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It's Clay Season!
At least for the pros, the clay season has started and that's what we'll see on TV until Wimbledon, but for you the season maybe "all year" as most adults try to enjoy the benefits of the soft surface. So, it's important you have a clear picture of how you should play on clay whether green or red. As I grew up on clay, even though the game was different back then, the clay champions like Borg or Vilas, already used most of the same concepts Nadal or Federer use today.
- To win on clay you must remember more than ever that "the majority of points in a match are obtained by errors made by your opponent as opposed to winners made by yourself". Forget about trying to attack constantly. Patience is the key. And with it comes fitness, because to be patient you got to be able to run for a lot of balls, force your opponent to hit one more shot.
- The serve is also a little different. The majority of the clay-court players understand that it's more important to have a high percentage of first serves in that a few aces. The kick serve is king on clay and you must know how to do it to the 4 corners and by that I mean you need to be able to mix it up to the forehand and backhand of your opponent. Especially on the ad side the right-handers should stand a few feet wider to kick it super wide to the guys backhand. Save your "bomb" serve for when you have a couple of points to spare like 30-0 or 40-15.
- The return on clay is also different than on hard. You want to stay back a good 3 or more feet behind the baseline because the clay gives you funny bounces and usually jumps more than on any surface. As you are standing way back your return should go "up", a bit loopy (with topspin if possible) deep down the center. Being this far back allows you to run around your backhand and hit a forehand. You can to try to take some soft 2nd serves on the rise, but remember you take a risk.
- Once the point starts hit crosscourts a lot more than down the lines. Consistency and a low amount of unforced errors will pay off in the end. By this I don't mean to simply push the ball back, you still want to take the initiative and move your opponent side to side if possible forcing him/her to make a mistake. Being patient doesn't mean to be passive, stay aggressive but with margin of error.
- Every game play at least 1 drop shot. You think I exaggerate, believe me after you hit a great forehand or backhand unless you are coming in behind it, a drop is the best option. You'll keep your opponent off balanced and this will tire him/her little by little. Of course you must practice these. It's easy to make a lot of errors trying to drop, that's why start doing them from the beginning of the match. Don't wait until is 5-5 in the first set to try one. You must get your feel for them. Also use drops with your volleys, they pay off more than the hard volleys on clay.
- Play behind your opponent a second shot as he tries to get back to the center. You'll make him lose his balance and probably force him to leave you a short ball.
Well, get ready to grind, clay it's a battle where the will to hang in tough it's the key and your ability to play smart and make your opponent run it's a lot of fun!
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