How Do You Beat A 'Better' Tennis Player?

You mean there's more than one way? Yes, there is;position for your opponent's next shot - and remember,
and yes, you really can beat a tennis player who isthey're already in position for your next shot (that's one
supposedly a 'better' tennis player than you are.of the reasons they're the 'better player')! This again
Before I tell you how, though, I want you to imagine this:will not help you to beat a 'better player'.
Imagine that you could stop time at the exact momentFear not, however. If we stand our ground on or just
that your opponent hit a tennis ball toward you. Wouldbehind the baseline (6-12") during ground stroke rallies
that be great, or really great? Let's see what we couldand hit the ball on the rise, all of a sudden a world of
discover about what our opponent is going to do andpossibilities opens up for us. If you make sure to stand
exploit if we could magically stop time. First, we couldyour ground and don't back up, then what happens is
discover the following:o We could tell where the ballthe following: When you receive your opponent's shot,
was going; this would allow us to get into position, andthe ball will still be traveling through your wheelhouse,
once we were in perfect position, we could 'start time'but it's traveling from the ground up, and it's moving
again and hit an awesome shot, because we'd befaster than it would be if we let it reach its peak and
ready for it.o We could analyze our opponent's positionstart back down again. Here's how you benefit and
on the court, and decide where we wanted to hit theyour opponent suffers (Doom on them):o Since you're
ball - obviously, to a spot on the court that would makenow hitting the tennis ball as soon as it bounces up off
it difficult for our opponent to return the ball.o We couldthe court, you are giving your opponent less time to
see what type of spin was on the ball, and be readyreact to your shot. (Tennis players are human beings,
for it.o We could see where our opponent's bodytoo; and most humans look for the 'easiest' way to do
position is relative to the center of the baseline, andsomething, rather than the most 'efficient'. It's human
perhaps try to 'wrong-foot' our opponent.nature; so most players, including so-called 'better'
There are all kinds of things you could do, and in thisplayers than you wait for the tennis ball to bounce up
'magical' scenario they would all help us to win aand back down again before they hit it. Since this is
match. There is, however, one thing that this scenariothe case, your opponent will not be used to playing
would allow us to do is 'steal time'. What I mean bypeople who hit the ball on the rise. They are not
that is, even when you magically 'started' time again,prepared for a tennis ball that comes back at them so
the same number of seconds would continue to tickquickly. This will help you to beat a 'better' tennis
off, and we'd still have to properly execute the shotsplayer).o You are now in better position to react to
that all the above 'analysis' allowed us to be ready toyou opponent's next shot, because your not six feet
hit.behind the baseline trying to get back into position;
There is, however, a way to steal time from youyou're already there! Your 'better' opponent is used to
opponent. What I mean by 'stealing' time is giving yourhitting winners and forcing errors because again, most
opponent less time to react than normal. If you andof the 'better' player opponents are behind the baseline
your opponent are both on the baseline, sluggingwaiting for the ball to drop into their wheelhouse. By
ground strokes back and forth to each other, hitting thebeing proactive and hitting the ball on the rise, you
tennis ball at the peak of its bounce, the advantage willmake your opponent work harder and harder to pull
always go to the player with:o More powerful &you out of position. This will help you to beat a 'better'
more accurate ground strokeso Better movementotennis player.
Better physical conditioningTo give you an idea of just how important hitting the
This is a given. Just watch a couple of early roundball on the rise is, and the dramatic results you can get
matches on the slow red clay at the French Open andby doing so, here's a list for you to look at. While not a
any doubts you may have will be swiftly removed.complete list, here are some examples of former and
However, there is a way that the 'better' player cancurrent Men's Grand Slam Singles Tournament
be beaten, if you can learn how to 'steal' the time theyWinners who could - and did - consistently hit the ball
need to prepare for their next shot. There is oneon the rise:
time-tested, match-proven, Grand Slam TournamentPete Sampras ( 7 Wimbledons, 5 U.S. Opens, 2
proven way to steal your opponent's time. The way toAustralian Opens)
do it is to...drum roll please....ready?....hit the ball on theRoger Federer ( 5 Wimbledons, 4 U.S. Opens, 3
rise.Australian Opens)
This is a sure-fire way to reduce your opponent'sJimmy Connors ( 5 U.S. Opens, 2 Wimbledons, 1
reaction time. Most players, however, back up when aAustralian Open)
tennis ball is hit deep into their court. Their logic is to getAndre Agassi ( 4 Australian Opens, 2 U.S. Opens, 1
into position to hit the ball after it peaks, while the ball isWimbledon, 1 French Open)
traveling down, and into their 'wheelhouse'In the last 33 years (since 1974), there have been 132
(approximately waist level). They are moreMen's Grand Slam Tournament Singles Winners, and
comfortable doing this because:o That's how they'vethe four men above account for a almost third of
been taught to do it, so they won't 'miss-hit' the tennisthem. If you add the 20 combined Grand Slam Singles
ballo They've been fed thousands of tennis balls thisRunner-Up finishes they had, you're looking at 62
way by their local tennis pro when they were firstGrand Slam Singles Finals among those four players.
learning how to hit ground strokes.o It's easier to hit theThat's almost HALF of the four yearly Grand Slam
tennis ball on the 'way down' from the peak of it'sSingles Finals for a period of 33 years, shared by
bounce because the ball has slowed down, making itthese four players - who all hit the ball on the rise. This
easier for the player to hit with their current level ofstatistic should open your eyes.
hand-eye coordination.o Since they've 'backed up' wellWhy don't more players hit the tennis ball 'on the rise'?
behind the baseline to wait for the tennis ball to dropSimple answer: It takes practice, and timing, and faith,
into their wheelhouse, the odds of hitting a ball 'long',and persistence; in short, it takes work. But you can do
past the opponent's baseline, decrease.it. Persistence is the key. If you can commit to it, and
You could call all of the above reasons 'logical', butnot rest until you get the results you want, you've won
they won't help you beat a 'better' tennis player90% of the battle; and a whole new - and better -
because of the following:o Just getting the ball backgame awaits you. There are several techniques I utilize
over the net is not enough to beat a 'better' player.owhen teaching my students the 'how' of hitting the ball
While you were 'backing up' behind the baseline waitingon the rise that I do not have the space to fit into this
for the ball to fall into your wheelhouse to you could hitarticle. Just remember that you don't have to get it
it, your opponent was recovering from their shot andperfect; just get it going. Start hitting the ball on the rise,
moving back into position to get ready for your nextand practice, practice, practice! Then watch that
shot. This will not help you to beat a 'better' player.o'better' player wonder just why you're so hard to beat
Now that you're well behind the baseline when you hitthese days!
your shot, it will take you extra time to get back into