The Only Tactics that Really Matter - USTA League Observations (3.5 Women)

A few nights ago I watched a very competitive 3.5 women's doubles match at Forestmeadows.  From time to time I will watch a match, or at least a part thereof, in order to see what tactics the players are utilizing - if any.  I also watch it to either confirm or debunk my own belief that the adventuresome "advanced" tactics learned in lessons at any level of recreational tennis are unnecessary because too often the point does not get started by both teams, or an unforced error is made.

The set I watched ended with a 6-4 score.  The deuce court returner for the winning team hit the same exact return of serve cross court EVERY single time to virtually the same target on the court.   Every time it seemed she came into the net. It seemed like she only volleyed to the "short" side (the side where the opposing server's partner is in the front-court if the server remains at the baseline) when she got a ball above the net.  There was zero deviation from this pattern during the time I was watching.  When the same player was serving, she stayed back mostly and was content to just hit cross court and keep the ball in play.  Her strokes were by no means overpowering - in fact one might say they had very little pace at all.

The ad court player for the winning team played within their own capabilities, never hitting an aggressive shot - instead ensuring that the point continued.  She wasn't going to make an error (she did make a few but it wasn't because of attempting to be a hero), content with allowing her opponent to supply the errors.  Her weapon was consistency and patience.  Although sometimes this patience and consistency resulted in poor shot selection - the poor shot selection never really resulted in an unforced error.  When this player served, she stayed back and was content to do whatever it took to keep the ball in play - mostly cross court, with an occasional lob.

Conversely, the deuce court returner for the losing team played over aggressive, especially on big points.  In doubles, cross court is the high percentage return. Down the line is a more aggressive return, but always results in more errors - it is a low percentage shot.  Low percentage shots should only be attempted if the likely negative outcome will not impact your ability to win or lose the game or set.  At 3-4 deuce, the possible negative outcome of missing the return by going down the line severely impacts your team's ability to win that game and the set.  Conversely going down the line at 5-1 0-30 has virtually no negative consequence if you miss that return.  During the set, I counted five missed down the line returns by the deuce player to only one successful return.

The ad court player for the losing team was more consistent making the returns. However, after two or three balls in a row, the player would become over aggressive and lose patience, as did the deuce court player after 2-3 balls in a row.  Some of these errors were of a movement/ technical nature, especially on the volleys, but all the groundstroke errors were purely shot selection errors - lack of playing the percentages and being patient.

My take away from the match was this:

1) The winning team proved they were patient enough to make the other team hit a minimum of 5 balls when they were engaged in a groundstroke rally
2) The winning team made an extremely high percentage of return of serves, and no double faults, while the losing team missed 10 returns and had 4-5 double faults in the set I watched.
3) The winning team only attempted shots they were capable of making, especially under pressure, the losing team went outside their capabilities as players.

So my belief that the tactical lessons that are being taken by players at the recreational level are unnecessary for the most part was confirmed.  The only useful tactics necessary to win are as follows:

1) There are no tactics if you cannot start the point on the serve or the return of serve
2) Consistency is the most important factor and weapon in order to win
3) Knowing your limits as a player and playing within them leads to positive results

Notice that poaching was not listed as essential. Neither was attacking the net, nor was attacking the short side of the court. While these are tactics, and useful to learn, if you are not proficient enough to win more than 51% of the points using that tactic, or any other tactic, or you are not capable of getting the point into those situations, you need to leave it in the bag and stick with what actually works for you.

The most essential "tactic" in tennis is knowing what you are capable of doing when you are on the court, and sticking to it no matter the situation.  A teaching professional should be able to tell you what you are proficient at or how you can become more proficient in order to win.

1) You must be able to hit 5 balls in a row in a groundstroke rally live ball under match conditions- singles and doubles.Whether this requires better shot selection, less pace, slicing, or more topspin is individual to the player.  Each player must figure out what is necessary for them to hit 5 balls in a row under match conditions.  If you are unsure, ask a teaching professional whose opinion you value.
2) You must be proficient enough with the serve to limit the number of double faults per match to 2 or less.  This may mean taking pace off the first serve, spinning in the first serve, or taking pace off the second serve - again this is individual to the player.
3) You must be proficient enough on the return to start at least 85-90% of the points on your side (each side for singles)  Again this may mean changing your position, being less aggressive, hitting more cross court, slicing the returns, just blocking it back - again, individual to the player.
4) Before you expand out to more adventuresome tactics, you must master 1-3 above.

Remember it is OK if your opponent hits a winner.  It is NOT OK if you make an unforced error, especially if your shot selection was poor.  The overwhelming majority of points are determined not by winners, but by unforced errors.  Limit your own and you will win more matches, guaranteed.