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Tennis Tactics: the NEUTRAL BALL will win you so many matches... | Tennis Strategy Lesson
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- You have to improve the neutral ball in order to level up!
Today we're discussing an important topic when it comes to tennis tactics and strategy: the neutral ball. Former Top 400 ATP Karue Sell discusses what to do when you are not well-positioned to hit an aggressive shot, but also don't want to be on defense.
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I actually never thought of it that way. but makes total sense. too much focus on developing killer shots rather than the neutral shot.
Shot identification and what you should do on the ball you're given is so critical.
"This is the end of the video, I hope it was helpful". A no-brainer, even if a person has a little tennis brain. What can be said, and ATP level ball striker and tactician that's able to explain clearly. I guess I better hit the subscribe button. By the way coach, I was using your neutral ball yesterday during a couple of doubles matches. I even threw up a ball to the Moon just to keep my opponent(s) back. Several times I closed off the point at the net and sometimes in the front Court. After Dillying and dalying back and forth I hit a couple of screamers that made their knees rattle. I wake up early this morning and see this video: 'CONFIRMATION-YEAH! 👍👍
Incredible advice for every tennis player, you see it even at the pros. Nadal, Medvedev and Djokovic for example are not by any means the biggest hitters on tour, but their average shot quality is just outstanding and too much for the vast majority of players to handle constantly during a match
Precisely my point
This is low-key the most useful video on the channel. I've tried some attack/defend drills where the point for the defender is just to push the attacker really far back in the court using shape and depth. No winners, just pure neutralization. What I've found doing this is that you inevitably generate opportunities to be aggressive as the defender because it is so hard for the attacker to keep being aggressive off a well-struck neutral ball.
Love it. Well said and put together! Great job Karue!
I start liking your channel more and more. For all people with passion of tennis it is highly recommendable to watch this. It simply puts you in a good mood. Awesome and congratulations!
Thanks for sharing this. I'm new to tennis and this is a huge part of my many problems. I constantly try to hit winners with every shot, rather than striving for any kind of consistency, especially depth. I'm really happy to once again have someone with much more experience trying to drive this concept into my head. Every time I head to the court, I think I'll do things different today, only to find myself sliding back down the same old slope. I've been subscribed for a while now, and I have a lot of respect for what you do and how you do it. I'm hoping your influence on me is strong enough to make the lesson stick this time. Thank again!
GREAT video Karue!
Never thought about training a neutral ball from different angles, it is indeed a different motion when receiving a long ball, a short ball, etc. Thank you!
Absolute gold as far as insight and analysis of the neutral ball. Also the nuances of the neutral ball may shade towards offensive ( making the opponent out of position) or defensive ( buying you more time to recover and reset). Much better mustache!!
i've watched this multiple times and shared with others. super helpful. love the sound of the ball getting crushed by pros. don't hear it often at the competitive recreational level.
Something I've never thought about. When I'm in a match sometimes I'm thinking about hitting an amazing angle every shot, but in the end its just adding more and more to the error column. Another great vid guys
This is your best video Karue as the neutral ball in tennis so important and very few coaches if any, talk about it.
All high level players have a great neutral ball, depth, power, spin.
This might be the most devastating shot in tennis behind the serve.
Awesome video as always Karue!👍
Great video !
I really appreciate the simplicity of the message and how it does not feel ike a class, more like an expert "exclusive" tip. Your content feels unique amongst the YT channels about tennis. Please keep them coming!
As a topic suggestion, maybe you could talk a bit about what to do when your strategy is not working in a match. When neutral balls are landing short, when opponents are more consistent and have more depth, what can one do to turn things around mentally/tactically?
I love your "comon sense" video style. It really makes sense to me that your focus is on how to win as opposed to how to hit perfect tennis shots. Good stuff!
Great video man!! I work on hitting in the deep zones on a daily basis with my players. Love your content, thanks for sharing 💪🏼😤
Solid advice. Even if you already know things, there's value in hearing the coach repeat them.
