This few week I had been playing with an Open player and a lot of time I found myself out of position and I have no chance to get back to the center.

Here is how it happend:I hit a ceiling shot which come out short ( end up at the center back). I have enough time to get back to center but then will be a hinder. so I kind of stand a side which make ez for him to make a pass at the other side, it is a set up for him but if i can get to the center and jump when he hit the ball i think i have a better chance to get the ball (or maybe get hit by him).

what should i do when that happend?

jAD

Don't let the ceiling shot fall short in center court in the first place. While that is a 'duh' answer, it's really what it comes down to. Sometimes when you hit a bad shot, you are simply screwed and there is nothing you can do about it. Your only chance is if the other guy screws up the easy shot, which does happen once in a while and there are things you can do to increase the odds of it happening.

In this particular situation, I find the best approach is to work the mental side of the game. The technique to use varies quite a bit depending on exactly where the opponent is actually hitting the ball, but the ultimately goal is to put pressure on the hitter to execute a good shot. You need to position yourself and act in a manner that the opponent feels they must execute perfectly in order to be sure of the win.

For example, if they are taking the shot from center court at about the dotted-line, I will hang out directly behind them. Yes this puts you back further than you want, but it's better than picking a side. This puts pressure on the hitter to execute a good low kill shot and gives you good coverage position for any other kind of shot. I find I induce a remarkable high number of skips from my opponent by making them think they have to hit the ball extra-low. When you take up this position, their biggest fear is leaving it up too high, so they tend to try to hit it lower than they probably should.

If the opponent is taking it a touch further back, I will pick a side slightly in front of them and make it perfectly clear that I intend to dart across the moment they shoot. Again, they will do one of two things, 1) they will try to hit the ball too low, increasing the odds of a skip, or 2) they will try to sucker me by hitting to the side of the court I am already on. About half the time I will actually dart, the other half of the time I will deek the opponent and not dart. You are basically setting yourself up in a position where you are either effectively covering the left side or the right side, but the opponent can't be for sure which one you are actually going to cover, which gives you a decent chance of getting the ball (considering the mess you are in anyways).

Stepping directly in front of them and jumping is not really an option in this case, because it's a short ceiling ball, so the ball is coming toward them. You can't really step in front of them in this situation without it being a penalty hinder. If the ball were setting up off the back wall, then stepping in front of them and jumping might be an option, depending on the level of play. I find this technique is only effective if the opponent doesn't realize you are doing it. If they notice you have stepped right in front of them, they might just hold up and call a penalty hinder on you. I think the technique of stepping in front of your opponent intentionally and jumping is best left to the Open level of play as well.

agree with jpetersen^^

off topic - jad, I see that you are using 19g string in your 03black? How long does that last??

killshot

agree with jpetersen^^

off topic - jad, I see that you are using 19g string in your 03black? How long does that last??

I got it on 4th July and play on 5th(2 hours) 6th (2 hours).... more power. It does not show any wear yet.

I guess when I set up for my opponent, the only thing i can do is wish they miss it. (which those player didnot miss much)

I would move to their backhand side and slightly forward in their line of view. This will give them the DTL and CC shot and will force them to hit a solid kill or DTL to their forhand side.

If they go CC, your there. If they go DTL you can dive forward and retrieve it if they do not kill it or hit it perfectly.

What ever you do...don't go past the dotted line and keep your balance neutral when they take the shot.



Tim

As the NON-HITTING team, YOU must YIELD the area to the HITTING TEAM!

Otherwise you are not allowing the opponent a FAIR CHANCE to get to, play and take a full swing.

That is why there are rules.

Attempting to cover an area (center court) when YOU must YIELD that same area to hitting team results in a PENALTY HINDER.

What should you do?

SIMPLE:

Don't hit the ball to an area that YOU want to cover!

Otherwise YOU need to YIELD (move) out of the way.

EXAMPLE:

Hit your ceiling shots to the back corners and make sure the ceiling shot goes ALL THE WAY to the back wall.

Hope that helps!

Jordan

Your first mistake was getting into the court with an Open player and being delusional that you would be able to cover his shots.
What brand of string makes a 19 G string?

tomkat3120

Your first mistake was getting into the court with an Open player and being delusional that you would be able to cover his shots.
What brand of string makes a 19 G string?

I did beat him few game :| (he wasn't that good :p ) the string I use is Gamma but it brake already. Now I am using the DPR.

jAd9594

I did beat him few game :| (he wasn't that good :p ) the string I use is Gamma but it brake already. Now I am using the DPR.

You beat an "Open" Level player and your saying he wasn't that good? :?:

jpetersen

Don't let the ceiling shot fall short in center court in the first place. While that is a 'duh' answer, it's really what it comes down to. Sometimes when you hit a bad shot, you are simply screwed and there is nothing you can do about it. Your only chance is if the other guy screws up the easy shot, which does happen once in a while and there are things you can do to increase the odds of it happening.

In this particular situation, I find the best approach is to work the mental side of the game. The technique to use varies quite a bit depending on exactly where the opponent is actually hitting the ball, but the ultimately goal is to put pressure on the hitter to execute a good shot. You need to position yourself and act in a manner that the opponent feels they must execute perfectly in order to be sure of the win.

