What’s up, Team!? Coach Joshua here from the tennis tactics academy, and today we take a look at the Alcaraz drop shot tactic! 

We’ve all seen it, Alcaraz makes hitting drop shot winners look like they work every time. 

Maybe you’ve tried to copy him

Yet somehow, it doesn't work out as well for you.

So you keep putting in the hours working on your technique. 

What if I told you, there might not be anything wrong with your technique?

The real reason your drop shots aren't working is more likely bad tactics.

Good news - we have a simple tactical model that will help you start hitting effective drop shots, today! 

Let’s jump over to the chalk board! 

So, let's map out why the drop shot is a risky play at the recreational level. 

Both players are at the baseline, and one gets the creative idea to hit a drop shot mid rally. So they do. Odds are it lands about here. A really good one would land here.

It disrupts the rally, and its tough for your opponent to hit back, but it usually gets returned and now you have simply brought your opponent to the net, which is usually an offensive position for them. 

On top of all that, rec players will often play their drop shots with low net clearance, so now you’re also more likely to just miss in the first place. 

But your strategy is to disrupt the rhythm of the rally and challenge your opponent’s vertical movement. Not bad, just not good enough to win the point outright like a certain spanish wizard. 

Now, let's take a closer look at what Alcaraz does.

The differences come immediately. Take a look at the court position

Most recreational players spend most of their rally time in neutral or defensive positions by standing at or behind the baseline.

Our friend Carlos, sets up the drop shot by hitting aggressive baseline shots that push his opponent back and let him step inside the baseline.

Already look how much further his opponent has to run than yours.

But there is more.

He has options.

He can unload on the next shot with a strong driving forehand, which is a tough shot, and the shot he plays most of the time. 

But he also has the option to hit a drop shot. And because his opponent fears his drive, they have to wait until they know he has hit a drop shot to start running. 

This helps in 3 ways:

1. Since his opponent was pushed back in the court, they were already further away than normal.

2. Because Carlos is inside the baseline, his shot is easier to make and doesn't have to spend so much time in the air. 

3. and now, not knowing what Carlos will do, his opponent will have to wait a little bit longer to start running.
   

Now he has both increased the distance his opponent has to run, and decreased the time they have to run it in!

Being strategic here, we have made our dropshot 186% more effective! [186% is not a real statistic pop up]

So if hitting drop shot winners is more about tactics than technique, how do you copy Carlos's famous play?

Well, let's use our stoplight model

First we’ll draw these imaginary lines on the court to build our model. now…

Pay attention to where you and your opponent are on the court.

I want you to know what zone you’re both in out of 

Red, yellow, or green.

Red zone means you’re on defense. No drop shots when your feet are back here.

Yellow means you’re neutral, be cautious playing a drop shot from here. Its tough to hit, but also you’ll have to hit it a bit higher, which gives your opponent more time to get there.

Green means go. When you are inside the baseline like this, its an option.

But what about your opponent?

If you are in the green zone, and your opponent is in the green or yellow zone, do not hit a drop shot. Your opponent is too close to where the ball will land and you will just invite them to take an offensive position at the net.

But if they are in the red zone, this is your sign to play it short.

Notice two things. 

Because you are close to your target, your opponent has less time to recognize you’ve hit a dropshot before it lands. Which means less time to run.

Also, if they start running in too early, you could just hit a drive right past them, so they have to wait until they know you’re going short.

By using your court position strategically, you’ve now doubled down on the things that make the drop shot an effective play.

Give it a try and run this play in your next hitting session.