Great video! The one thing I've experienced in my years coaching is that the less experienced players try to win the point with every shot they hit. As they grow as a player and understand building points is not pushing then they become patient enough to earn the short ball opportunity. Very important lesson to learn.
Can’t wait for the neutral ball drills!
Wow, its like you are operating in the mind of a club level, an amateur or any one looking to up their game. Players like you are who are constantly defeating me through being consistent. Strategy explained very very well.
Excellent perspective! I'm on it!!! Thank you very much!!!
Love it! I just sent this video link to some of my 4to6 utr level jrs. as they are working on these exact issues.
I am an older coach who struggles just to get on the court, let alone play. The days of "dazzling your students" is past for me and videos such as yours help me maintain my own credibility and " tennis authority".
Congrats on being a significant part of Osaka engine!
I really like the direction you are heading...
Appreciate the kind words and thank you for all your work in tennis!!
Very helpful video, indeed this neutral ball keeps oneself in the point, buys some time to decide better how to try to finish the point efficiently, meaning do not waste the ball and do not waste fitness. Good racquet, string and tension selection helps a lot to control depth of shot. "Pushing from the ground" is definitely a technical aspect worth to cover in depth maybe in a future video. Thanks Karue, always following your videos and learning the most out of them. Hope we could have a hitting session in the future 👍
Great insights and tips! Love your channel.
Great information Karue. I've watched a few of your videos, and I always take something new away.
I feel the point at 10:00 showcases the importance of depth when in neutral rallies (neither player having a distinct advantage); your opponent was hitting some solid balls but landing only a little past the service line giving you plenty of time to calmly direct your ball deep and to the corner of your choosing.
100% agree with the content of this video; I had an epiphany late in my college career that simply getting a better rally ball (or "neutral" ball) would be the single biggest improvement in my game, over hitting harder winners or other options. had a great senior season by basically hitting great rally balls nonstop & became "boringly good" as my coach begged us to do for years.
Fantastic video. Karue...bar none...has the best tennis videos on CZcams!
this video is great and is coming at the perfect time for me. thank you!
Great video! I call these red, yellow, and green shots. Green being the aggressive ball. One slight adjustment I'd like to recommend to the strategy you described. We should always be proactively trying to shift the point from red to yellow and from yellow to green. Always trying to achieve green status. In your video, I didn't get the sense that we should proactively try to move the point in that direction. It felt like we should just react to what's given to us.
Totally agree! I should have made that point in the video. Thank you for your comment
Great tips, love the last 3 tips.
Great stuff as always Karue! I find your videos are always extremely pragmatic. I just wish I could get out more on the courts to put it into practice haha.
Most useful lesson I have come across honestly.
Super instructions as always. Thanks a ton. Keep it up.
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Amazing Video thank you for the tactics
Very nice video! Thanks.
This is simply ingenious, ingeniously simple!
No one really explain tennis the way you do. This was a great example of how to keep tennis simple. Well done. stay frosty!😎 man.
Appreciate the kind words!
Great information! You covered the most overlooked skill in player development. Point construction and maintaining the point before offensive play. I get why this is not appealing to young players, since they want to hit winners or force an error.
Thank you for sharing all your experience, you should do a video working with a ball machine and doing drills with it.
wow, thanks, you definitely have given me a plan what to train the next weeks. the problem i usually have with the neutral ball is that they bring long rallies in a match and i panic then and try to do "something special" which most of the time means i miss and lose the point.
Great advice .. explained well. Obviously, it helps immensely to have great strokes that enable you to execute offense, defense & neutral balls from a variety of court & strike positions, but your advice is a differentiator among players of otherwise equal stroke production & athletic ability. I also think being proficient re your neutral balls puts pressure on your opponent to take more changes or randomly miss or hit short allowing you to take advantage of easier offensive opportunities.
Obviously, 'heavier' neutral shots as executed by Nadal, Rublev etc. put more pressure on the opponent while still be relatively 'safe' shots. Djokovic & Warinka are examples of guys with great fundamentals, movement and depth that produce opportunities & elicit mistakes.
