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You can use the defensive floating slice to slice all across the ball if you want to just hover and defend and float the ball back and just play safe using higher net margins to maintain the depth with it but that slice is slower and floats too much up in the air or falls short and dies in the court so its like the Moonball, works when it goes back in high and deep but not so good when it starts to fall weak and short in the court so because of that issue with that type of slice I prefer to use the big flat pronation slice drive that has no float.... I use that for my one hand backhand as a serve return and also as a an approach shot if I have got time to ram the slice through the court. I don't always like floating back the slice drives. I like to ram them through the court.
Great video and saw some comments about baseline game and what it means. It's when you feed the ball underarm and you play out the point, either start cross court or center with the understanding that you can't hit a winner of the feed. Basically, pickleball or paddle on a tennis court. And yes, it's an epidemic where players don't play points with an actual 1st and 2nd serve, work on returns etc. It's a huge difference playing with serve, return and focussing on the 3rd shot than just playing off of the feed. Serving with proper technique is tough, thanks to countless inaccurate serving YT videos. Baseline games do have a purpose though. It's about grooving your strokes and balances out for someone who has good groundstrokes but not a strong serve/return. You also develop patience and belief that you can stay in the point longer. Not to mention the additional cardio you get.
I absolutely love this video. I hate the baseline game and I tend to lose. But when I play set, it’s a totally different match. I 100% agree the return and serve the most important shots in real tennis. Thanks for making me feel better and such a great video😊
There's also a difference between a friendly match and a competitive one (of any kind). Felt much more nervous and generally more conservative when playing "for real"
Funny I came across this video today. I’m a decent rec player who can play most shots completely. I had a hit today with a player from my club who doesn’t have every shot. He knows by reputation that I’m far better than him but felt he was hanging with me in baseline rallies and even coached at one point. Then he challenged me to a best of three sets match. He never won a game.
Im a pro tennis couch and I agree with everything you said, like the importance of serve and return, but something is really confusing here, what do you exactly mean with baseline game??? I saw your comments and a lot of people don't understand either. Do you mean: Not coming to the net??? or playing deep?? or not strategic game ?? or playing with Ego??? playing stupidly ??? you mention so many things. Also I could understand that Perhaps you need to work more in your own baseline game??? Or Perhaps you should play without ego ?? Or perhaps don't expect to win every time you play a solid player Or perhaps expect Novak Djokovic (or any other champion baseliners or not) to lose to other great players from time to time Please what do you mean with baseline game Im curious.
Interesting how this is even evident even in a rally scenario with people getting a bigger ego even just by hanging in or making another person produce an error in a rally.
In my experience, a lot of female adult players I have taken lessons with don't like to practice serve at all because it is so frustrating for them. (Though there has been some improvement in that regard with those who have started to learn the importance of the serve because they have started to play matches in a summer league) I have a pretty good first serve compared to other adults at my club (used to compete as a junior), but I've been working on a topspin second serve for a year now. Most tennis skills take a very long time to learn. The topspin second serve is starting to come together now, but I expect it to take at least another six months, or more, to make it something I can reasonably rely on as a second serve without serving long. Often, it is rare to play points during group lessons (4 people) by starting with a serve. I'm not sure why. The serve practice is at the end of the lesson for about 10-15 minutes, but rarely do we even practice returning. I suppose one solution is to keep asking (more than once or twice) the coaches for more serve and return practice, another would be to just play practice matches with people more - but you don't get coaching in that case.
Hi, - Yes, if you're not devoting enough time to it and aren't practicing consistently enough, a skill is "unstable" which is why it will take you 6+ months to learn a topspin serve. Unless you can practice more. - You make a good point about group lessons. It's not the coach's fault, usually. Having worked in and also directed tennis programs, there is pressure to provide an entertaining experience to get players moving and feeling as if they were active. - This video is more aimed at those who base their level purely off baseline games. Thanks for the comment.
It's because everyone can and should practice their serve on their own time. If I paid for a group event and had to sit there watching people messing up their serve I would never come back.
Brilliant! Excellent was to explain the situation. Since I’m in my 50’s I get fatigued more easily than younger players. So ending points fast and early is probably a benefit if I can practice serve and returns as you suggest. I’ll keep my energy longer hopefully!
The reason why most points are done at the base line on the pro lvl is not because they don’t want to come to the net or valley or drop shot, but because they cannot. The quality, speed and accuracy of balls will not let you do this most of the time. So all your versatile skills as a recreational player will smash into the wall as soon as you play against pro or good lvl junior who is in control of the baseline shots. Only if you are an Alcaraz who can do insane drops out of nowhere and run the court like crazy.
Maybe the smartest tennis advice video l have heard. That's saying alot because there are many great people putting out good content. Sampras and McEnroe were known for not really liking to do alot of practice drills. Their attitude was hey serve em up and let's go. I think that these were 2 pretty good players. Many people are afraid to hit second serves in competitive situations. If someone wants to be a good tennis player the serve and return of serve has to be emphasized consistently. Your video should be required listening for every tennis player.
