Hard to Handle

Instead of retreating on a deep ball, take it on the rise. 
When slugging it out in a baseline rally, you generally make contact with the ball somewhere around the peak of its bounce, at a height between your chest and knees. But sometimes your opponent drives a high-bouncing shot within a few inches of the baseline, putting the ball out of your strike zone. The tendency for many players in this situation is to move back and let the ball reach its peak and then drop. But retreating puts you on the defensive and gives your opponent a major advantage in court positioning. Although it’s more challenging, hitting the ball on the rise without moving off the baseline is the smarter tactical play. Here’s how to make this difficult shot a dependable option.

Bend your knees and start your swing before the ball bounces.
Contact on this shot can take place as low as your shins, so it’s important to get down. On most ground strokes you begin to swing after the ball hits the court, but since you’re so close to the bounce in this case, you need to start your motion before the ball lands. This will take some practice, as you need good timing and anticipation.

Make contact with the ball right after it bounces.
The sounds of the ball hitting the court followed by the racquet contacting the ball should be almost simultaneous. Because you’re taking the ball lower, it’s best to hit it with topspin so it will elevate over the net, yet land inside the baseline. Remember to stay down and keep your weight balanced. Some players are inclined to lift up prematurely or lean backward, which can result in a loss of control.

Drive through contact and complete your swing.
Your stance and contact point might be a little different in this stroke, but you’re still hoping to take a full swing. As you step and swing forward, rise up out of your knee bend to add lift, arc, and spin to the ball. You’ll notice that when done correctly, taking the ball on the rise involves less work than most other strokes. And because you hit the ball just as it’s coming off the court you’ll cut down on errors due to bad bounces and unperceived spin. Once you become skilled at hitting this shot from the baseline, start moving forward to take short balls early and rob your opponent of time.

Photos by Manuela Davies/Propix