Hi Brian,
I enjoyed reading your baseline strategy pattern. I took the liberty of trying to put into MY words what you were trying to explain to help me when coaching high school students. Would you mind reading what I put down and let me know if I missed anything or misunderstood what you were saying? Thanks for your help.
Jim
Singles Patterns – You should hit an “Outside” shot when a cross court ball is coming to you and goes across your body. For example, a forehand from your opponent’s deuce side to your deuce side or backhands hit cross court from opposite AD courts. Your “Outside” return shot should be hit cross court. This is a high percentage shot because it keeps the racket at right angles to the ball when making contact. The ball will also be traveling over the lowest part of the net and has more court to land in on the other side of the net.
You should hit an “Inside” shot when the ball you will hit does not come across your body. For example, if a ball is hit to you from your opponent’s deuce court to your backhand on your deuce side, you should hit your shot down the line from your deuce side. Although you are hitting the ball over the highest part of the net, this is still a good percentage shot as the hips and shoulders naturally rotate open as you hit this shot. You just need to aim a little higher over the net. At the same time, you will forcing your opponent to have to run to the opposite side of the court to hit the ball and possible create a weaker return.
Players who have a “Weapon” (usually a strong forehand), should try to hit “Inside/Out” forehands cross court from the AD court. This shot will be over the lowest part of the net and have more court to land in. However, any short ball (3/4 court or shorter) should be hit down the line with an Inside/In shot as the ball will travel a shorter distance and your opponent will have less time to react.
Thanks, Brian.
Hi Brian,
I enjoyed reading your baseline strategy pattern. I took the liberty of trying to put into MY words what you were trying to explain to help me when coaching high school students. Would you mind reading what I put down and let me know if I missed anything or misunderstood what you were saying? Thanks for your help.
Jim
Singles Patterns – You should hit an “Outside” shot when a cross court ball is coming to you and goes across your body. For example, a forehand from your opponent’s deuce side to your deuce side or backhands hit cross court from opposite AD courts. Your “Outside” return shot should be hit cross court. This is a high percentage shot because it keeps the racket at right angles to the ball when making contact. The ball will also be traveling over the lowest part of the net and has more court to land in on the other side of the net.
You should hit an “Inside” shot when the ball you will hit does not come across your body. For example, if a ball is hit to you from your opponent’s deuce court to your backhand on your deuce side, you should hit your shot down the line from your deuce side. Although you are hitting the ball over the highest part of the net, this is still a good percentage shot as the hips and shoulders naturally rotate open as you hit this shot. You just need to aim a little higher over the net. At the same time, you will forcing your opponent to have to run to the opposite side of the court to hit the ball and possible create a weaker return.
Players who have a “Weapon” (usually a strong forehand), should try to hit “Inside/Out” forehands cross court from the AD court. This shot will be over the lowest part of the net and have more court to land in. However, any short ball (3/4 court or shorter) should be hit down the line with an Inside/In shot as the ball will travel a shorter distance and your opponent will have less time to react.
Thanks, Brian.