Strategy to get 3rd ball attack

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Ricky,

When you are trying to make a 3rd ball attack the key is the serve that you make.

If you can make the serve sufficiently difficult for your opponent so that they give you a weak return then you will have a chance to make a 3rd ball attack.

Usually if you can deceive them by serving with more topspin than they realise or serve a no spin serve when they are expecting a backspin serve, then you will get a high return that will be easier to attack.

The other thing to think about is the direction of your serve.  If you serve it to their forehand they are more likely to receive the ball to your forehand corner.  If this is where you make your best 3rd ball from, then this will be a good tactic for you.

So the key is developing your serves and finding serves for each opponent that will give them trouble.

There is a lesson available for Premium members on this topic in our Master Classes titled Third Ball Tips.