Most tennis points are won by players who can maintain consistency while minimizing unforced errors, so certain fundamental tactics must be employed on every point to win them.
Playing to an opponent’s weaknesses is a common strategy employed in tennis. For instance, if your opponent prefers hitting from the baseline then short balls forced diagonally will force them to run diagonally and open up their backhand volleys.
Serve and Volley
Serving is one of the first opportunities you have in a point to gain an edge, so making use of it effectively is one of the key strategies in tennis singles. Doing this effectively is especially useful if your groundstrokes don’t boast enormous power as this forces your opponent into hitting passing shots with you at the net instead.
Your serve can become more dynamic by hitting an approach shot (hitting and moving into the net) or serving and volleying, both of which will rob your opponent of their greatest strength: time. If you volley quickly back, they must think quickly on what their next shot should be, potentially leading to errors covering open courts; getting them closer to the net may give you the opportunity to hit lobs or drops shots that put their opponents into uncomfortable positions.
To create an outstanding volley, it’s key to pay attention to both the serve you’re receiving and where your first volley should land. If it goes wide, your initial shot should go to deuce side as this will put the ball into your opponent’s weaker backhand – or hit far ad side so they have to try passing to their weaker hand first!
No matter where you hit your first volley, it’s essential that after hitting it you move forward into the net to prevent your opponent from poaching the ball or hitting a down-the-line backhand pass on their return serve. By moving forward into the net after hitting it you can close in closer and prevent poaching. Keep your shot low to prevent them hitting down-the-line backhand passes on their returns!
Variate your volleying zones so as to surprise your opponent with each serve. Experiment with different zones during practice and note which ones present difficulty for your opponent; focus on serving into these specific zones during important points like break and ad points.
Inside/Out
One of the key aspects of tennis strategy is applying constant pressure on your opponent. From short balls and attacking net to net plays and net play in, constant pressure should force them out of their rhythm and break through to yours – hence having multiple strategies in your arsenal that you can deploy depending on their situation and type.
Hitting deep balls is another effective way to put your opponent off their game and keep them playing defensively, forcing them to take more risk on aggressive shots and forcing them into defensive stance. Furthermore, this provides you with an excellent opportunity to hit approach shots toward their weak side (e.g. backhand).
Typically, tennis matches are won by those players who demonstrate greater consistency and can decrease unforced errors. To do this, they need the appropriate tools in their arsenal and must learn how to utilize them effectively.
Hitting the ball down the middle and deep is an effective way to increase your odds of victory, but to increase them even more you need additional strategies in your arsenal. One such tactic we will discuss here is playing net, which can put pressure on an opponent while simultaneously creating opportunities. Lefties seem adept at employing this tactic for success on court.
In order to develop your ability at playing net, practicing with a partner is recommended. One effective strategy for doing so is playing points where each player cannot cross past the doubles sideline extended beyond baseline – this drill helps players focus on hitting deep balls with depthful strokes while catching early shots that might otherwise stretch past this line. In addition, anticipation is essential in effective net play; being able to anticipate short balls from opponents and attack the net at every opportunity can make you an unstoppable force in singles matches!
Drop Shot
The drop shot can be an effective way of surprising and slowing your opponent, especially during later in a set or match when they may be fatigued or out of position. When playing this shot, be sure to hit it low enough so as to stay below the net and give yourself an opportunity to win at the net.
While many players attempt to employ various strategies during a match, it is wiser to stick with those which have proven most successful for you in the past. Experimentation too frequently could throw your rhythm off balance and cause missed shots; additionally chasing too many balls can become physically and mentally exhausting.
Another key component of singles tennis is forcing your opponent to commit errors. Since most matches feature the player who commits more unforced errors as the winner, attacking their weak spots such as two handed backhands should be prioritized as it forces your opponent to play those shots and possibly get frustrated, leading to errors being committed on your behalf.
Additionally, try opening up the court and hitting cross-court shots when your opponent is in an unfavorable position to force them to move around more freely, giving yourself a greater chance at winning points.
Modern tennis requires players to serve and volley effectively and hit drop shots, yet few possess either the inclination or ability to do so. Most players today prefer camping out at the baseline with power shots that camp out there instead of hitting drop shots – this makes getting an accurate view of your opponent’s backhand side difficult; but there are ways around it; overplay to his strong forehand while hitting cross court shots to weak backhand opponents will force them into an error by forcing an angle shot into corner or down line instead of simply hitting an error will force his hand!
Bring the Net Into Play
No matter how many winners and unforced errors players produce during a match, ultimately it all boils down to one thing: keeping more balls in play than your opponent. One effective strategy for accomplishing this goal is having an established singles tennis strategy in place for every point; without such a plan in place it may prove challenging to reach your full potential and put more balls into play than your rival. It is therefore imperative that such strategies become part of your game by practicing and using them consistently throughout your matches.
First and foremost, your first strategy must focus on playing to your strengths. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to hit high percentage shots as often as possible; this will help control points while keeping opponents off balance. Furthermore, every ball can differ in spin, speed and bounce so it is crucial that you can adapt quickly to each situation and make the most of every court you’re on.
Another effective strategy is focusing on your opponent’s weakest shot, giving yourself an opportunity to force mistakes that will help win you points. For instance, if they have an effective backhand you could try attacking that side by hitting deep crosses and forcing short or down-the-line shots from them.
Finally, you can bring the net into play by serving and attacking from the net. While this might prove challenging if you are unfamiliar with playing at this height of play, it could prove very effective against an opponent with weak approach shots or poor overhead play.
These are just a few of the singles tennis strategies that you can employ to increase your game and your odds of victory. Planning out each point and practicing them until they become second nature during an actual match are essential parts of becoming a better and more successful tennis player. By following these techniques you will soon become one!