Know your opponent’s weaknesses and strengths

Tennis tactics begin with knowing all about your opponent’s game. Try to observe their weaknesses and strengths before every tennis game. This can be categorized into three aspects; technical, physical and mental.

Before you play your tennis match, you have to know what are your own strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, you also have to know the weaknesses and strengths of your opponent. Knowing his weaknesses will enable you to find ways and means to expose them in the game. This is an important tennis singles tactics especially for players looking to gain an advantage over their opponents at the start of the match.

Like for example, if you know that your opponent’s backhand is his weakest point, then in the actual game make sure that you make more shots to his backhand side. To know his strengths is of equal importance, if you know that his forehand is very powerful then you avoid your shots to his forehand as much as possible.

Be mentally ready

To be mentally ready can also be a big factor in tennis match. You have to be mentally positive that you are going to win. Like for example, if someone is playing against Federer and Nadal, the top two best players in the world, be mentally conditioned that you will win so that you will have a chance. However, if before the start of the game you don’t believe you will win, you won’t win the game.

Surprise your opponent

In this tennis singles tactic, you need to think and move fast. When you want to surprise your opponent, your opponent should think the opposite of what you actually do. A very good example in these tennis tactics is when you are going to hit a very high overhead ball. You have to position yourself as if you are going to hit the left side of the court, but in your mind you hit the opposite side. You opponent would normally run to the left side but he will just be surprised that the ball lands in the right side of the court. The element of surprise is absolutely necessary as a tennis singles tactic, because as soon as your opponent begins to become comfortable, then the match is usually going to fall in his or her favor.

Be aggressive on the second serve

This singles tennis tactic is very important if you are playing against a strong server. It is very hard to break a player whose serve is very strong. However, a player does miss his first serve from time to time. Once your opponent misses his first serve, you should be very aggressive in returning his second serve. One very good tactic in returning a second serve is to go down the line and generate more pace and do the chip-and-charge tactic. Winning more points in your opponent’s second serve may even force your opponent to execute less intense but safer first serve and this will result to your advantage.

Play to win

Play to win is among tennis tactics that relates to the mental side of tennis. In any sport, there is always a winner and a loser, but what do you need and what do you have to do in order to win? This situation is to your advantage because he or she has less opportunity to hit aggressive shots. In addition to a flat return, you can also add topspin in your shot to produce a high bounce which can be uncomfortable to your opponent.

The best answer is to use your skills against your opponent and not against you. If you are very good in one part of the game, it does not mean that you can make use of it with every opponent. Like for example, if you are a net player, but your opponent is a player with good passing shots, then your net skill won’t work with him.

On one hand, if you are very good in hitting big groundstrokes, but you opponent is like Nadal who has very powerful groundstrokes and very good in baseline plays, then your powerful weapon becomes neutralized.

You don’t need to change your tactic, but the most important thing is you are able to adjust and counteract your opponent’s play as well as his weapons.

Topspin counterpart

One power tennis singles tactic is to hit the ball with topspin. This tennis tactic is very common in professional tennis. If your opponent has this weapon, you will be left always as the defensive player. One way to counteract this is to prevent your opponent from producing topspin by returning the ball with a gentle slice and a soft backspin into the net. Another way to counteract your opponent’s topspin tactic is take balls early in the baseline.

Panic is always your best enemy when your opponent plays at the net. If you start to panic because you opponent is playing in the net, then your opponent’s tactic worked.

Effective drop shot

A drop shot can be a very effective tennis tactic to win a point if you execute it accurately and perfectly. However, if it is executed poorly, surely you will lose a point. The first thing to consider is your position and your opponent’s position in the court. Your ideal position should be short while your opponent should be deep, way behind the baseline.

Another situation is when your opponent is in the other corner side of the court (left corner) and then you drop shot your ball in the other side of net (right side of the net). This means that your opponent has a very long way to run to be able to return the ball. A very important thing to consider in this single tennis tactic is when you do a drop shot, you should surprise your opponent. Do not give him a hint that a drop shot is coming. This tactic is very fulfilling when you succeed, but it can be addictive and become less effective especially if you do it consecutively.

Don’t play against yourself

Some players get impatient if they are playing with an opponent who likes to play safe tennis. Safe tennis is one of the inevitable tennis singles tactics that you will encounter at the club level. Some tennis enthusiasts calls them ‘moonballers.” These are the players who just wait for their opponent to make unforced errors. Generally they are very good defensive players who do not attack, but prefer to play defense. If you are playing against a player like this, you have to be very careful not to get impatient. When a player gets impatient, he tends to play shots that he never practices before the actual match. If you do this, you will allow your opponent to manipulate you. This can result to your errors and an advantage to your opponent.