For example, if they are taking the shot from center court at about the dotted-line, I will hang out directly behind them. Yes this puts you back further than you want, but it's better than picking a side. This puts pressure on the hitter to execute a good low kill shot and gives you good coverage position for any other kind of shot. I find I induce a remarkable high number of skips from my opponent by making them think they have to hit the ball extra-low. When you take up this position, their biggest fear is leaving it up too high, so they tend to try to hit it lower than they probably should.

If the opponent is taking it a touch further back, I will pick a side slightly in front of them and make it perfectly clear that I intend to dart across the moment they shoot. Again, they will do one of two things, 1) they will try to hit the ball too low, increasing the odds of a skip, or 2) they will try to sucker me by hitting to the side of the court I am already on. About half the time I will actually dart, the other half of the time I will deek the opponent and not dart. You are basically setting yourself up in a position where you are either effectively covering the left side or the right side, but the opponent can't be for sure which one you are actually going to cover, which gives you a decent chance of getting the ball (considering the mess you are in anyways).

Stepping directly in front of them and jumping is not really an option in this case, because it's a short ceiling ball, so the ball is coming toward them. You can't really step in front of them in this situation without it being a penalty hinder. If the ball were setting up off the back wall, then stepping in front of them and jumping might be an option, depending on the level of play. I find this technique is only effective if the opponent doesn't realize you are doing it. If they notice you have stepped right in front of them, they might just hold up and call a penalty hinder on you. I think the technique of stepping in front of your opponent intentionally and jumping is best left to the Open level of play as well.

Damn peterson

That was a well put-together post bro.

jAd9594

I did beat him few game :| (he wasn't that good :p ) the string I use is Gamma but it brake already. Now I am using the DPR.

I thought an open player by definition is an 'excellent' racquetball player, yet this guy wasn't that good? Hmm...:-k

agreed this does not compute, Mr. Novice jAd

As far as dealing with a player who has a setup in center court, 1st recognize that you are now on the defensive, getting the ball is likely the only thing accomplishable and 2nd force the hitter to take the harder shot (you have to know what shot is harder for what player), in my opinion a person in center court (cut-offline) has the easiest time ending a rally with a DTL (assuming you are left behind and to the side of the player) so cover that first (or if you have insider knowledge, cover whatever shot is most comfortable for them)

Your only chance is if the other guy screws up the easy shot, which does happen once in a while and there are things you can do to increase the odds of it happening.

What greatly increases the odds is thumping your feet loudly, waving your hands and by making gurgling noises.

Kokkatc

I thought an open player by definition is an 'excellent' racquetball player, yet this guy wasn't that good? Hmm...:-k

HAHA I am just kidding about it. I just beat him one timeS (by luck), and he just got back from a Surgery. he said his play is weak compare b4 the surgery and he is recovering (i think he play more like an low A). He beat me most of the time with 11-6, but he is not the best player I had play before. There are two other player(top 4 in open) which is way better than he. Those are the player kill the ball from every where- back hand ceiling shot is a set up for them.

behmer07

agreed this does not compute, Mr. Novice jAd

As far as dealing with a player who has a setup in center court, 1st recognize that you are now on the defensive, getting the ball is likely the only thing accomplishable and 2nd force the hitter to take the harder shot (you have to know what shot is harder for what player), in my opinion a person in center court (cut-offline) has the easiest time ending a rally with a DTL (assuming you are left behind and to the side of the player) so cover that first (or if you have insider knowledge, cover whatever shot is most comfortable for them)

he will do a Narrow angle pass, which most of the time is low enough to be a kill shot. the reason I only can cover one side of the court, that is why I am thinking to stand in the center and jump up when he hit the ball, but as other has said it will be a hinder(when the ball come from a short ceiling shot).

Mr. Novice - HA HA HA. I had been play for 10 month (since I started), 5 to 6 days per week and have a lot of great player to play with. I went to watch a local gym tournament, those Novice, D, C player is like when I just been playing for 4 month. So for the humble reason, I am a newbie and I am welling to learn. :-$

I think that if the ceiling ball went short and bounces just behind the dotted line the best place to stand is behind the opponent. This puts a lot of pressure on him to finish the rally and hopefully skip the ball trying to kill it. If the ball bounces deeper in the court then I will wait until it is a little lower and rush to center court and jump high with my knees flexed so hopefully I will not get hit..:cry:

o don't do the stupid thing and jump OVER a ceiling ball, you will have plenty of hinders and welts if you do that

so you beat an Open player?

The one thing that I think is missed in this whole subject is that he seems hit enough bad ceiling balls and has to react to the result of that enough times to prompt this question. In other words, stop hitting the bad shot that makes you have to be on the defensive.

The ceiling ball is one of the most under practiced and under utilized (or poorly executed) shots in racquetball, next to the pass shot. So I offer this advice; Practice your ceiling ball shots! I have my students perform a drill where they try to hit 5 ceiling balls in a row to themselves (10 for more advanced players) both forehand, backhand and cross court. If you hit a bad one (one that comes off the back wall or short) and you can shoot it, then do so and start your count over. I also start all my warm-ups hitting ceiling balls to myself, starting with my backhand, then forehand, then cross courts. (if time allows)

It is good to know how to play defensively but the best thing to do it practice shots that allow you to stay on the offensive. (The best defense is a good offense)

Thanks!

Stacey

Wow... that sound really Easy, is more like not hitting a bad ceiling shot. What prefect shot every time, I am not sure that happened.

I was more thinking how to recover from a bad shot.