JOOLA USA

Against a Mobile Player with a Strong Forehand, Play the Forehand First

By Larry Hodges

Against a mobile player with a strong forehand who likes to attack with the forehand from the backhand side, you should usually go to the forehand first, then go to the backhand. This way, the opponent not only has to play his weaker shot, he has to do so while moving or reaching for the ball. But you don’t just put any ball to the forehand – you choose which ball goes to the forehand. Examples:

When serving:

• Serve short to the forehand, then attack the backhand.
• Serve short backspin. If it’s pushed back deep, loop to the backhand; if it’s pushed short, flip to the backhand; if it’s attacked, quick block to the backhand.
• Serve fast to the forehand, then quick block to the backhand.

When Receiving:

• Against a long serve, loop to the forehand, then go back to the backhand.
• Against a short serve, push heavy & deep to the forehand, or flip to the forehand, then go to the backhand.

If the opponent is constantly looking to step around the backhand corner, then the forehand side is probably vulnerable to any aggressive shot, so look to do that every chance – and then you get to come back to the weaker backhand as well, a double-whammy.