| Pick on Someone Bigger Than You | |
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Once you have a tall player on the run, try hitting the next shot behind him, so that he has to make a sudden reversal of direction. Basic physics will work against him. (It's a lot harder to turn a supertanker than a kayak.) Ironically, this might not work as well against a very slow player, because he will have less momentum going in the wrong direction when you hit behind him. If he's really slow, just hit into the open court.
Not surprisingly, low balls also tend to bother tall players. In baseline rallies, you can use slice to make your shots skid low to your opponent. If she comes to net, try getting the ball to land near her feet. If you have time to take a good swing at the ball, a low, dipping topspin will work well, but you can also chip (slice) the ball short and low either when you have less time to prepare your shot or when you just want to add variety. On the backhand, most one-handers find the chip easier to execute than the topspin; most two-handers, the converse.
In many situations, such as running wide for a ball, your tall opponent's vulnerabilities, such as slow feet, will be somewhat offset by the reach of his long arms. This will help him reach down to those low balls he finds difficult, too. There is one tactic you can use, though, that will make your opponent's long arms work against him. Hit into his body. With long arms, his comfortable point of contact with the ball is relatively far out to his side, and balls coming right at his body require him to make a larger last-minute adjustment than a shorter player would. The best way to rush that last-minute adjustment is to make the ball curve into the body. Those opponents who don't read the spin on your shot will be surprised by the ball suddenly ending up too close. On groundstrokes, use sidespin (true slice) to curve the ball; on serves, slice or twist.
I must admit, I get a kick out of seeing the wee folk prevail. It seems that players like Amanda Coetzer, 5'2", have to work harder and play smarter to win. It is with some regret, therefore, that I urge you to check in next week, when we take a look at how to "Get Shorty."
Additional Resources:
How to Beat Four Major Player Types