Again, great video.
Excellent tip; thx.
Merci pour tous ces conseils..... respect from France :-)
Great tips, keep it up!
This is absolutely one of the most important tactical factors in tennis. Many decades ago my coach drilled this idea of hitting neutral balls into my game. When we rallied he would draw a line in the clay court 3 feet in from the baseline. The goal was to consistently hit ground strokes that bounced within that zone. The second part of this drill I would move forward on any return that landed short in no man’s land and coach would do the same. This really helped improve my game. In tennis league team player I moved up from 3.5 to 4.5 in two years because I always hit with purpose and placement. I am not a big player 5’6” 140 lbs but I can consistently place my ground strokes any where on the court with my forehand or backhand. I have been coaching High School and USTA Juniors and this idea of offense, neutral, defense and hitting deep neutral shots has been drilled into all my players.
Thanks for the video
The issue I've been having with depth on my forehand wing was my grip not being enough Western. In those years of having an unsound grip I kept developing my footwork consciously so that I could hit a decent forehand. But when I came up against good players, I felt like that neutral ball wasn't clicking. But shot 1 and 3 were kind of okay (but not enough of them in matches, as you say). So is a grip thing for me, and that adjustment in more Western grip allowed me to get more shoulder and back into the shot. If my thinking is true, and I give my forehand more Western grip in matches, then my neutral ball will improve. All the best.
The best tennis content in CZcams.
Thank you!
Super helpfull! Thanx!
This video backs up the other video about obsessing about technique and wanting to hit those perfect zingers. For ˋneutral ball´ I think of it as ˋjust getting it back´ and getting it back with depth is now one of the things for me to target in practice and play. I am playing in my Doubles comp today, and my aims are not to obsess about the strokes, get to the balls but relax and accept that I will make mistakes as I try to let my body and racquet move the ball forward rather than my old strong-arm smashes.
My intensity and hitting is much better in all training sessions. The match starts and I just can't hit the same quality of depth, placement and speed. I can't develop the intensity because points are much shorter and I can't get into a proper hitting rhythm.
Love your videos and enjoy learning more about tennis
Karue thanks, really enjoyed this video and like a lot this way of thinking about tennis. It's not the first time that I've heard about it and I do believe it's very constructive to think about tennis this way.
One thing i'd like to comment is that in many of your points the means you use to keep the rally neutral isn't only depth, I see that you're very good at taking your opponent out of balance through making them move around the court. So if you watch in detail in many of your points your opponent hit an aggressive shot and you managed to keep the rally neutral even while hitting a ball around the service line. Why? You're spreading the court and making them hit their next shot out of balance.
Finally, In neutral shots one thing I struggle a little bit with is varying the amount of spin I put on the ball (specially flattening the ball out as I use a lot of topspin). I see that you're really good at using more or less spin depending on your positioning in the court, do you think you could give us some tips on this?
Thanks again.
Great Vid!
thank you very much for what you do, I love your videos! I just wanted to point out that I think you could improve your audio quality, it would really help listening from various devices without an extra speaker if you’d produce a dryer, deeper and louder audio. Probably a different mic would help and maybe reducing the reverb! Hope to be of any help, anyway really good job and thank you again!
Great content!
definitely gonna practice that!
My challenge on the neutral ball is that when I try to hit "medium" pace, sometimes I lose spin and end up hitting out
Thanks Karue, great video. I am currently struggling on getting my arms to work together on the forehand, I am leaving my left arm static (kind of tuck in) while I am hitting the ball, and even though I have identify the problem, I haven't been able to solve it, my body eventually goes back to doing it. This is limiting the space from my body to the ball, causing a lot of miss hits.
Another great video. Thank you for covering this topic. I don't feel that the neutral ball is emphasized enough.
Will cover that more in depth for sure
Great video. Hard to do much against a player that consistently hits deep balls. Then again, this is usually a high level player. I would say it’s hardest to hit deep balls off of a deep ball because there’s less time to adjust - especially if you’re taking the ball on the rise.
