The Right Time to Try a Drop Shot
by: Dave Winship @ On The Line

If you use it sparingly, the drop shot can be a completely devastating weapon. Cast your mind back to 1989. It's Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario playing Raffaella Reggi on self Court at Wimbledon and she's match point down. Suddenly, completely out of the blue, she disarms her opponent with an outrageous drop shot struck from well behind the baseline. It's an outright winner and it stuns Reggi so much that she never recovers her momentum and loses the match. An unforgettable moment.

Some shots are just so satisfying to execute and the drop shot is one of them. Unfortunately, it can become addictive. Drop-shot-itis is a very unfortunate condition. Avoid it by reminding yourself that if you fail to surprise your opponent, you'll probably lose the point. You're either a hero or a fool when you opt for the drop shot.

The opportunity arises when you're inside your baseline and your opponent is well behind his baseline. Sanchez-Vicario was lucky - a drop shot played from behind the baseline usually has too far to travel, allowing your opponent too much time to reach it.

Be aware of your opponent's position as well as your own. If the shot is going to be effective, you must be short in the court and your opponent must be long. If you can sense an element of surprise, all the better. Remember to narrow the angles by following it in to the net.

I guess that's the long and the short of it.

Regards.

Dave Winship