- Mirror shot trajectory, spin, net clearance and pace of your opponent. If receiving a flat shot with pace and low net clearance, respond with a similar shot with pace. Adhering to this approach with discipline shows resiliency (a willingness to stay in the point) and makes a statement that you will not be overwhelmed by power or aggression. Matching shot for shot and pace to pace can go right for you in two ways. One, your big hitting opponent unable to get an edge in the rallies goes bigger (as one may predict for an aggressive personality) and starts to break down, making more unforced errors. Two, if you can match everything your opponent has to offer and still have reserves to be able to step it up to an even higher level, you can then start going for more and dictate play in your favor. On the negative side, you may find matching shots is not sustainable, in which you will need to look at other options to offset the power and pace of your opponent such as taking pace off the ball and varying spin.
- Play high percentage tennis, a basic principle versus all playing styles. Hit over the middle part of the net (using the center strap as a guide). Hit with high margin of net clearance and depth. Maintain shot direction. Aim for big targets. Maintain cross-court patterns following the serve and return. Playing smart, high percentage tennis keeps you in the point and requires your opponent to take more risks, hopefully leading to more errors. There is however a caveat to playing traditional high percentage patterns versus a big hitter. Most big hitters build their game around a big shot such as the forehand groundstroke. A forehand-to-forehand cross-court pattern could feed into the strengths of player with a big forehand. This presents a need to possibly take more risks, going for a shot more difficult to execute sooner in the rally than you would like under normal playing situations to get your opponent moving (and not as set to hit the big shot). It may also require you to look for other shot and pattern options such as hitting to the middle of the court to take away angles.
- Be alert. Get ready, read and react (quickly with dynamic balance and active feet) and then respond and recover with purposeful intent. Be focused on taking the ball early, on the rise as necessary holding a court position on or near the baseline. Be prepared also to move forward to attack any short ball. By being more alert not only will you be better able to respond to the pace and power, but you will also be better able to transition to offense when you get a weak reply.
- Take pace off the ball with spin. The first three points provide strategies for managing the pace, staying in the rally and potentially drawing errors and perhaps play to your strengths if you can match pace with pace but do little to disrupt rhythm or offset the strengths of your hard-hitting opponent. Big hitters generally feed on pace but can be frustrated by having to generate their own pace or respond to a mix of balls hit with different pace and spin. You can absorb pace by blocking the ball back in play (with little to no spin) which can be effective (particularly with the serve return) if you are able to get the ball deep or short and angled. A better option to take pace off the ball and disrupt rhythm is with slice (underspin and sidespin) and topspin (with a raised arc of trajectory).
- Vary the height (net clearance) and the resulting bounce to require your opponent to hit balls below and above his/her strike zone. Getting the ball up against a big hitter may require hitting from a deeper position on the court (to provide more time to get underneath the ball). When hitting from a deeper court position, it is important to get depth and weight behind your shot with heavy topspin (to prevent your opponent from moving in to take the ball in the air with a swinging volley). The best way to keep the ball down is with a hard, biting slice (with a low angle of contact to surface incidence).
- Disrupt rhythm by moving your opponent. Utilize full use of the court hitting to the four target zones with short and deep, drop shot and lob, deep corner to corner, cross-court down-the-line redirection and sharp angle patterns. The goal is to not allow your opponent to get comfortable dictating play and the pace of the rally.
- Slow or manage the pace of play or tempo of the match. Many big hitters tend to play quickly or prefer to play quickly (particularly when ahead in the score). To counter the big hitter who likes to play fast, slow down the pace of play by being methodical and deliberate. Take all or most of your allotted time in setting up to serve each point. Judiciously go to your towel and consciously walk methodically (slowly) to retrieve balls to buy time. Your goal is to turn the match into a mental grind frustrating your opponent into being rash with no shot tolerance.
- Be resolute and resilient. Big hitters tend to be streaky by the nature of their game and willingness to take risks. It is important to hang in there “weather the storm” and be prepared to take advantage to establish or reestablish momentum when your opponent experiences a dip in performance.
- Keep the ball in play (as best as possible). Resist the tendency to go for too much. Do everything possible to extend the rally and make your opponent hit one more shot. Be scrappy and run down every shot. Be especially attentive on getting the serve back in play, varying your return position as necessary. Make your opponent work for every point.
- Vary the variables in your control (pace, spin, trajectory, net clearance, depth, direction, court position, etc.). There are other things you can try to disrupt rhythm such as taking time away by closing into the net whenever possible but ultimately it is the variety of shots in your arsenal and the variety of different options you can apply (with disguise and unpredictability) that will serve to best disrupt the rhythm and confidence of your opponent. Mixing things up with strategic intent is the best way to stifle a big hitter.
How to Counter the Pace and Power of a Big Hitter
Published
Ten Things Tennis 