The Principia of Movement Physics

[Fez]

Ok. Listen. There are top players, very good players. Ask them, or anyone else, what makes them so good and invariably you will hear the reply-- "They move well". And its true, the move VERY well. But here's my inquiry; What makes them move so well, precisely speaking? I play some guys where its nearly impossible to hit a winner against. For example, they hit a safe shot, I step inside baseline and crack it to the line and they don't need to guess. They react, and get to the ball. In most matches, I'm forced to guess in this scenerio. So, just saying "They move well" doesn't help us lesser players at all.

By precise I mean this: I have developed a fairly decent method during rallies. After striking a ball I move back towards middle of baseline....but all the while tapping that direction repeatedly so that I will have a bit of inertia when moving that way, but won't create so much that I can't quickly step in opposite direction. Understand? Anyone else do this?

Also, as most of us know, its better at times to kind of loop your direction changes so that you make use of the inertia instead of it working against you. I was watching butcher and it seemed he used this technique a bit. He would step up a bit before moving left or right to gain inertia for the left or right movement. Is that true? Was I seeing that correctly?

So, top players, please describe in detail the nature of your "moving well" in terms similar to what I tried to do here.
Because you can't simply be just reacting straight forwardly. There must be subtle button techniques that give you such quick movement. Will someone take the time to describe it?

And, on a different note, nobody has ever given me a satisfying answer as to why some matches you get tons of counter while in some matches you can't buy a counter. Basically, in games where I am granted many counters, I win. In games where I am not gifted these counters, I lose. Totally random?

[VMoe86]

Good thread, don't delete it. Personally, I've never worked consciously on my movement (and I don't watch how people play, neither others nor myself). So, I am not aware of any fancy movement techniques I might be using (or might not be using). One thing comes to my mind, though: When I give my opponent a safe shot, I sometimes do quick left/right movement.

It is not all about movement, reading what the opponent is trying to do also very important: You can tell from the animation or tell from charging/aiming time nicely in many situations where your opponent is putting the ball.

EDIT: Will try to look more closely what I am doing with my fingers, maybe using Webcam to make a video (only for me ).

[Fez]

Good thread, don't delete it. Personally, I've never worked consciously on my movement (and I don't watch how people play, neither others nor myself). So, I am not aware of any fancy movement techniques I might be using (or might not be using). One thing comes to my mind, though: When I give my opponent a safe shot, I sometimes do quick left/right movement.

It is not all about movement, reading what the opponent is trying to do also very important: You can tell from the animation or tell from charging/aiming time nicely in many situations where your opponent is putting the ball.

EDIT: Will try to look more closely what I am doing with my fingers, maybe using Webcam to make a video (only for me ).

"Can tell from the charging aiming time" where opponent is putting ball? What on earth does this mean?

[VMoe86]

"Can tell from the charging aiming time" where opponent is putting ball? What on earth does this mean?

In TE there is the beautiful concept of holding a shot button to get a smaller aiming zone (= charging in my terms). Then you also have aiming, i.e. holding a direction. The time for charging/aiming can tell you (in combination with the animation of your opponent's character, or even HOW your opponent positions towards the ball) what the opponent is trying to do. For example: My opponent is choosing between cross court or down the line in a cross court duel. Typically, you will notice longer charging/aiming when he tries to change direction for going down the line and go close to the line with the shot.

[Florian]

That's mostly true but it could just be the opponent charging longer for hitting a better shot (deeper and all more precise but still cross court).

[Fez]

That's mostly true but it could just be the opponent charging longer for hitting a better shot (deeper and all more precise but still cross court).

exactly, that's why Vmoe's comments confuse me. Makes no sense. opponent can always be doing either thing, regardless of charge time

[VMoe86]

That's mostly true but it could just be the opponent charging longer for hitting a better shot (deeper and all more precise but still cross court).

exactly, that's why Vmoe's comments confuse me. Makes no sense. opponent can always be doing either thing, regardless of charge time

That's why I also mentioned the animation and positioning towards the ball. I also said "can tell you", not "will tell you".

[C4iLL]

To moove well you need to know how to reposition yourself as quickly as possible and on the good zone. That requires knowing some basic concepts of tennis.

It's also a lot about anticipation : sometimes you know the guy in front of you, in his position, he has one unique possible choice (cross shot for instance) so you can run faster toward that direction to begin the charge earlier.

[J. Grilo]

I think the problem about anticipation is, that the animation won't really help, because they look always the same. The only thing, which kinda help me, is to learn or read the play of the opponent. Some combinations (f.e.: inside out, to push the opponent to the edge and shoot to the free space or against his path) will repeat more or less. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But i know how fez feels, i asked this myself too, how they reached nearly every ball.

What i've regognize too, is, that many of the top players have a very good defense play. When they get into trouble, they can play a long / slow slice to come back again. Good net skills can help here, i guess - when you hit a good shot.

[C4iLL]

Yeah that what I meant by anticipation : think about the combos of your opponent, his patterns of shots

[VMoe86]

To moove well you need to know how to reposition yourself as quickly as possible and on the good zone. That requires knowing some basic concepts of tennis.

That's something I assume from the start: Basic concepts of tennis. What Fez is looking for is some tricks, exploits of the game's physics allowing for quicker movement (provided they exist).

[Elias]

What Fez is looking for is some tricks, exploits of the game's physics allowing for quicker movement (provided they exist).

One thing comes to my mind, though: When I give my opponent a safe shot, I sometimes do quick left/right movement.

Could it be some unconscious way of smart auto-step back triggering trick ?

[VMoe86]

Could it be some unconscious way of smart auto-step back triggering trick ?

Let's quote the game's author on this subject, who gave the following advice for return of serve (giving opponent a safe shot and then dealing with the following attack is similar to return of serve):

c) instead of using the autopos trick, you can try to do little left-right steps : it'll give you a lil bonus speed ; but it raises the chances to be caught of the wrong step, so don't do too big left-right moves

Source: http://www.managames.com/Forum/topic8-6180.php (Opening Post)

Since that was written back in January 2012, i.e. before TE 2011 1.0f , being caught in the wrong step might not apply anymore these days.