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April 1999 Article Latest Leading Edge Tennis Article
The Tennis Server
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Make'em Reach For The Cookie Jar! Using the moonball to gain an advantage.
In layman's terms, hitting a moonball using proper effective biomechanics is feasible as long as there is substantial spin speed added to the ball. A player's biomechanics are used with maximum velocity by imparting a great amount of spin to the ball. The result is a ball that travels very slowly but, when it bounces, shoots off like a rocket out of a player's strike zone.
What Is A Moonball?In my view a moonball is a ball that is hit from baseline to baseline that lands in 3/4 court or deeper, travels over the net at about 10-15 feet in height and is hit with lots and lots of topspin. If I had to compare it to another shot it would be the lob. The lob, however, is hit with a much higher arc, a defensive tendancy, and the lob's speed of ball and speed of spin are considerably less.
When Do You Use The Moonball?I think for the "average player" it can be used all the time. What needs to be considered is the side on which your opponent is more vulnerable -- forehand or backhand. Chances are that the backhand is weaker and will result in a shorter ball, which means a automatic attacking situation. If the player has a two hander then look for a short ball with a little bit of topsin. If your opponent is a one hander then expect a chipped ball that will also land short somewhere around mid-court.
The "advanced player" needs to use the moonball at specific times in a match or at certain emotional times during a match. I was sitting with internationally respected tennis coach Bob Brett watching his student Nicholas Kiefer who is ranked #35 on the ATP tour. Nicholas is said by many experts to be the next Boris Becker. In a tight emotionally filled match, with Nicholas leading 5-4 in the third set, he used a moonball change of speed tactic. Nicholas would hit a moonball to his opponent's backhand and tempt him to hit on the rise or chip. His opponent, under the emotion of the situation, chose to chip and play safe. This gave Nicholas short floating shots time and time again in those last minutes of the match. Nicholas ending up winning the match with this tactic! Other professional players who use this tactic to set up a short ball or change of speed are:
Andre Agassi - moonball then drive forehand or backhand Using a moonball and drive combination will make your drive look like Agassi's! Try using a rhythm change when rallying -- say three high tempo shots followed by a moonball. We need to watch what is happening in a match in order to find out our opponent's weaknesses. Sometimes when we play matches we can find out a weakness at the most defensive times. For example, next time you are in a defensive situation scrambling to get back into a point, put up a lob and see what your opponent does. If he or she goes back 3-6 feet behind the baseline then chances are that your opponent may not be comfortable hitting the ball on the rise. You can take advantage of this if you want to put pressure on your opponent. The next time you are leading in a game 40-30, put up a moonball and see what happens. Try it a few times in a match, giving your opponent a chance to choke it all away.
If You Are Really Daring Try This!If you've got the guts then try this at least once in a tennis match. Use it when you sense your opponent is down emotionally or lacks some confidence. Try hitting a moonball to your opponent's weaker side and then rush the net looking for a volley. What I hypothesize will happen is that your opponent will hit a semi-floating ball cross court giving you an somewhat easy put-a-away volley.Just remember, sometimes bigger is not always better! Take care, Reggie p.s. Hello to my new friends in Africa; Charlie, Alli, Willie, Michael you guys are the best. Hello to Maggie, Anthea and Darlas (U.S.). Greetings to my new mates down under Michael and Sarah. Cheers to Jason and Louis in England. Konichiwa to my friend Taeday in Japan!
This column is copyright 1999 by Reggie Vasquez Jr., all rights reserved.
Questions and comments about these columns can be directed to Reggie by electronic mail at reggie@tennisserver.com. |
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The use of the moonball is a tactic that needs to be utilized more
often in today's tennis. Too many people believe that faster is better, but I don't believe that this is always true. Although the speed of the game is becoming increasingly faster because of
factors such as better mechanics, proper condidtioning and equipment
technology, the use of the moonball still has a place in the strategies of
today's modern tennis player. Too often I see players simply trying to
outhit one another with sheer power or engage in a contest of who can hit more
winners off of the first shot. I am a strong advocate of using sport
science to aid in the development of any player. It is safe to say that
with a proper use of biomechanics a player will be able to create a
potential energy in a stroke that is safe, economical and effective. The
end result is speed of shot and speed of biomechanical movements. While this means that energy can be used in maximum quantity all the time, it does not necessarily mean that sheer speed of the ball should always be the desired result. 
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