Online Tennis School

Flickr Photo / Philip Wilson

We are going to take a tactical journey in an attempt to make some short lists of the most important game styles and what each style relies on to make themselves successful. We will also take the time to analyze how each style matches up against the others.

CHIP AND CHARGE/ HIT AND CHARGE

What is Chip and Charge? It is tactic when the returner chips or slices the return and follows it in to the net.

We don't see players now using Chip and Charge tactic. With evolution of tennis racquets the serves now are just too big to be able to do it effectively.

To learn how to Chip and Charge this takes some practice, commitment and confidence. This tactic is equally effective in singles and doubles. If you want to use it be sure your opponent has a serve you can handle. If opponents serve too big, then this may not be the right tactic to use.

Players who successfully used Chip and Charge tactic are: Jimmy Connors, Tim Henman

CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong slice backhand
• Putting instant pressure on the server to make them come up with a passing shot
• Great at taking time away
• Takes the ball early with very strong racket skills - controlling the racket head on balls that have different speeds and spins
• Compact swings and good on the rise skills
• Good timing on the split step and loading on the outside leg, which allows them to have a strong first step towards the net

TACTICAL PATTERNS

• Deuce court taking a kick serve down the T and aggressively returning it down the line or the middle
• Drive the forehand or backhand to the backhand corner of opponent and attack
• Deuce: Run around forehand, hit it down the line and attack
• Ad- Side: Chip down the line and charge
• Ad- Side: Forehand inside out to backhand and attack

Note on the video: Connors was not always a hit and charge player, but he is using the tactic in this match against Agassi as his primary tactic. Fun to learn from. We have a couple of players who are working on the more compact backhand stroke, flattening it out and taking it really early. Here we can learn from one of the masters of the Game, doing it brilliantly. P.S.. Connors is the old guy!!