Is it right to play safe or be aggressive?

In any of the tennis tactics, you can either play safe or be an aggressor. A safe play means you don’t hit attacking shots or hit winner shots. You just play the safe side of tennis which is to return the ball effectively.

The aggressive player is the one who hits winners. The question is which is a better tennis tactic?

When you play tennis, you can’t play safe all the time because your aggressive opponent will find the best shot to topple you down. Your opponent can vary his or her shots that can force you to move around the court resulting you to make errors. However, it is not right also to hit winners all the time. This means your percentage of errors can increase.

Game plan

A game plan is the recipe behind every tennis tactic. In every match you play, you play against different types of opponents. So before the start of the game, you need to evaluate yourself and make out a plan how to play your game based on your weaknesses and strengths as well as your opponent.

Like for example, if your opponent has very good footwork and groundstrokes in the baseline, then the best counter attack on that is your baseline defensive tactic. If your opponent is a very aggressive player in the baseline, then you will outplay him if you play more short balls forcing him to commit errors. Having a game plan is essential as a singles tennis tactic because without one, it is like driving into a highway blindfolded.

It does not mean that you have to have all the weapons in order to win a tennis match. All you need to do is to have some game plan for you to be able to counteract your opponent’s weapon and at the same time make use of your strengths.

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More than just tactics of tennis, every player must learn how to win against those with different styles of play.

In order to succeed as a tennis player, you must learn to play against all types of players with different styles of playing. Ideally, your game plan for every match should allow you to use your strengths as much as possible and expose your opponent’s weaknesses to the full extent.

At the same time, you must protect your own weaknesses while minimizing the damage from your opponent’s strengths.

Tactics of Tennis: Working on High Percentage Tennis Strategy

There are two key words that need to be defined: strategy and tactics. Strategy refers to your general approach to playing a match. The tactics of tennis are the specific shots and your court positioning that will help you execute your strategy successfully. This varies according to the strategy being used.

Four basic playing styles are identified based on the major strategies of playing tennis. The first playing style is the counterpunching defensive style. A counter puncher is a reactor. He or she responds to whatever his or her opponent does on court instead of really taking the initiative. This does not mean that the counter puncher is an unintelligent player. In fact, some of the smartest players in the world are counter punchers.

Counter puncher: Another Viable Set of Tactics of Tennis

They are usually able to hit the right shot that neutralizes or even beats their opponent’s best shots. Additionally, counter punchers usually have great stamina and are able to simply outlast their opponents. The tactics of tennis used by the counter puncher are usually the following:

• Stay back on or behind the baseline to retrieve all of the opponent’s shots.
• Use high heavy topspin, floating slices or low skidding slices to keep the ball deep and prevent the opponent from attacking.
• Feed off the opponent’s pace to hit hard shots that surprise him or her.
• Hit lobs against aggressive, attacking players.
• Get a very high percentage of first serves in by not going for too much.
• Be very mentally tough, patient and willing to stay out on court for as long as it takes to win the match.

Tactics of Tennis: The Aggressive Baseliner Mentality

The second playing style is that of the aggressive baseliner. This is the most common style you see on the professional tours today. This player has several big shots, usually the first serve and the forehand.

Their main strategy is to overpower or out hit their opponents. These players are willing to take the risk and go for big shots to hit winners, force errors or short sitters that can easily be put away. The tactics of tennis that this type of player commonly uses are:

• Hit big first serves and put away the short return off the bounce.
• Hit deep and set up their big inside out forehands.
• Rally cross court and pull the trigger by going for a winner down the line.
• Aggressively return the second serve, looking to put it away immediately.
• Hit sharp angles to open up the court.
• Hit passing shots or hard body shots against a net rushing opponent.
• Hit drop shots as a surprise tactic.

Tactics of Tennis: The All Court Player

The third type of player is the all-courter. This player is comfortable in all areas of the court. He or she can hit all kinds of shots from anywhere, but these players still have some weaknesses in their game. Sometimes, they can hit everything well but don’t have one shot that can be called as a real weapon.

The tactics of tennis that these players use vary according to their individual abilities. But because they are usually the most versatile players, what they usually like to do is to keep their opponents guessing with what they are going to do form point to point. If they are executing well, they give themselves a very good chance of winning.

• Use variety in the rallies. Mix up the spin, pace, trajectory and direction of ground strokes with the intention of opening up the court for a winner, either from the baseline or the net.
• Defend against aggressive players just like a counter puncher, using consistency, depth and retrieving ability.
• Attack against a passive player by hitting big shots and approaching the net to knock off volleys.
• Bring the opponent to wherever he or she is not comfortable. For those who are not good at the net, drop shots can be used. Net rushing opponents can be kept back by hitting deep, moving forward and taking the net away from them.