First, if you had one decent tennis lesson with a capable coach, then he/she told you that in tennis the serve is the most important stroke to win matches and directly after that comes the return. This is NO hidden secret... Second, tennis at a recreational level is almost only about having fun playing tennis. If you enjoy baseline Rallyes (or "baseline games") most, then play baseline games. Even if you frequently lose against a big server. Of course everyone should be capable of a decent overhead serve but that's obvious. Third, it is very unrealistic on recreational level to dominate with serves or short 1-2 combos, because your technique required to force short Rallyes needs to be very high. There are many quick runners at amateur level that force you to play aditional balls. Last, I agree, if you just want to win more matches then you probably have the best outcome if you improve your serve, return and finishing abilities.
@@sebastiankraus9131 Ok, I don't know what your goal was with your response. Were you trying to be critical? I was paying the content creator here a compliment which was well deserved. There are so many reasons why people don't practice serves. Maybe they aren't good at serving. Some people are terrified at the prospect of having to hit a second serve under pressure. Not all tennis instructors are good so don't make assumptions. I worked out at a club where there were alot of female students. I hardly ever saw an instructor working on the serve, it was all groundstrokes all of the time. Tennis a very hard sport. The advice the content creator here was solid. What world are you living in? I teach tennis myself. Tennis is performed incorrectly as much or more than any other sport you will see. Groundstroke games are fine for conditioning and building confidence but they are in no way reflective as to how one would perform against stiff competition in a match.. There's nothing wrong with pointing this out. It's a great reminder for any tennis player who looks to be effective as a tournament participant.
@@gregoryphillips3969 I want to apologise for my impolite/vague tone! It irritated me that you called this video "maybe the smartest tennis advice video" you have heard but that does not excuse me criticising you and the content creator and in the process upsetting you and maybe making you have a worse day! Obviously you learned something through the video and therefore it is a valuable video! We live in the same world. In essence I still think that my points are valid and it is as okay for me to state my opinion as it is for you and that this video contains no groundbreaking/out of the box advice. But next time I will state my opinion in a less toxic manner! wish you the best from Austria and keep having fun playing tennis!
@sebastiankraus9131 Thanks for the response but you have to know as well as l that even the most basic advice repeated over and over again has value. People do hit groundstrokes all day long and never practice their serve and then wonder why they lose matches. I remember Jimmy Connors who grew up with his mother coaching him at 35 years old after winning grand slams and being number 1 in the world going back to his mother for advice. Do you think she's telling him anything that he hasn't heard before no. Tennis is incredibly difficult to play well and the very best advice put forward as a reminder will always have value especially when it's something that's clearly needed based on what most people are doing wrong. Thanks for the response.
Up to 4.5 opponents I think many beginners may stage an upset if they simply keep sending the ball high up in the air because most players treat overheads as an occasional nuisance.
oh hell nah haha I'm new player (10 months in) and I LOVE those lob shots / moon balls! ! It's basically a closer serve that I have more room to get in haha.
Very True...I blow at forehands, i mean I can place shots pretty well but I have no power on my groundstrokes so I get my hits CRUSHED. But i've beat 5.0 players and i've been playing just 10 months. But when I try to get into a rally baselining I GET SODOMIZED. How I win, Cannon for a serve (120 mph) and drop shots, and getting my a.ss up at the net cuz i'm 6'4" and 99% of the time More athletic than my opponent. Unless you're a monster at the baseline game why do it? Don't play to someone elses strengths. it is Like he said an Ego thing...cuz I want to Hit back and forth in a battle of forehands but I almost always lose when i do. when I learn to hit better groundstrokes and catch them up to my serve...different story.
baseline games are purely for training purpose and stamina. Training certain balls. Giving that one ball a go and go from there. Thus great for executing/finishing points.
Are you saying “baseline game” as a description of a particular kind of tennis *match*? Or are you talking about a game within the set where you’re both playing on the baseline and not coming in to the net?
I wouldn't say absolutely useless, as they can be designed in ways to be beneficial (with constraints). But not a good gauge of level. Thanks for comment
Wait wait, do people really judge themselves or compare to others based on the outcome of quick baseline games to 10 or 11 points? No way! I think baseline games might be a good way to have some quick fun or perhaps practice, well, baseline work by removing the serve and return from the equation, but Real Games, sets and matches are sooo very different! I am surprised that you are encountering so many players engrossed with baseline games!
Hello. Yes! Here's my experience: - I used to think this way - on a men's college tennis team, this was a normal attitude - coaching collegiately - working with "advanced" club players and above.
You are only as good as your second serve. The leading men with 2nd serve points won in their career are: Rafael Nadal = 57.28% Roger Federer = 56.83% John Isner = 56.01%Aug 10, 202
ANDRE AGGASS1 is the FATHER of modern tennis. He could return 230 serves, winning with a single shot by RETURNING, holding the basseline, creating impossible angles, hitting the ball EARLY as no one, inside the court, no BOUNCE volley. Perfect TECHNIQUE in both swings BACKHAND & DRIVE. You are too SHORT kid, thypical coming feom a RU-vidR
Hahaha in the end you thought you pronounced it well? 😂 It's impossible for non Dutch people to pronounce. The sch is not a sj but more like sg Plus you said Schlup in stead of Schulp :) But you gave it a good try 😅
