I can't beat flat strokers in tennis!?

Question

They just bink the ball over the net without any form, but I can't seem to beat them. If I go to the net I get lobbed, but I can't out groundstroke them when I'm trying to play with topspin.

Answer 1

try alittle drop shot make your opponent to come up to the net and blow it by them. don't try to over stroke your opponent if they push it back to you don't over stress your self about killing the ball because from experience it only makes you that much more upset that you cant beat that cheap player it throws you of your game because your so upset.  when you play those types of player make them run around the whole court get them tired i know its hard when they don't put any effort into their game but mix it up some times.

Answer 2

when you say flat strokers, do you mean players that hit strokes with barely any spin, or players that just dink the ball over the net.  

If it's the former, just get the play back.  remember most tennis matches are lost, not won, even on the pro level.  flat strokers usually will miss if you give them enough opportunity to.  force them to hit shot after shot.  if they beat you, then too good.  but they probably won't be able to if you become consistent.  consistency is a weapon.

if it's the latter, you need to impose yourself a bit more.  if they are a dinker, you'll have to flow with it.  when you get them on the offensive then you can take the point.  if you're getting lobbed, you're probably getting too close to the net.

Answer 3

You probably aren't hitting deep enough.  Hit deep with lots of spin to their back hand.  Always hit deep.  Keep them backed up.  Move them from side to side.  When the hit a short shot, hit it with lots of angle and lots of spin.

The great thing about topspin is that you can really go for the angle.

Answer 4

You must play extra topspin like Nadal. Flat player hate the bounce because it goes high.

Answer 5

Hey, being mostly a flat hitter myself, I find that these strategies work against me a lot! I'm aware of them when I'm on court, but most of the time they still get their way with me.. especially when I have an opponent who thinks well on court.  

1) Don't make it a routine for the flat hitter. Vary the pace of the ball.

Most likely, flat hitters would like to slug it out from the baseline. They thrive on pace, so if you just feed the ball topspin to them, they do better, because it gives them rhythm, especially if your shot is not deep enough. If you change it up a little bit (maybe incorporate slice too), that might throw them off their rhythm, plus slice bounces low so it gives flat hitters a harder time to get the ball over the net, because the trajectory of a flat-hit ball is also lower, so their unforced error count might go up.

2) Try to hit angles and down-the-lines.

With angles, it's much harder for a flat hitter to hit angles back. Most of the time they miss wide, or they will try to change the direction of the ball. They go for outright winners, so they might think going down the line is good play, but the net is higher at the sides, so the risk for unforced errors also is. Plus it's also harder to keep your consistency if you keep running side to side. Unless they have very good footwork, or they trained with Robert Lansdorp (lol), flat hitters will have a hard time producing the shots they love consistently.

Occasionaly, hit strong flat shots too, just to give them a taste of their own medicine.  Just keep your consistency. Pros are the only ones who can play 30+ great shots consecutively (lol). Unless the flat hitter is really "in the zone", at most they will hit six to eight good shots and lose their patience and miss the next one. So play with their mind =)

As for being lobbed when you're on the net, choose your approach more carefully. You might think you hit a great approach shot, but if they anticipated your play, they can get into position to come back with a good pass, or, like you said, they will lob you.

Hope these help a little bit. =)

Answer 6

I think you can do 2 things to bear a flat stroker. You can either use their own pace against them and try and counter-punch using the pace. This would need you to guide your racket with a shorter swing and punch the ball back. If you are a better player than them this should work.

The other idea is to add extra spin and give them loopy moon-balls because you cannot hit a flat shot if it is around your head-height. Also try to avoid low shots and under-spin because flat-hitters like low balls. Drop shots may also prove a conumdrum to them. Try this and if all else fails you can ace them everytime!

Answer 7

just hit the ball with lots of spin and low so it's harder for them to hit the ball flat.  if they hit it flat the ball will go in the net or fly out.