Tennis Strategies for any type of players.

I started playing tennis at a late age.  I wanted to improve fast because I wanted to hit how the professionals do and have a good workout with my partners. I found myself really frustrated because I wanted to hit hard and play competitively against players beyond my level. The main problem was that I lacked experience and knowledge. 

          In tennis, a player uses different strategies that both enhance his own strengths and exploit his opponent's weaknesses in order to gain the advantage and win more points. Players specialize in a certain style of play, focusing on what they do best as a means of beating their opponents. Based on their style, there are three types: baseliners, volleyers and all-court players.

Roder Federer, at his powerful volley shot.

          A baseliner plays from the back of the tennis court, around the baseline, preferring to trade groundstrokes rather than to come up to the net (except in certain situations). A volleyer tries to approach the net and hit volleys, putting pressure on the opponent. All-court players fall somewhere in between. A tennis player usually determines his/her strategies based on his/her weaknesses.

          A serve and volleyer has a great net game, is quick around the net, and has fine touch for volleys. Serve and volleyers come up to the net at every opportunity when serving. They are almost always attackers and can hit many winners with varieties of volleys and drop volleys. The serve-and-volleyers' strategy is to put pressure on the opponent to try to hit difficult passing shots. This strategy is extremely effective against pushers.

Serena Williams, hitting the incredible forehand from the baseline.

          An offensive or aggressive baseliner tries to win the point by hitting winners from the back of the court, attacking with fast penetrating balls that the opponent cannot reach or return effectively to get them back in the point. Being an offensive baseliner player requires a deadly array of shots and shot-types. Offensive baseliners normally have at least one great groundstroke, forehand or backhand. The best offensive baseliners have a huge serve to go with a great groundstroke or can hit huge groundstrokes off both wings.

          A defensive baseliner (pusher) returns every ball and relies on the opponent making mistakes. He has consistent shots, makes few errors of his own while making it difficult for opponents to hit winners. The game of the defensive counter-puncher has more to do with physical endurance and determination to retrieve un-retrievable balls as well as mental stamina.  Speed and agility are keys for the pusher, as well as a willingness to patiently chase down every ball to frustrate opponents.

Tennis Court Dimensions 

          

All-court players have aspects of every tennis style, whether that is offensive baseliner, defensive counter-puncher or serve-and-volleyer. They usually have an attacking game, mixing some groundstrokes and volleys to keep the opponent guessing. However, their game often revolves around "constructing" a point to where they will be able to approach the net and put away an easy volley or pulling their opponent into the net and hitting a passing shot. Counter-punchers often excel on slow courts, such as clay courts. The court gives them extra time to chase down shots and it is harder for opponents to create winners. Counter-punchers are often particularly strong players at low-level play, where opponents cannot make winners with regularity.