How to play against… · 3 min read
Against the moonballer (high, heavy balls)
High, deep balls that bounce at shoulder height. You have to take time away from them, not accept the awkward shot.
The problem
The high ball pushes you off the baseline or makes you hit above your shoulder. Over time it “hypnotizes” you: you stop thinking and fall into their slow rhythm.
The plan
- Take the ball on the rise or out of the air: step in and hit before it climbs (half volley, swing volley).
- If you can’t step in, move back properly and let it drop to a comfortable height: don’t accept hitting at shoulder height unprepared.
- Attack with angle and come in: moonballers usually defend poorly against a player at the net.
- Play low and sliced: the slice forces them to lift low balls, the exact opposite of what they like.
To review after the match
In the app, when you mark that your opponent was “Moonballer”, we ask whether you tried:
- I took the ball on the rise or out of the air
- I moved back and let it drop when I couldn’t step in
- I played low and sliced
Avoid
- Getting stuck behind the baseline hitting at head height
To practice on court
Swing volley
Your partner sends high lobs to the middle; you step in and hit out of the air with a full swing.
Goal: Mastering the high ball.
Awkward height
Basket of high, heavy-topspin balls; alternate taking them on the rise and moving back.
Goal: Deciding quickly what to do with the high ball.
Fitness that helps
- Jump lungesFrom a lunge, jump and switch legs in the air.
- On-court shadow movementMovement patterns with shadow strokes: forward, back and to the sides.
Ideas inspired by Brad Gilbert, “Winning Ugly” (ch. 8, “Destroying your opponent’s game plan”).