Are You a Counterpuncher? 4 Main Types of Tennis Players
During a game of tennis, you can find yourself struggling against your opponent’s playing style. Whether they are a counterpuncher, or an aggressive baseliner, this blog will help you figure out how to play against such players.
Keywords: Types of Tennis Players, Tennis Playing Style, Aggressive Baseliner, Counterpuncher, Serve and Volley
Are you a counterpuncher? Or maybe favour the serve and volley tactic? And are there really just 4 types of tennis players?
Let me be honest, when I say 4 types of tennis players, I am giving you the gift 0f simplification. The truth is, that there are many different types of tennis players since the game of tennis is played according to personal preferences. Some people may favour the serve and volley tactic while others may prefer to counterpunch.
As a player, you will find it very handy to know what each player’s weaknesses are and what safe shots they rely on to try and beat you on the court. If you already know how your opponent plays and what are their strengths and weaknesses, you are one step ahead of your opponent.
Once you understand the different playing styles that you will face across your tennis journey, it is also recommended to see what tennis racket best suits your playing style – I have the right guide for that.
Let’s look at the four main types of tennis players. At the end, you should be able to understand your type of playing style as well.
The Aggressive Baseliner
Being an aggressive baseliner is perhaps one of the most common types of tennis players in today’s tennis world. As the name denotes, this type of player likes to play from the baseline. Such players also rely on raw power to bully you with their forehands and backhands. Aggressive baseliners like to keep the ball deep in play and tend to keep you moving from side to side.
However, aggressive baseliners may have other skills in their arsenal. After all, this play style does not necessarily mean that the player is only comfortable from the baseline. Albeit, this is their favourite part of the court to be in. Baseliners tend to give you deep balls and put pressure till you eventually return a weak ball into their mid-court area. They will consequently come up and finish off the point with an angled winner. Their stroke generally varies between hitting the ball flat or with topspin.
Aggressive baseliners have what I like to call a love-hate relationship with their groundstrokes. At least, this is the case for club players. Relying heavily on winners can sometimes backfire in the sense that their strokes become more prone to errors. Remember, aggressive baseliners tend to go for the big shots, therefore rising a lot in the process. If aggressive baseliners are having an off day, watch those winners go out and let them frustrate themselves.
When playing against aggressive baseliners, you are likely to find yourself defending your position due to their big, powerful groundstrokes. However, remember that as baseliners, these tennis players do not really like going up to the net. If they have to go up to the net, they will be looking to end the point immediately.
How to beat aggressive baseliners?
- Place balls deep into the court. Aggressive baseliners like to pick off weak balls by hitting angled winners. Thus, if you keep hitting the balls deep, you will limit their opportunities to hit winners.
- Get into a rhythm and then vary it. Yes, this is indeed a weird tip, but listen to this. As tennis players, they can be defined as one-dimensional since their arsenal does not vary much. Therefore, get into a rhythm with them and then vary the ball by slicing it or hitting a drop shot. This play style will put them off cause you would be taking their rhythm away from them. With this, they are bound to start losing points as well as their patience.
- Get them to come up at the net. Aggressive baseliners are types of tennis players who tend to avoid going up to the net. They will only do so when it is absolutely necessary. Therefore, if they are not great at the net, invite them by hitting a drop shot and get into the court to put the ball away with a volley when they return the drop shot with a weak ball.
- Go up to the net with caution. Today’s technology enables the racket head to move at high speed, helping players generate a lot of power and spin. This favours aggressive baseliners since it helps them produce powerful strokes that you might not be able to return at the net. And remember, if they get a weak ball into the court, they are bound to hit a winner. So only go up to the net when you are sure that the ball is deep enough for them to not be able to hit a winner.
The Counterpuncher
The counterpuncher is a tennis player whose style is the complete opposite of that of the aggressive baseliner. Instead of attacking the balls, the counterpuncher will take a defensive stance. They will use their impeccable footwork and fitness to run all over the court and return your shots deep into the court. As a result, a player who opts for the counterpuncher style is also referred to as a defensive baseliner.
As a counterpuncher, the player will mainly react to your shots, rather than win the points with raw power (reactive). Such players tend to have great footwork skills and will use this to their advantage to cover every angle of the court. Counterpunchers will go for every ball and they aim to win their points by making you hit errors.
Be aware that if you are not patient enough, counterpunchers will wear you down very quickly with their style of play. Beginner and intermediate players often find the counterpuncher play style to be the most difficult style to go up against. This is because low-level players tend to lack the power and consistency needed to overcome the counterpuncher.
How to beat counterpunchers?
- Be patient during rallies but know your limit. If you are not patient, you will find yourself making unforced errors constantly. They will give you what looks like an easy ball, only for you to smack the ball into the net or hit it long. Now, when I say be patient but know your limit, I am simply saying that if you just hit the ball back and forth and try to beat the counterpuncher by becoming a counterpuncher yourself, you will still end up losing. You cannot beat the counterpuncher at their own game, so what else can you do?
- Attack the net. Be patient and find the right opportunity to creep up to the net and put the ball away with a well-placed volley. When you come up to the net, you’d be essentially taking up time away from your opponent, and as a counterpuncher, your opponent will be put off balance.