Agree with the vid. By watching all those pro highlights, we focus too much on winners and how to early dominate points. I personnally struggle with depth, especially on my 2H backhand, due imo to a combination of lazy legs (36 yo, not that young anymore lol) and lack of extension in follow through. Will try to work on it though. Thx for ur vids, really helpful. Keep up the good work.
I love this video. My background is in 1v1 video games like street fighter where the concept of neutrality between opponents is a critical concept, so I found this video very enlightening with how the concept applies to tennis as well.
I'm wondering, does the neutral ball change as players improve? I'm a newer player, so I imagine that a strong player hitting a neutral ball to me might feel like an aggressive shot. Or that myself hitting a neutral ball might be seen as a weak shot against a stronger player.
Just yesterday I realized that when I rotated my shoulders completely is when I hit my best shots. I always thought I rotated enough but it turns out I wasn’t turning enough in the follow through
One of the best advices. How to improve the stock shot (or neutral shot). How to work or improve generating speed/spin on the neutral shot?
Hey Carue great video!
I have a very big loopy take back that I’ve been trying to alter and shorten to get more consistency but it feels unnatural for me...not sure if I should continue to fix this or stick with my old racket path as all these new alterations keep messing with my head and my game 😭
Great video gonna work on it.
On analysis of your match: I thought your serve+1 was a lot more deadly then your opponent, that was also very important. On his service games you had to ralley it out, then ofc the neutral ball came in play a lot.
I also thought he went for his backhand down the line a bit much, but I think that was probably also because he felt he had to do something to turn the tides.
Great video. Sound a bit low.
I find that hitting higher over the net makes depth a lot easier. My coach always said that baseline and into the court you can go for flatter shots and work angles and when your more than 2 meters behind baseline always increase height (sounds easy but much harder in practice).
Looking forward to training tips.
When are you bringing in stroke analysis on website, so we can upload, and you can see where we are going wrong?
Thanks for great tips.
Man your forehand now has a much better trajectory and follow through than in the footage from this future's event you won few years back :)
Great content as always.
That's a ton of neutral balls while running! Man my coach always looked like this during my lessons.
nice video! fed vs hewitt famous 40 plus rally were mostly neutral balls.
Karue, from the examples shown I'd say it's one of two things: either a ball that's a little short giving you a fraction more time to put more pace/angle on the next ball, or just sheer consistency of depth to the neutral ball resulting in your opponent's game breaking down and an unforced error. Probably 70/30 the latter.
Great job Karue! Have you read "The Inner Game of Tennis"? The way you explain how to train this at the end is very similar to the whole meaning of this book.
Yes I have. I really like the philosophy of it, specially when it comes to online coaching. There's only so much I can do here. My favorite part is learning how to learn. Most amateurs know all the instruction (low to high, lose wrist) but they don't know how to learn how to feel those things
Neutral = Switzerland = Federer 🇨🇭🎾
This is a great video! Growing up as a pusher, I always would aim at the T to give myself as much margin as possible. This got me all the way to 4.0 nationals. But in 4.5 play, I get crushed if I don’t use good depth.
Using your drill from the Naomi video, I’ve already gained a lot of confidence going for more depth, even if it’s just up the middle. And I’m beating players I lost to last year.
Excited for USTA season to start!
Thanks for pushing out such quality content for us amateurs!
That is awesome to hear! Glad we could help
Not a pusher 😭 nothing personal but as a junior high level pushers are the most annoying :()
Ótima devolução em 9:44
Use two lines (I like 4ft and 9 ft above the net )to create 3 height zones and practice hitting to your target boxes. Lots of reps through the different heights to your targets will teach arc control (you do the drill with slice/top spin) in combination with spot targeting.
Coach Ed,. Fl
Love it! Great drill
true 100% good tips i always strugle with this because when i play defense mode(aka pusher ) i cant atack at easy balls , when i play atack mode (try to hit wining at every shot ) i cant defense , the best play is to play neutral and switch to defense or atack but i strugle with constant depth
Nice vid :)
excellent video - in matches I lose I go for too much too soon!
