Julie Des Jardin
Tennis players will find that the higher the level of play, the harder the players will hit. But that doesnโt mean there wonโt be an occasional heavy hitter on the lower levels in tennis. The difference with those players is that while they can smack the ball, they can only do it once or twice successfully before making the error.
When battling any big hitter, there are things you can do to throw your opponent off their groove and neutralize their power:
Slow Down The Pace.
Most big hitters prefer opponents who also hit hard because they can use that playerโs power to increase their own, but if thatโs not your game, DONโT DO IT. You will end up making more errors and literally frustrate yourself into a loss. Instead, take some pace off of the ball and use good placement instead. Less pace and better placement will force your opponent to generate their own power which will end up causing them more errors and frustration.
Use Placement Over Power.
Serve placement is key, because, if done well, there is no need to hit hard. In singles, if you can hit deep and keep your opponent at the baseline, it will create more distance between you, which will not only force them to create even more pace, but it will also give you an extra second or two to react to their shot. What you should do is:
- Hit the ball deep. If you can hit deep and keep your opponent at the baseline, it will create more distance between you, which will not only force them to create even more pace to cover the distance but it will also give you a little more time to react to their shots. If you slice, the bounce will stay low and out of their wheelhouse.
- Hit short, angled slices. This will force them to move forward and hit up on the ball, and because they are closer in, they wonโt be able to hit hard.
- Keep them moving side-to-side. This is usually a good strategy because your opponent will be moving sideways and wonโt really have an opportunity to really prepare for their return, much less to step into the ball and take a big swing.
Regardless of placement, your opponent can still get lucky and rip it back, so always be prepared, just in case!
Avoid Their Comfort Zone.
One of the best things you can do against heavy hitters in tennis is to avoid hitting the ball into their โcomfort zoneโ, the spot where your opponent would naturally swing their racket and get a good piece of the ball. Hitting the ball with little spin and having it land a couple of feet behind the service line so that your opponent can step into it is DEFINITELY hitting into their comfort zone.
Spin is GREAT against a power hitter and you should use every chance you get โ especially the slice. Slicing the ball keeps it low and forces your opponent to have to either hit up on it or slice it back, making it tougher for them to return it hard. Likewise, using heavy topspin and hitting deep into the court makes it more difficult for your opponent because the spin will make the ball bounce higher and out of their zone.
Handle Your Returns Of Serve.
This shot is one you canโt control at all, so you need to be ready to react. The problem with big serves is that you donโt have enough time to take your normal backswing to return the ball, so you should just block it back. As long as you keep it deep, you should be able to stay in the point.
One thing to know is that you canโt just block the ball down the middle of the court every time. A good player will recognize this pattern and start coming into the net after their serve for an easy volley. Instead, mix it up by also blocking the ball back to their backhand or down the line, as well. Lobbing is a great option too, but make sure itโs deep in a corner. Whichever you doโฆ keep โem guessing!
Remember To Prepare Early.
If youโre returning a hard groundie or serve, blocking is a great option, however, you can still swing at it for a successful return. Just make sure you take smaller backswings so youโll have enough time because, by the time you take a large backswing, the ball could already be past you. As soon as you see which side the ball is coming to get your racket back to that side immediately. This will reduce the mental stress of feeling like youโre being rushed to hit the ball.
All of these strategies can be difficult to do when your opponent is firing bullets at you. I know from experience that itโs tempting to try to match the power of your opponent, but if thatโs not your game, youโve got to resist because it can cost you the match. Instead, just try to remember to use spin, placement and most importantly patience in tennis, and take down that heavy hitter for the win!