Follow The Bouncing Ball (Attack The Weaker Side)

Fernando Gonzalez is known for his good looks, his monstrous forehand
and his pretty bad backhand

It’s a strategy as old as time and you can apply it as soon as you learn how to aim the shot! First you determine the weaker stroke (backhand or forehand) then you hit all the balls to that stroke. Once a player notices a clear difference between the strokes, they will be very obvious. This rally is usually the first game plan you should try because it will make your life really easy some days.

At the beginner level all you have to do it direct the balls to that side. You don’t even have to hit them hard. Just get them there.

At the intermediate level you do it in a way that suits your game. Some people are better at mixing the shots up. Some people are better at top spin. Whatever your most consistent stroke is, is what you want.

Advanced players are much more challenging. If a player still has a weaker stroke, it has been beat up on for his/her whole career. So he/she is probably ready for this rally tactic and has some sort of answer. You could either ditch this plan completely OR try a few different tactics.

1. If you determine early which side is weakest. Play like you don’t know. Play a good match. Then when the points get really serious, you attack the stroke. They won’t be very warmed up on it. It might take them by surprise.
2. Move them around. Some players actually get good at hitting a ball standing still but not on the run. So if you break the patern, go to their strength and then go back to the weakness, you might draw an unforced error.
3. Find out a weakness within the consistent stroke. For example, if the guy slices all his backhands then you can hit him some soft balls, some deep balls, some high balls. All of which are difficult for a slice.


Federer and Gonzalez have killer forehands and bad backhands in comparison. You can't see the ball to well but you will notice that Federer is taking advantage of having a better backhand by sneaking into the net after a few strokes, running around his backhand to dictate the points with his stronger forehand and only going to Gonzo's forehand when he thinks that Gonzalez will not be able to set his feet to his his forehand (in other words....Gonzo is off balance).

Good luck.