.
Another great drill of my own design is to put the ball machine on its high pace and locate it halfway between the net and service line. It forces me to focus, relax, and use minimal efforts to make the volleys under this high pressure situation. It really adds to my confidence when someone decides to rip one at me, that I have the reflexes to catch and direct the ball with minimal stroke dynamics.