STRATEGY #1: OUT-RALLY THE OPPONENT
The goal here is to win the point by keeping the ball in play until the opponent misses, so consistency and depth are essential.
Your task is to avoid any unforced errors by playing safely and retrieving all of your opponent’s shots, while at the same time hitting the ball deep enough to prevent the opponent from being aggressive.
For this strategy to work you need to:
Hit the ball at a pace that you can control.
Pick large targets on the court.
Hit high over the net and away from the lines.
Be ready to run down ball
In addition, you will hit mostly cross court since cross court shots allow you to hit over the low part of the net and into a longer hitting area. In other words you become a human ball machine, outlasting your opponent.
STRATEGY #2: PLAY AGGRESSIVELY
This strategy is the opposite of the last one and involves being aggressive from the start of the point, hitting the ball hard, and trying to catch balls early.
The goal here is to force the opponent to play defensively from the start of the point. That is, you need to start the point with an aggressive serve or return and then continue to attack by stepping into the court, catching the ball on the rise, and driving it back with force. You will continue pushing the opponent backwards until you force a mistake or hit a winner.
Of course, if the opponent hits a good defensive shot you may not be able to continue to attack that shot but you will certainly continue looking for the next opportunity.
STRATEGY #3: PLAY YOUR STRENGTHS
The easiest way to improve your performance without changing much is by hitting your best shots more often.
In this strategy, if your forehand is better than your backhand you will have to run around your backhand as much as possible and hit your forehand. Similarly, if your net game is better than your baseline game, you have to try to get to the net as soon and as often as possible.
STRATEGY #4: ATTACK THE OPPONENT’S WEAKNESS
Making the opponent hit their weaker shot as much as possible will definitely give you an advantage.
Play relentlessly to the opponent’s weakness trying to break it down. Do not be fooled by an open court. In many cases when a player has a real weakness, they would much rather run towards their strength than hit their weakness from a standing position.
STRATEGY #5: ATTACK THE NET
Putting pressure on the opponent by charging the net is a very useful strategy when playing consistent opponents, or opponents that have a weak side. It’s also a great way to take time away from the opponent.
In many cases just charging the net will be enough to force an opponent’s mistake. You don’t even have to hit a volley.
When you follow this strategy it is important that you attack the net to the opponent’s weakness as much as possible, however approaching down the line or through the middle, are good variations. You can use this strategy by serving and volleying, returning and volleying, or by approaching on short balls during the point.
STRATEGY #6: BRING THE OPPONENT TO THE NET
Many players do not feel comfortable at the net and forcing them to come in will place them into a vulnerable position.
This strategy is especially useful against very consistent players who do not hit the ball hard but who rarely miss from the baseline.
In this strategy you will play consistently until you receive a short ball that you can counter with a drop shot or a short, low ball. Hitting the short balls with slice will always be more effective.
STRATEGY #7: USE VARIETY TO CREATE ERRORS OR SHORT BALLS
Having to continually adjust is much more difficult than returning similar shots over and over. Variety is a great way to force mistakes or short balls that you can attack.
The factors that you can vary are:
Spin: topspin, slice and flat
Depth: long and short
Height: high, medium and low
Direction: right, middle, left
Speed: fast, medium and slow
Of course you can also combine these variations to make variety an even more effective strategy.
STRATEGY #8: OPEN THE COURT
In general the player that has to move more will lose. Opening the court with angles is a great way to move the opponent, force mistakes, or create opportunities to hit winners.
For this strategy you will hit deep and consistently until the opponents hits a short and wide ball that you can angle back to pull the opponent wide, off the court. Once you pull the opponent off the court, step forwards into the court and try to hit the next shot early and on the rise to the open court.
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