Players are always looking for little advantages to defeat their opponents. There are so many different tangibles that can change the complexion of a match. In this 5 part series, USPTA P1 Professional John Frausto digs into modern tactics that will take your game to the next level.
Tactic #1..Buy time by standing further behind the baseline
It's a fact that professionals like Murray, Nadal and Gasquet are buying themselves more time by standing further behind the line. They are doing this for a few reasons.
1) The modern game has evolved into a power game. The balls are hit with such spin and pace that players are standing further back to get a better look at the ball. Imagine in baseball if a batter had the opportunity to back up an extra 4-6 feet to get a better look at a pitch. It doesn't happen because of the batter's box but it does happen in tennis. Look at this photo of Rafael of Nadal. He is clearly 10-12 feet behind the baseline. He is always able to €œneutralize€ his opponent's power and spin by standing further back and letting the ball slow down and get into his strike zone. The ball is clearly up by his shoulders but due to his western grip, the shot feels comfortable to him.
2) Players are able to take a full cut at the ball. Because of the increased court area and more time, players are able to take a full swing at the ball. This increased racquet head speed also equates to more topspin which brings the ball back into the court. Richard Gasquet is a perfect example of this. He is currently a top 25 player who employs this tactic into his game. Look at this photo of him and his distance in relation to the baseline. He has obviously done a nice job getting balanced, loading and distributing his power from the ground up through the ball. Now, this is not to say that you wouldn't want to move into the court and take a ball early or on the rise if the opportunity presents itself. I do recommend that but this tactic you may not get that ball until the rally is well established. You must be patient and have good physical endurance in order to execute this style.
3) Your opponent will begin to make more mistakes. With more time and more confidence, you will begin to keep the ball in play longer and eventually frustrate your opponent. Here are three common errors your opponents may start to make because of your NEW tactic. One, they may start to hit closer to the lines. With less margin of error, they will hit more balls out. Two, they will begin to hit the ball harder which will cause them to tire quicker and make more mistakes. Three, they will try and make shots that they aren't comfortable with like.coming to the net, drop shots and out right winners. Look at Andy Murray and his position on the court. He is definitely in a €œdefensive€ position. He has been doing a lot of work in the gym and on the track so for him to €œneutralize€ this shot and get back into the point is not a problem for him. On my Topspin Tennis Blog (click on the Blog image on the homepage), I have included some videos of his training and off court work. It's amazing what he does to get prepared for his tennis matches.
These are just a few examples of what buying more time has done for players on the tour. I would like your feedback on this tactic. Please feel free to email me. Please look for the second tactic in this 5 part series.Hit long, hitting into the net is wrong.