| The first rule of tennis strategy is not to beat yourself. | | | | be more precise with their shots. |
| That means that your first goal when playing tennis is | | | | Good neutralizing strategies are logical: play deep, |
| to keep the ball in play. | | | | down the middle or keep your opponent on the move. |
| But just pushing the ball over won't do it if you are | | | | There are of course more neutralizing strategies and |
| playing against quality players. Your shots need to be | | | | tactics but for now let's just master the simple ones |
| deep, with good pace to prevent your opponent from | | | | before we move on to the advanced and expert |
| setting up for the shot and they need to be directed | | | | tennis tactics. |
| into open court to keep your opponent on the move. | | | | Offensive tennis strategies are sometimes very similar |
| So your first opponent in tennis is actually... tennis. You | | | | to neutralizing. The only difference is your intention and |
| are dealing with tennis challenges - judging the ball flight, | | | | sometimes the speed and precision of the played shot. |
| moving to the ball, timing the shots and trying to hit that | | | | 1. Take advantage of opponent's weakness - This is |
| big square over that 1m high net. | | | | usually their weaker shot but can also be movement. |
| That's tennis and its demands. | | | | By playing aggressively to their weaker side you can |
| Only when you are quite comfortable and consistent in | | | | force a mistake or get a short ball which you can put |
| not losing to yourself - or the tennis game - only then | | | | away. Opponent's weakness can for example be their |
| can you start playing against your opponent. | | | | net play. You can then bring opponent to the net by |
| Now you are looking for general tennis strategies with | | | | playing short and then taking advantage of their poor |
| which you will try either to neutralize your opponent's | | | | volley and overhead skills to win the point. |
| advantages or to take advantage or their | | | | 2. Take time from opponent - This is the favorite |
| weaknesses. | | | | strategy of players at all levels but many of them do |
| Let's see first the neutralizing strategies: | | | | not know how and when to use it to best effect. Most |
| 1. Prevent opponent from attacking with their strength - | | | | players just try to hit the ball hard which is one of the |
| Majority of players have one shot better than the | | | | tactics to take time from opponent. Another tactic is to |
| other and that is the first thing you need to notice. And | | | | play the ball early like Andre Agassi used to play. |
| most players prefer forehand against their backhand | | | | These are just two of the offensive tennis strategies |
| so playing to their backhand more would be a simple | | | | that you can use to gain advantage in the point. |
| way of neutralizing their better forehand. | | | | Remember - your first goal when playing competitive |
| 2. Prevent player getting in a good attacking position - | | | | tennis is to be consistent and not lose to tennis itself. |
| A good attacking position is when the ball is short and | | | | Only when you can play tennis consistently with very |
| at the right height, the ball could be off center so that | | | | few unforced errors should you start thinking about |
| the attacker has a good angle of attack, or the ball is | | | | trying to outplay your opponent. |
| simply not forcing your opponent to move so they can | | | | |