[lowy]

Has anyone tried to create and hone their own tennis shot that pretty much no-one else uses?

Lately I've been finding that when hitting with heavy topspin and good net clearance I've been unable to beat my opponents by getting them out of position and putting away a winner. It seems that the opponents (namely up and coming teenagers) are just so damn fast, with such good footwork and stamina that they are always in position and my shots probably due to spin and bounce are just not moving through the court quick enough go past the opponent without them being able to track them down and then grind some sort of topspin recovery shot back fairly deep effectively resetting the rally...

This has got me thinking about learning or even creating some sort of funky flat laser type shot kind of like a "horizontal smash" with a tiny amount of slice. The idea of this shot is that it would be hit seriously hard and flat so it would hopefully pierce through the court on a low trajectory, travelling fast enough so my opponents wouldn't be able to chase it down if I could get it anywhere on the court.

Anyways, I've just started working on my shot now on the training wall at the local tennis academy. I'm yet to pull it out in a match play situation.

Anyone got an opinion on this?
Does anyone else have a story of a unique shot they have tried to create for particular game situations?

[HKz]

Um, you can't play a practice match using the shot..? Or play some practice points? I mean what the hell are you at an academy for? Saying you've practiced against such a low-percentage shot against the wall and then talking about it, just a waste of time

As far as unique shots go, well, if it is unique, in general you won't be finding anything "truly" unique. I guess if I have to speak personally, the one shot I sometimes hit, is a overhead where I nearly get on my knees to hit if the ball doesn't bounce as high as I thought. I saw Baghdatis play such a shot several times especially at Wimbledon 2006 and I have used it a couple times to decent effect. Tough to pull off, especially since it has to be off a bounce that isn't too high and without too much forward momentum.

[The Bulldog]

The drop smash.

[Super Djoker]

I don,t know if it,s a unique shot but, if the ball goes high and is going over me I hit a topspin block , I have no idea if this is unique but I haven't seen anyone else hit one so far .

[Freak3yman84]

My signature shot is the jumping backhand swinging volley(JBSV). I use it mostly because I have the worlds worst volleys so the jumping and swinging helps me get more pace

[Super Djoker]

Definetly sounds unique , FairPlay . I may have another unique shot where I cut under the ball like a dropshot to block sometimes . It goes high in the air and usually lands at the back of the court. ( on the other side obviously ) lol . Not a shot I use enough .

[Super Djoker]

Two handed backhand drop shot !

[Super Djoker]

Only hit when nervous and getting desperate