The higher the level in tennis, the harder everyone seems to hit. But don’t be surprised if you run into a wannabe Federer at the 3.0 level who can absolutely crush the ball. They might get one or two good shots in, but they don’t have consistency yet, so the rest of the time, they get the error.
When battling any big hitter, there are things you can do to neutralize a heavy hitter in tennis, and we’ve got ’em listed right here:
Slow Down The Pace.
Big hitters love nothing more than someone who tries to match their power, because it just gives them more fuel for their fire. If crushing the ball isn’t your thing, don’t even try—you’ll just rack up errors and probably end up muttering to yourself on the walk back to the bench. Instead, slow things down and focus on placing your shots. Make them work for their power, and watch as the errors (and maybe a little frustration) start piling up on their side.
Use Placement Over Power.
Placement is your secret weapon. If you can hit deep and keep your opponent glued to the baseline, you’ll force them to work even harder for their power—and you’ll buy yourself a precious extra second or two to react. Here’s how to make it happen:
- Hit the ball deep. The farther back you keep your opponent, the more they’ll have to muscle the ball to get it back to you—and you’ll have a little more breathing room to get ready for their return. If you like to slice, even better: the ball will stay low and out of their strike zone.
- Try some short, angled slices. Make them hustle forward and scoop the ball up—when they’re that close to the net, it’s a lot harder for them to blast it past you.
- Keep them running side to side. The more you make them chase, the less time they’ll have to set up for a big swing—and the more likely they are to send one into the net or the next court over.
Of course, sometimes your opponent will just get lucky and smack one back anyway, so always be ready—just in case they decide to show off.
Avoid Their Comfort Zone.
One of the best ways to mess with a power hitter is to avoid sending the ball right into their comfort zone—that sweet spot where they can just swing away and look like a hero. If you hit a flat ball that lands a couple feet behind the service line, you’re basically handing them a highlight reel moment.
Spin is your friend against a big hitter, especially the slice. Slicing keeps the ball low and forces your opponent to either dig it up or slice it back—neither of which is easy to crush. Heavy topspin works too: hit it deep and watch the ball bounce up and out of their comfort zone.
Handle Your Returns Of Serve.
You can’t control your opponent’s serve, so just be ready to react. Big serves don’t give you time for your usual backswing, so just block it back and aim for depth. If you keep it deep, you’re still in the rally—and that’s half the battle.
Don’t just block the ball down the middle every time, or your opponent will catch on and start charging the net for an easy put-away. Mix things up: block it to their backhand, send one down the line, or toss up a deep lob into the corner. The goal is to keep them guessing—and maybe scratching their head a little.
Remember To Prepare Early.
If you’re facing a rocket of a groundstroke or serve, blocking is a solid choice—but you can still take a swing if you’re quick about it. Keep your backswing short, or you’ll be waving at the ball as it zips past. The moment you spot which side it’s coming to, get your racquet back fast. It’ll help you feel less like you’re being ambushed out there.
I know it’s tough to stay patient when your opponent is launching rockets at you. It’s tempting to try to match their power, but trust me, that way lies trouble. Stick with spin, placement, and a healthy dose of patience, and you’ll hang in there long enough to turn the tables—and maybe even snag the win.
Have you ever faced a heavy hitter on the court? Did you try any of these tricks? Did you walk away with the win—or at least a good story? Share your experience in the comments below. We’d love to hear it!
