drop shot/net charge tactic is for crap artists

[Fez]

Just posting my complete disgust with how many guys out here do drop shot/net charge tactic. Today, EVERY player i played did it. It creates those absurd little volley wars at close range. Retarded. Why do you folks insist upon provoking such a dumb part of the game? I think its better to lob during a rally than do this drop/net crap. Stop it!

[J. Grilo]

Yep, totally agree here. But i think, we have to live with that.

[Indiantonike]

There are some many ways to return these dropshots ... If you can't return it, it seems you were too far away from your baseline : your fault (maybe would you want your opponent to do a weak shot so that you have more chances to win the point ?)

But of course it's better to stay on the baseline after hitting a drop shot, so that your opponent can counter it with a dropshot and you loose the point

[Elias]

I do it sometimes as well, though i try not to abuse it cause i agree using it repeatidly on decisive points can be a pretty annoying tactic (and on the other hand it's an usual combo in real tennis).

Don't forget that you can counter drop. Because, if using drop as a passing shot is forbidden when the opponent is at the net and you're on the baseline, on the other hand, when your opponent drops and net charges, then you are running to get the drop and there goes the situation where dropping is allowed when both opponents are in the net area. i won't say it's over effective, but it can be pretty troublesome to your opponent, it's difficult to volley, can make your opponent step back, and give you an edge to hit a decisive volley yourself, or a smash if he decides to lob.

[Uchiha Muss]

While we're on this matter how many dropshots would be too much? My current formula is 1 dropshot per game and 2 if the game reaches deuce.

I watch tennis and players like benoit paire heck even federer in the past used dropshot 2-3 times in a row. Their style is actually like that so no one blames them for abusing it excessively. You know, I could dropshot all day I don't care but I just don't do it because I stop myself.

P.S. If you've having net battle then it's fault of the dropshot executer. He should've just placed it in left/right corner and close "down the line" area with staying closer to the center. That's what I do.

But my favorite combo would be dropshot+lob. That's the most hilarious point you can have in this game. I dropshot opponent makes it somehow, I've loads of time so I go for offensive lob and a beauty is in front of me.

P.S. 2. And this is how I practice offline

[Fez]

There are some many ways to return these dropshots ... If you can't return it, it seems you were too far away from your baseline : your fault (maybe would you want your opponent to do a weak shot so that you have more chances to win the point ?)

But of course it's better to stay on the baseline after hitting a drop shot, so that your opponent can counter it with a dropshot and you loose the point

I can return it. That isnt what i said. the problem is that when i do return it, it creates those close range volley wars!

[Don_]

While we're on this matter how many dropshots would be too much? My current formula is 1 dropshot per game and 2 if the game reaches deuce.

I even could play all points using drop shots and I wouldn't feel guilty at all.
Drop shot = risk, if opponent gets the ball = its almost sure that we will lose point. If someone is losing point after point because of drop shots then he have problems with proper thinking on court, nothing else. Normal player would come closer or be more carefull in next points. But if opponent is still running far, far away in deep defence, then sorry, no mercy for him, even it is not usual in real tennis. But playing from very deep is also not usual (not everyone is Nadal or Ferrer). Remember how often Federer used drop shot vs Murray some years ago ? But finally Murray understood something.

[J. Grilo]

Drop shot = risk, if opponent gets the ball = its almost sure that we will lose point.

Unless you come to the net too and that's the point for me. Of course you can react with a drop shot or a lob. But for that, you have to be in a good position, it's not enough to just reach the ball on the last second. You need to be faster to make the right strike. Especially against really good player, which normally doing very good drop shots, i have nearly no chance to come in a good position for a lob or other things. I'm happy to reach the ball somehow.

Even, when i did some points with a lob (what happens sometimes), i found this method pretty stupid. It's not like on real tennis, where you just have more possabilities to place the ball right. In the game it's limited: lob or drop shots - making a point with an other method is very rarely. Furthermore, i can't remember, that i see this tactic on real tennis even once. When a player make a drop shot and come to the net, he is already pretty much inside the baseline.

[ax4chidori]

I watch tennis and players like benoit paire heck even federer in the past used dropshot 2-3 times in a row. Their style is actually like that so no one blames them for abusing it excessively.

I agree, but I have NEVER seen Federer hit more than two dropshots in one game. Federer only uses dropshots when his opponent is out of position or when Fed can telegraph his opponents reaction (slipping, not getting to the shot, forced error). Lately Benoit has been using that tactic a fair amount, but atleast nobody is using it how Isner used to about a year ago!

While we're on this matter how many dropshots would be too much? My current formula is 1 drop shot per game and 2 if the game reaches deuce.

No real formula. If your opponent plays extremely far in the court, then he can't blame you for hitting the drop shot. If he/she is out of position, then it is THEIR fault and possibly YOUR fault if you don;t make them pay for it w/ Uchiha Muss's tactic! lol

But my favorite combo would be dropshot+lob. That's the most hilarious point you can have in this game. I dropshot opponent makes it somehow, I've loads of time so I go for offensive lob and a beauty is in front of me.

P.S. 2. And this is how I practice offline

[ax4chidori]

And if you want to see what acceptable drop-shotting looks like Benneteau is playing live here in he USA right now. I'm watching because I am a big fan of his match against Del Porto in one of the German hard court tournaments in the finals. SECOND point of the live match now Janowitz plays dropshot. That proves that there is not right o wrong formula for dropshotting.... unless you constantly lose those points