Tactics of Tennis: Playing against a Serve and Volley Player

The last type of player is the net rusher or serve-volley player. The strategy they use is to constantly put pressure by coming to the net on almost every point.

At the professional level, this style of play has largely gone by the wayside because the modern equipment and court conditions have made it easier for the baseline player to hit clean passing shots.

But in doubles, this is still the best way to play, though gradually, baseline play is creeping in to take over that as well, especially in the women’s game. The tactics of tennis that a serve-volley player uses are:

• Serve hard and wide to open up the court and volley into the space.
• Aggressively take the second serve early and chip it deep to approach the net and volley.
• Combine deep volleys with angled or drop volleys to make the opponent run forward and diagonally instead of just side to side.
• Hit short and low volleys to make hitting passing shots more difficult.
• Aggressively put away lobs by crushing the overhead.

There are several keys to remember when playing against all types of players.

Tactics of Tennis Against a Counter puncher:

• Mix up hitting hard and deep with short angled slices to force him or her off the baseline.
• Hit drop shots and then lob or pass.
• Be very patient in constructing points. Expect everything to come back and don’t be surprised if the shot you thought was going to be a winner gets returned.
• Attack the serve, especially the second serve.

Tactics of Tennis Against an aggressive baseliner:

• Get a lot of first serves in.
• Try to return the first serve deep.
• Keep the ball deep and mix up the spin, trajectory and pace of your shots to keep him or her from developing a rhythm.
• Hit short, low angled slices to force him or her off the baseline and hit awkward shots.
• Hit drop shots if the player is uncomfortable at net.
• Surprise him or her from time to time by coming to the net.
• Feed off the pace and create big shots of your own.
• Be willing to defend by hitting high, heavy topspin or deep slices to stay in the point.
• Analyze what kind of shots make him or her uncomfortable and prone to error and keep hitting those shots to draw even more errors.

Tactics of Tennis Against an All Court Player

Against an all court player, the tactics of tennis will greatly vary according to his specific strengths and weaknesses stroke-wise. Since this type of player is comfortable in all areas of the court, his or her weaknesses tend to be technical. For example, if this player is generally good on the baseline but has trouble hitting backhand passing shots, then he should be attacked on this side. Here are other guidelines:

• Focus only on the ball and try not to be confused or surprised by what your opponent is doing from point to point.
• Hit deep consistently and use variety in spin, trajectory and pace.
• Use your own strengths to create openings on the court.
• Be alert and aware as to what kinds of shots cause him or her more trouble. Make him or her hit more of these shots.

Tactics of Tennis Against a Serve and Volley Player:

• Get a high percentage of first serves in.
• Return low at the feet.
• Hit lobs early to keep him or her from crowding the net and open up the passing lanes.
• Set up your passing shots by hitting low to his or her feet first.
• When he or she is at the baseline, keep the ball as deep as possible and test his or her patience in a long side-to-side baseline rally.

The tactics of tennis you use also depend greatly on your own ability and aptitude with each particular type of shot. This is why it is always advisable to keep learning and using new shots so that you will have a better chance of winning against all types of players.

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Many people who play tennis love the sport because it requires more than athletic ability–it also draws on mental acuity as well.

Tennis can actually become something of a chess match as the games progress, each opponent planning a strategy of attack and preparing for countermoves. Others liken tennis to a boxing match, where adversaries feel each other out early in the match, then make continual strategic adjustments as the fight continues, mano-a-mano.

How to Use Tactical Tennis to Your Advantage

Whatever analogy you prefer, you need to learn a bit about tactical tennis if you want to win more matches and perhaps advance up your club’s ladder or your region’s standings.

Tactical tennis will simply add to your already-formidable physical abilities, although it must be said that many unforced errors are from “too much plan, not enough execution.” That said, understanding tactical tennis will give you an advantage over most opponents that you will encounter.

As you gain experience playing, you will become better and better at tactical tennis, eventually reaching the point where you are more than one shot ahead mentally as you slug it out in a rally.

That is a cool level to reach, to manipulate your foe as you wish, setting him or her up for difficult situations where he or she is more likely to fail. It also increases your chances of hitting a winner as you think ahead and do your best to move your opponent out of position.

For those who want to think ahead and devise shot combinations that will fluster their challengers, we offer up five combos that form the heart of tactical tennis:

Tactical Tennis Tip #1 – Hit Short On Purpose:

Hit a shot short enough to draw your opponent 10 or more feet forward into the court, preferably a low ball that is hard to handle.

This presents problems because the shot hit while running in is one of the toughest in tennis. If he or she succeeds in getting your short ball, he or she will often fail to sprint back to the baseline.

