Tip of the Week: Adjust Your Point Style
Everyone has their own preferences on how they would like to play the point. Most players today would like to hit a few balls (after serve or return) to establish a rhythm. Once they have done that, they either become more aggressive or they continue the rally ball to try to draw an error from their opponent. These are the two basic and most common styles of point play in the modern game.
There are many other options that can be very effective, especially against the two styles mentioned above. One idea is to think “serve plus one”. The goal is to hit a good enough first serve to force a weaker return, and then hit the next ball aggressively to the opening from inside the baseline. The same idea can be applied to the return game (“return plus one”) when the player has a weak and/or second serve. Use the same idea and look to hit the ball aggressively from inside the baseline to the opening after the return.
In addition to these point styles, serving and volleying or just moving forward after the serve, can put pressure on the opponent, in addition to shortening the point. This also can force the opponent to keep the ball low or hit it to a smaller target. Again, if the opponent has a weak second serve, the same idea can be applied. The returner tries to hit the ball deep, away from the server, or low and short, and moves towards the net. This applies pressure and again forces the opponent to hit the ball lower, away from returner and is likely to draw some errors.
There are many other options. Try to come up with something that fits your game and can cause your opponent to feel rushed or uncomfortable. Adjusting your point style can help frustrate your opponent and allow you to match up better against their strengths.
Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonsPro, www.myhamptonspro.com throughout the Hamptons, NY. He is also the Team Strategist for the University of Arizona Women’s Tennis Team. Please contact Steve at sannacone@aol.com or 865-300-7323.