- Be aware of lobs. As a counterpuncher, if they see you coming up to the net, they will try and lob you. Now, I know overheads are never easy, and they can be difficult to execute unless you’re close to the net, but do not fear them. Try the overhead from mid-court, be aggressive and try and win the point.
- Make counterpunchers move forward and backwards. These types of tennis players have great footwork, and they excel in lateral movement, but making counterpunchers move forward with a well-placed drop shot will get them to open the court for a lob. So, hit a drop shot, get into position to hit a volley or return a lob. They will need to keep moving and this will give you time to go up to the net and put the ball away with a volley.
Serve and Volley
Serve and volley is a style in tennis that is becoming rare. The reason is that today’s technology is making rackets’ swing weight almost negligible. This is giving baseliners a huge advantage when it comes to hitting the ball with powerful strokes. One can say that this is the main reason behind the decline in serve and volley tennis.
Such types of tennis players often lead the point with a big serve, followed by a volley. In the past, players like John McEnroe and Billie Jean King favoured this style, but in today’s tennis, the serve and volley is becoming like a variation in one’s arsenal.
If a player is fast, athletic and has a powerful serve, they tick all the boxes to become a threat using serve and volley tennis. By starting the point with a powerful serve, the opponent is instantly put under pressure. If the serve is difficult to read, the play becomes more effective, enabling you to go up to the net.
When a player who favours the serve and volley is receiving a serve, they tend to opt for the chip-and-charge strategy. This strategy allows them to push the ball deep and effectively, with little to no power, and rush the net. The server must scramble backwards and either deliver a perfect lob or try and pass a powerful forehand/backhand through the netter, a daunting task when the opponent has great skills at the net.
How to beat a serve and volley player?
- Focus on your return. Having a great return is key to not letting your opponent bully you with their serve and volley. When you are returning a serve, you should make use of the down the line more often, because this is the most difficult sector to cover. Returning serves with topspin can also help you make the return more difficult to put away through a volley. Remember that the serve is their greatest power, so aim to take this away through a great return.
- Use topspin shots. If you are not using angled topspin shots when playing and returning powerful serves, you will find yourself at the mercy of the opponent. Serve and volley tennis relies on weak returns. Top spin shots are more difficult to hit and tend to go straight to your opponent’s feet when they’re approaching the net. This may force them to hit back a weak ball, one which you can put away.
- Play deep balls. Playing deep balls means that you are keeping your opponents pinned at the baseline. This area tends to be one of their least favourite areas. Their groundstrokes are generally their biggest weakness and may lack consistency. You may even find them charging the net through the chip-and-charge strategy, or after their second serve. If this is the case, the lob is your friend.
- Take the ball on the rise. If you take the ball on the rise, you are essentially taking time away from the opponent, hence allowing less time for them to come up to the net and apply the serve and volley strategy. By taking the ball on the rise, you would essentially be keeping them at the baseline, or at the very least, they will be uncomfortable when coming up at the net.
The All-Rounder
The all-rounder player, or the all-court player, is a type of tennis player who feels comfortable in almost every position on the court. You can say that they combine the best aspects of all types of Tennis players. They feel comfortable hitting from the baseline, are confident at the net, and can produce great serves. They tend to have impeccable footwork skills and generally excel when it comes to stamina. It’s like a jack of all trades. Players like this tend to not have a specialities skillset like the other styles we saw, however, the all-rounder player can mould their strategy to oppose whatever opponent they are facing.
When facing an all-rounder, you may find it difficult to identify any weaknesses as they are prepared to face every playing style. This can be a nightmare to play against.
One all-court player who made a huge impact in the game of tennis is Roger Federer. He is very often defined as the GOAT of tennis.
How to beat an all-rounder tennis player?
- Stick to your strengths. If you want to beat a versatile player, you need to use your best shots, so what is your weapon? If it is your powerful serve, then use it and be unpredictable with it to dictate points. On the other hand, if your strokes are your weapon, then use them effectively. If you are not using your strengths to your advantage, you will find it difficult when facing the all-rounder.
- Keep them pinned at the baseline. In order to keep an opponent pinned at the baseline, one ought to hit topspin-heavy shots. This will push the all-rounder into a position where all they can do is hit the same type of shot. Basically by pinning them to one place, you are limiting their arsenal of shots. From there, you can dictate the play.
- Dictate play and win points. If there is one thing any tennis player hates is the situation where they are being pressured and the opponent is constantly attacking. Attack points by playing deep balls, hitting slices and drop shots and setting yourself up to kill the ball through a volley or an easy winner.
- Don’t be afraid to take risks. Remember that being aggressive comes with a higher chance of making unforced errors. Do not let these few extra unforced errors create doubt in your mind. You need to be aggressive against an all-rounder and second guessing yourself when you hit a long ball with too much power will not help your cause. Forget the mistake and focus on the next ball!
Concluding Remarks on the Types of Tennis Players
As mentioned earlier, these 4 types of tennis players are the most common play styles that you will encounter. All other playstyles have emerged from this, and that is why ultimately, there are only 4 types of tennis players.
So, now that you know about the main types of tennis players, which one are you and which style do you dread the most? Sound off in the comments below!