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  1. News
  2. Beating no mistakes players
💡 Tactics and Technique 💡

Beating no mistakes players

1222 commentsu/These-Document-21275w ago
I have a league match tonight. My partner and I are about 3.25, the pair we're playing about 3.75 to 4. They don't have many offensive weapons, but are brilliant defensive players. They just don't make mistakes. How to beat them; try and cut out all mistakes ourselves and hope to break them down, or go more aggressive knowing an endurance game would suit them, and risk mistakes to win points.
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Comments (22)

u/ReasonableAd49995w ago
When this team loses, why did they lose? What did their opponent do? Something you can always do is focus on the easy ways to make it harder for them. For example focus mostly on playing their backhands. This makes it harder for them without increasing the risk on making a mistake yourself.
14
u/These-Document-2127OP5w ago
They don't lose alot! There's another 4ish pair who went super aggressive at the net and kept them pinned back in the corners. I don't know if I've quite got the game to be that assertive at the net. When we're two sets down I'll give it a go though!
6
u/StarIU5w ago
They sound like pushers in tennis terms (i.e. they sacrifice shot quality but they get all the balls back). If they have quality shots AND they don't mistakes, they don't belong in this bracket. To counter them, you need to take time away from them by taking the net. It will be tempting to hit hard from the back. Don't.
2
u/These-Document-2127OP5w ago
The backhand tip is a really good one, I don't do that enough
2
u/zemvpferreira5w ago
Eh. You're playing against a much better team, which means that if everything goes normally, you'll lose. Generally the game plan here is to increase variance by increasing aggression, also known as playing as if you had nothing to lose. Given most players would rather lose but feel they played well than gamble at a win but risk making a spectacle of themselves, my question would be this. Would you prefer: 1. a 20% chance of winning but an 80% chance of losing 6-1/6-1; 2. a 10% chance of winning but a 90% chance of losing 7-6/7-6. That will tell you more about the attitude you should play with than anything.
12
u/These-Document-2127OP5w ago
Yeah, this is my debate. I dont just want to passively take our fate. Option 1 looks more fun! But not silly play, trying to mix it up with all the tips on this good thread
1
u/zemvpferreira5w ago
Silly is not the word, but you can't play conservatively either. Most pros would look at it this way: Instead of playing your big shots where you're 80% confident you'll get an edge, you need to go down to 50% confidence. It's a coin flip but you're still playing to your strengths, whichever they are. You could see that in practice in Alonso/Goñi vs Tapia/Coello yesterday(?). Goñi took much riskier smashes than usual because he needed to find that edge, but it's not like he suddenly started looking for drop shots every volley. You go for big stuff, but your big stuff. And you don't care if you miss.
5
u/Independent_Art53015w ago
classic dilemma. honest take: at 0.5 level gap, pure consistency won't work - they'll out-patient you. but reckless attack just hands them points. you need smart disruption. what usually works: build patiently, finish decisively. play 6-8 solid balls, then when you get the right ball (above net height, central), commit fully. half-commits cause most mistakes. attack their weaker player relentlessly. 70% of shots through them. force them to make decisions, frustrate the stronger one. short cross-court and chiquitas. grinders love deep rallies. pull them into the transition zone where they're least comfortable. vary lob height and target. high spinning lobs to their backhand corner are way harder to attack than flat fast ones. stay at the net no matter what. don't get pushed back. smash imperfectly rather than retreat. avoid: slugging it out from the back. they're better at that game, period. realistic expectation: you're underdogs. but underdogs win by being braver, not safer. go aggressive in moments, not constantly.
9
u/itsfineimfinewhy5w ago
In your scenario, I would make it my objective to take control of the pacing, and I would try to cause decision fatigue. If they're not an offense concern, I can just run them around without being worried about punishment. Eventually, they won't be able to keep up as well as they were, so the offense will get weaker than it already is and the defense won't be as easy for them to cover.
2
u/labtecoza5w ago
By playing high risk high reward padel. You will probably still lose but that's the only way to win
2
u/Beeman90015w ago
Dont take risks on the wrong moment out of frustration. You should be able to hold the rallies too, since they're not good on offense. Take the net in a controlled manner, then take a risk once they slip up. For example an easy ball to volley, or a bad lob to smash. Also find out if they have weaknesses in their defense. They might be very good with the glass but could be uncomfortable with balls hard on their feet, maybe they have a bad backhand etc. Goos luck!
2
u/FlatulistMaster5w ago
If they could do all of that, they'd be 4.25-4.5 in comparison to the other team's 3.75-4
1
u/AlexGerasim5w ago
Try not to make mistakes yourself. You see how difficult it is too play vs this kind of team, so become the one. Since they don't have many offensive weapons it should be even easier to defend against them.
1
u/Emotional-Peach-30335w ago
Beat them at their own games. Be patient, move them around and only force shots when they’re in uncomfortable positions. Push them back, slow it down with lobs and take the net. From there create havoc. Volley deep, mix power on your attacks
1
u/These-Document-2127OP5w ago
Sounds great - but if they're stronger players, won't playing them at their own game suit them?
2
u/Emotional-Peach-30335w ago
I find defensive players play better when they’re constantly under attack. And usually with foreseeable shots. So keep them on their toes, movement is key, and pick the right shots (chiquitas, bandejas, fence shots) keep them guessing. You might lose, but you’ll give them a good ride
2
u/HairyCallahan4w ago
It's not realistic to beat a better team at their own game tbh.
1
u/HairyCallahan4w ago
Don't beat them at their own game. That's pointless as they are better at it. You will likely lose anyways but maybe playing aggressive and single out their weaker player can help.
1
u/Particular_Sample4w ago
They have weaknesses. Set 1: find them. Set 2: use them on the big points (ads, game point). If that starts to work, keep at it. Don’t change the character of your game. Faith goes a long way towards winning.
1