Could you do a video on the head prestige pro? Maybe compare it to similar rackets such as the vcore 95
My shots are usually flat. I think video is very helpful
Brilliant
Next video would be great to know how to get a nice high ball with depth and pace, especially for someone who naturally hits with low trajectory over th e net and ends up being in opponent's strike zone.
Big fan bro. I think saw u played Avilla open while back, smoothest player there,
Haha appreciate it
That racquet looks beautiful! What racquet is that?
Karue, what is your string set up and tension? Nice content, by the way!
Head lynx tour, 58lbs
Do you actively think about hitting neutral balls during a point or is it automatic for you?
Do you walk on court with the mentality of im gonna make 1000 balls per point?
Thanks for the great vids man
How to hit slice and kick serve 🎾 ?One video on this please.
Lol l just bought the Vapor with the funky skin and was worried l was the only one! Makes me feel better about them
Thanks for the great video! One thing that would be really helpful---how to hit a neutral ball against better quality opponents. For example, how does the 10.0 UTR player keep up against you or a player that is 11/12/13 UTR? I find that when I play better players, they constantly take my "neutral" ball and increase pressure by moving me more or hitting with more and more eventual pace---forcing a short ball. If I play an 8.0 UTR---Neutral balls become a non-issue. Would love your help here! THANK YOU
I think a neutral ball is different depending on the level. As the level increases, you will need more spin + power to create a good neutral ball, e.g. a deep moon ball is neutral for lower level, but not for a high level.
I also don't quite agree with his comment that depth is the key, since hitting deep can be risky at break point. If you have a good balance between spin + power, it can produce a safe neutral ball.
@@chorhanglam I agree. Depth on the first bounce is risk. Spin and power provides depth on the second bounce with more safety. Also finding the good zone, in particular backhand gives protection mist times
I think the big thiing here from a probability perspective. Is by practicing the neutral ball you're practicing keeping your margins high and putting a small amount of pressure on your opponent's margins. Over several balls, the probability of their success goes down very quickly, while yours stays high.
Good advice, learn to listen to your body. Just ask it to perform an objective and be surprised at how much it knows.
Sounds like "inner game of tennis" 👍🎾💪
@@stijngunst indeed it is. The most significant book on tennis I've read. It changed my tennis life a lot. I play better and have more fun doing it.
I don't anticipate where the ball is going early enough so I end up late and not with the best contact point. I have noticed that Rublev doesn't grunt on his neutral ball, only on his attack shots. Perhaps this is the key. :-)
@My Tennis HQ - How does the VCore 95 2021 feel through the air? Is it fast? Like the old Head Speed from 2019?
If not, that might refrain me from purchasing the stick :(
Have a nice day!!
Hey, what forehand grip do you use? Modified eastern? Or regular semi western?
Also from what you were saying in the video, the neutral ball is basically a deep shot that you can consistently hit near the opponents baseline so they can’t really go on the offensive with it?
Semi western and yes that is what it is
Hey Karue...love all the concepts...I have a hard time hitting at nothing less than like 90% and get tight if Im only hitting at 70% for example...any tips?...thanks
Go 85%
@@KaruesellHQ Man, so simple which I love but never thought about it like that...it was like all or none almost...in a tourney this weekend and gonna apply tips from vid I think Gui did on creating a plan...thanks and best of luck.
I played in an adult tournament this weekend and your channel really helped me think on the court MUCH better thinking less about technique and more about playing what the ball is telling me to hit and to problem solve and how to get to my spot in basketball terms...I was tight and had trouble with low short chips to my 2hbh and so I countered with more height on my ball so that their chips floated more which gave me a better ball height to play against...anywho I ended up losing but really I felt a big break thru in my match play thought process. Thanks for all that you are sharing...I always use your link when I buy...:) Best of luck!
hi, are you living in LA? Do you plan to take students during summer at all?
Yeah, Andre Rublev knows it all!
What racket do you hit with no? Still speed pro?