big hitterneutralizingdepth
When Trading Pace With a Big Hitter Pushes You Back
Do not try to overpower the opponent's pace; reduce attacking angles with depth, height, and the middle.
Start with this check
Answering a fast ball with a large swing leaves too little preparation time and produces a short ball from which the opponent can attack more comfortably.
Try these steps in order
- Shorten the takeback and redirect the opponent's pace deep through the middle.
- Mix high, heavy-spin balls with low slices to break the rhythm of a consistent contact height.
- Until a short ball arrives, preserve crosscourt margin instead of changing direction down the line.
Bottom line
The first contest against a big hitter is not pace, but denying the opponent a comfortable height and position.
Reviewed sources
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Technical evidence
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