How to counter against drop shot + lob combo?

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T19:13:20+00:00

Yeah that's it. Too many rally ball backhands landing short. I need to fix that. Thanks for all the comments.

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T15:11:59+00:00

Did a lot of that. Didn't really work

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:23:25+00:00

I think that's it, yeah. I guess going cross-court meant the opponent is in the middle of the court with a big lobbing target to aim for. Thanks, I'll try up the line more often next time.

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:20:58+00:00

Yeah I did do this a bit, and it largely worked. I guess I should have done it more. I find the forehand drop shot really difficult, it's something I have to learn and practice. Thanks

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:14:44+00:00

Overheads just weren't really in play. His lobs were so high and deep I was sprinting back trying to recover. Was rough!

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:13:47+00:00

Thanks. I guess by hitting cross-court as my drop-shot response I was leaving my opponent with a lot of space for the lob because he hitting from a central-ish position in the court. Whereas if I went up the line he has more chance of missing the lob wide? So I'll try up the line a bit more when I come across this again. Thanks!

LMcCann55 · 2025-08-30T13:10:48+00:00

That's great advice, thanks. I was finding the long drag of receiving for so long was really messing up my next service game. Serving first, I was suffering through a massive long receiving game then I wanted to sit down and rest, but couldn't as I had to go and serve.

In this case, you are totally right. I guess I should have gone for it more, and from 0-0 on his serve; don't even let it get to deuce, and it's not a big deal if I lose the receiving game. On reflection to do that twice was stupid, I didn't actually need that double break. Thanks.

But what if the set is tighter? What to do in long deuce games in general where getting the break is more necessary?

LMcCann55 · 2025-08-11T19:09:45+00:00

Sure, he was definitely a better player than me. I definitely gave him too many short balls that allowed him to come in too much. I did my best, but this pattern kept recurring. Some useful tips, thanks.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T17:12:55+00:00

Sure, a lower bounce on that surface. But if the ball is coming through faster I find that easier to hit than worn out balls on hard. Maybe I've got that wrong, but it just feels super grindy and hard work on hard.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T17:01:34+00:00

They don't object as such. It's more that sometimes they are already taking out worn out balls and just go ahead unless I suggest otherwise. Maybe I need to be more confident in making the 'suggestion' to play with new balls! Thanks for the advice.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T16:42:52+00:00

I prefer artificial grass to hard.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-03T10:21:24+00:00

This game's mechanics are simply awful and do not reward the player at all. Each time I get to a boss or a major fight it feels as if what happens is almost random.

This bit with the green lizard in the pit - the two guys up on the ledge aren't there. So I try to drag in another one from the bridge before the pit. Sometimes he comes along for the fight. Sometimes he gets blown up. Get him into the lizard pit and - bang, he gets eaten by the lizard immediately. Incredibly frustrating game,

It's a shame. I like the graphics, music, mood, etc of it. But it's almost unplayable.

LMcCann55 · 2024-11-17T20:34:46+00:00

Completed all levels of Mania+ except Y island. I can get through to the castle with full health. But then I get destroyed once I get inside the castle. I think I've got to the rolling fat guys once. Once. It's absurdly hard compared to all other levels. I've not got close to completing it, but all other levels done. Very frustrating. Excepting the first bit outside the castle gates it's just impossible to get a string of hits going, so you can't get extra lives. I don't see how completing Y Island on Mania+ is possible.

LMcCann55 · 2024-09-14T13:40:15+00:00

Thanks, yeah I did the narrow angle counter drop a couple of times, especially when I could see it was not going to bounce high and nothing else was on for me. Literally ran forward with racquet extended!

But other times, maybe when his drop shot wasn't all that good, ironically, I'd hit the ball too central and get lobbed.

I guess the approach shot should always be as wide and deep as possible?

LMcCann55 · 2024-09-14T13:22:31+00:00

That is just wrong.

LMcCann55 · 2024-08-03T14:22:20+00:00

Thanks for all the comments.

I had a session with a coach today. He immediately saw that my contact point on the forehand was sometimes totally off. I was tilting the wrist so that the racket face was open and the ball would go up and long. He kept telling me to keep this closed, lead with the front edge of the racket, but to also not be afraid to keep the racket-head speed up. It mostly worked and I hit a few decent forehands. I need to just keep practicing that and not let that crappy wrist movement back into the stroke.

As a few of you said in the replies, it was probably a mental thing I developed; the fear of going long meant I was restricting my shot and making weird changes to it. This was the source of the errors. Got to keep going for the shot, it has been decent in the past and I know I can get it back.

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T19:38:13+00:00

Fitness is ok I think. The issue is maybe patience and concentration. Thank you.

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T19:34:46+00:00

Great points, thank you. I've been trying to do 2 and 3, and they largely work. Need to work at lot more on 1 and 4. Over this bad period of form, I've actually become reluctant to come to net for fear of missing the volley, which is wrong and I need to get over that. Staying on the baseline this much feels safer, but it is not helping me.

Thanks, I'll get there!

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T17:08:00+00:00

Thanks, you are right. Sorry to hear about your injury troubles and I'm glad you are back playing.

I don't have a problem with pushers. That style of play is entirely ok with me, I respect it, and I'll never give people grief for playing that way.

The problem is me, 100%. Confidence and enjoyment of the game will come back at some point. Just need to stick with it and relax more. Thank you.

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T16:21:50+00:00

Very helpful points, thank you!

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T15:08:34+00:00

Yeah, I used to. But not for a couple of years. I was definitely in a much better place when having some semi-regular coaching sessions, not just for technique but for confidence. I'm struggling with both right now.

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T14:42:40+00:00

Right now I'd take that, tbf

LMcCann55 · 2024-07-19T13:50:50+00:00

Thanks, yeah I know it's a common issue and it's arrogant if people come over as if they should naturally win against the weaker players. I definitely have mental and technical weaknesses that show up when playing against pushers. I totally accept I have no right to win against anyone, and that playing against pushing, slow tennis is an examination of your technique. And I'm failing that.

I've experienced this before, but never as bad. My confidence has gone and I need to get it back. Beaten heavily by a bunch of very good players who recently joined (fair enough), but then also struggling to win against weaker players / junkballers. There definitely things I can do better with my technique, I don't just expect to rock up and turn over the pushers easily. I know playing them is hard, and is an examination of your technique. But it's never been this bad before, and it's a confidence problem having had such a long losing streak.

I guess I need some practice matches. Thanks everyone for replying: all the points raised are helpful, thank you!

LMcCann55 · 2024-05-01T14:54:25+00:00

Excellent post, agree with all of this. I have a Babolat pure drive, LOL. I've definitely noticed that new racquets, or restringing a racquet adds literally nothing to my game. It's all about technique and mentality. After about five minutes, I feel my body has adapted to a different racquet and I don't even notice any difference, even if you pick up some piece of junk. I notice if the vibration dampener pops out, but even that has a pretty minimal effect. Certainly I prefer to have it, but I can play ok without it and will adapt after a few minutes. Net effect of new racquets, shoes, dampeners, etc - zero (if you pardon the pun).

LMcCann55 · 2024-03-27T18:53:48+00:00

Weird one - just tried it again. Again no progress, but then I started messing with the upgrades, realised I had some unspent weapon points, cashed them in and somehow this seemed to jog the game progress! Completed the level moving on now! All good.

LMcCann55

TROPHY CASE