Tennis Tips: How to Beat a Backboard Player
Have you ever been in a situation where you playing an opponent who just keeps getting the ball back, no matter what you do? Usually, that player stands on the baseline and seems to just return everything you hit to them. It’s just like playing against a wall or board, hence the name “backboarder”. This type of player normally does not put any pace on the ball, but the ball still keeps in play forcing you to play yet another shot. Your frustration increases and you try and hit it harder and harder, but it still comes back. Eventually you overhit and the ball goes out or you dump it in the net.
If this has happened to you then you need to change your strategy. Try these simple tennis tips. Always think about what your opponent likes and what they dislike? What are their strengths and weaknesses? With a backboard player, they are obviously good at the baseline and they are consistent with their ground strokes even though they don’t put much pace on the ball. So, if you keep hitting the ball harder and deeper, you are just playing to their strengths.
Normally, with a backboard player, you will find that they are very uncomfortable at the net. So rather than just blasting the ball back, try playing a short ball and bringing them forward towards the net. Once they are at the net, you can now try a passing shot or a lob. The backboard player will usually be very uncomfortable playing volleys at the net and so passing shots and dippers (shots that stay low over the net and drop quickly at your opponent’s feet) will usually work well. The lob should also be equally effective because now your opponent is forced to run backwards, which they are not accustomed to doing. If the manage to return the lob, you have the opportunity of an easy overhead or a short angled volley from the net.
So next time you play a backboarder, remember to mix-up your shorts. Try a few deep shots and then a short one and bring them into the net. If you mix-up your shots, you will always have your opponent guessing and they will not be able to establish a consistent rhythm, which is something else that the ‘backboarder’ thrives on.
I hope that these simple tennis tips will help you the next time you play a backboarder.