That’s when you hit the next shot deeper and at least eight feet to either side of your foe. Such moving up and back of an opponent can be extremely helpful to winning rallies.

Many players can hit shots hard when they don’t have to move. It’s a different story when they have to hit on the run. And, of course, the less fit your opponent, the more you will want to make him or her move.

Tactical Tennis Tip #2 – High and Deep to the Backhand:

When you have a ball that you can put a lot of topspin on, a forehand in your wheelhouse, for example, hit it deep and high to your opponent’s backhand so that it will kick above the shoulders. This presents a very difficult shot for your challenger. It is very hard to generate pace on a ball above the shoulders on the backhand side. The result is often a high, floating ball that is easy to put away at the net.

This shot is especially effective, because when your shot kicks high, your opponent will be looking up and to the side as he or she hits the ball, so he or she won’t see you moving in to volley. Thus, a decent shot by your foe becomes fodder for your volley smash. In general, deep shots to the backhand, followed by a rush to the net, will often work against many players.

You don’t want to overuse this tactic, or your opponent will simply run around all backhands. In the midst of a long rally, though, it brings a nice change of pace and an element of surprise. It is not high risk unless you are a poor volleyer. “Deep to the backhand, up to the net” is not a bad credo for any player that is looking for a simple mantra in tactical tennis.

Tactical Tennis Tip #3 – Run Your Opponent Around:

Do you want to get your opponent running a zig-zag, spending precious energy tracking down your shots?

Try this classic strategy in tactical tennis: hit to your opponent’s “side pocket”, the outside corner of the service box, then hit the next ball to the opposite side OR behind your opponent as he or she hurries back to the center of the court. Either strategy is a winner.

Either you put a ball far away from your opponent and make it extra-difficult for him or her to reach it, or you hit a shot that is against all of the momentum that he or she has, making it almost impossible to get.

The only danger of this shot is if your foe gets to your first wide shot and hits it with even more angle than you put on it.

That will happen from time to time, but you will win most rallies with this sequence, if executed properly.

Tactical Tennis Tip #4 – Drop shot and Lob Tactic:

The classic drop-shot/lob combo has worked for decades, and it can work for you, too.

You will need to have a good drop shot to make this strategy feasible, but with a little work, you can develop a killer drop shot.

Again, you are forcing your opponent to run in and hit, which is one of the more difficult shots in tennis. The only danger with this short shot is if you do not get the lob over your opponent’s head. If not, he or she will have a field day smashing volleys back at you after you have drawn him or her in.

Your adversary will grin every time that you hit a drop shot, knowing that you will follow that with a weak lob that he or she can crush.

Obviously, for this piece of tactical tennis to work, you need to hit a solid lob, one that lands no more than four feet from the baseline and does not rise too high (giving your opponent much more time to get back and retrieve it).

The lob does not have to be a particularly hard shot for you.

Practice a bit and soon you will be putting them within a foot or less of the baseline, making this strategy more effective than ever. And talk about fatigue! Your opponent will probably have hihe or sher tongue hanging out after a few of these drop shot-lob combos. Don’t snicker too loudly as you watch him or her suffer.

Tactical Tennis Tip #5 – Use Your Slice Backhand:

One final combo that might be a little tough for you to pull off is the sidespin-slice backhand followed by a rush to the net. As you come towards the net on a short ball, try to slice it and bring your racquet towards your body, creating a side spin as well.

While your opponent is busy trying to figure out if you are going to continue to the net, he or she will be too distracted to watch the strange bounce that is about to give him or her fits.

When the ball both dies on the court thanks to your slice, and it spins just a bit away from your antagonist, the result will be either a soft ball that you will gobble up at the net or an unforced error.

Other Tactical Tennis Tips

Apart from these shot combinations, there are many other things that you can do that will contribute to excellent tactical tennis. Another strategy that you should try is changing up speeds on your serve. In baseball, pitchers try to fool batters by not only making the ball move up, down or sideways, but by changing their speeds from time to time. You can do the same with your serve.

When you have a sizeable lead on your serve, try a very soft first serve with lots of spin. Many times, your opponent will be so stunned that he or she will be late in running up to return it, and the result will be a very weak return or unforced error.

Different Tactical Tennis and Combinations

Also, if you have a nice lead while serving, hit your second serve just as hard as your first serve. You have a lead and can take this risk. The result many times will be an ace or service winner as your opponent wonders where you got your new second serve.

The combinations and possibilities of tactical tennis are almost endless. These five shot combinations will come in handy during your next match. Varying your serve will also help you to win many easy points. Between these two strategies, you will gain enough of an advantage to surely triumph the next time you play, perhaps even to best a player that has more skill than you.

Tactical tennis can be the great equalizer of talent, which means more wins for you.

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