Since you’re a player who always wants to play your best tennis possible , I bet you’ve tried to get a sneak peak at some of what the best players in the world do sometimes.
You’re probably watching the big slams like the US Open, Roland Garros, and maybe the biggest of them all that just started yesterday, Wimbledon on television with hopes of getting that true professional edge. Am I right?
Well, I’m glad you’re trying to gobble up every ounce of tennis you possibly can. We both know that many times, success will imitate success. So, you definitely will have some benefit from it.
But beware, doing this is not always a good idea. Now, before you call me crazy, let me explain. Learning from the best in the business is a great way to get better, don’t get me wrong.
But if you use this TV technique as your only strategy resource, not only do you severely limit your available shot selection, you could be getting a very distorted picture, ruining your chances at what could perhaps be an easy win.
A lot of times, without realizing it, we tend to follow the pros a little too much – so much we end up harming our own game in the process of trying to copy theirs. For example, what many players do is they say things like “Federer, doesn’t hit that shot, so I shouldn’t hit it either.”
In some cases, you might want to use that mindset, but not all the time. Federer does what’s best for his individual game plan. You should too. You don’t have to follow his style of play to the “T” by any means.
In fact, there are actually shots that you can use in your matches that the pros can’t. It’s the truth. A great example of this is the “dropper.”
The drop shot causes a massive amount of confusion for us, because they aren’t very common on the pro circuit. And since we don’t see it used much on the “big screen,” many of us are literally scared out of minds to hit it.
You want as many shots at your disposal as possible, because each one has its own perfect situation where it can be used. But if you let that big black box dictate 100% of your play, you could end up really suffering for it. Well, I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t be nervous or afraid at all. Don’t let the TV trick you into not using this wonderful shot.
The reason why pros don’t use it as much isn’t because they don’t think it can’t ever help them get the win. They’re pros, for goodness sake! The big guns are too quick on their feet and thinking twice the rate as the normal “after work” player. That’s why a drop shot isn’t terribly effective against them.
But when you’re playing against recreational players or club players (…95% of your opponents), however, drop shots can be just the ticket for forcing a player out of his or her comfort zone and destroying them in ways that are both hilarious and humiliating.
You just have to know when to use it and know where to pick your spots with it! Choose the wrong time, and you’re dead meat. But choose the right time, and you’ll really “break some ankles” out there. (see below)
The Dropper:
A. When NOT to use it:
Let me tell you, the drop shot is not a good idea if you are on the defensive. All you’ll be doing then is asking for the shovel so you can dig yourself in an even deeper hole while giving your opponent a perfect setup for a killer response.
And not only will you lose the point, you may get embarrassed if you have people watching, and then it’ll begin to affect your confidence a.k.a winning instinct. You may start playing “Not to lose” instead of “Trying to win.” And you definitely don’t want to be on that that kind of roller-coaster ride.
B. When TO use it:
The perfect situation for a drop shot is when you’re on the offensive end of things. For example, if you’ve pinned your opponent back behind the baseline or got him stuck in a corner, nailing a drop shot can quickly spell disaster for your opponent.
If you have an extra half-second to spare, give your opponent an extra dose of deception. Trick him into thinking you are going to hit a normal ground stroke. Hey, better yet, make them think you’re about to unleash a drive that will leave their heads spinning! Oh, yea this will really have him fooled.
You do that by showing them an exaggerated back swing! Once they see this, they’ll prepare for a thunderous ground stroke, backing them up even further, causing them retreat.
Then when you change the spin at the last second, it’ll be almost impossible for them to catch up to it. This will, without a doubt, leave your opponent very winded almost guaranteeing another point on your end.
But listen, timing is incredibly important with this strategy. If you give yourself away too early by not disguising it to resemble that of a normal shot, your opponent will know right away what you’re trying to pull and punish you for it.
The dropper has a slightly different looking back swing than a regular ground stroke. You’ll want to open your racket face so that you can cup under the ball and add some backspin. Try to aim the ball a couple of feet past and above the net. With practice, you can nail an efficient drop shot that’ll leave your opponents cowering in fear and wonder.
C. Destination: Most players try to go cross-court with their drop shots but hitting a drop shot down the line, though more difficult, can often be much more effective.
Whatever option you choose, try to make sure that there isn’t too much elevation on your shot or your opponent will know right away what you are up to. Too much distance in your drop shot is also a dead giveaway that will allow your opponent time to respond.
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Developing a drop shot is definitely worth the time and effort required. In addition to guaranteeing yourself more victories down the road, you will take your game to a higher level that will allow you to play with more confidence and strength each time you step onto the court. And remember, the stars that are on TV are not the be all and end all. It all boils down to what your comfortable with and what fits your style of play the best.
Have a great week and an even BETTER game at Wimbledon!
All the best,
Brian Hall, Your Head Coach
TennisMindCamp
webmaster@tennismindcamp.com
P.S. I just added this cool widget to the blog so you never have to leave this site to get all the tournament updates at the All-England club. Now, you can get all the game-by-game scores, schedule of play, all the latest news and photos, and player statistics. Check it out below…
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Thanks Brian…..I must add that Pros are human after all and have not mastered hitting every single shot in the tennis book! You might hit some shots better than them if you are a high intermediate to advanced player. Remember that you hit these shots all the time and they are good for you. Pros have complete control of their shots that give them winning results. Now, please understand that regardless of how good your shots are you are not going to come close to beating a Pro! They have overall mastery of their craft through many hours of practice and preparation and coaching. You and I don’t.