Of course it feels good to outhit someone, especially the younger ones.

They hit hard. You hit harder. They speed it up. You take it early and send it back with even more pace.

There is satisfaction in that.

But satisfaction is not the same as good decision-making.

If the opponent’s strength is power, why turn the point into a power contest?

Now you are using more energy, reducing your margin and giving them exactly the kind of rally they enjoy.

That is a poor trade.

You do not need to prove you can hit harder.

You need to make the point harder for them.

Sometimes that means taking pace off, changing the height, using the middle, making them generate their own speed and waiting for the right ball.

Winning ugly is still winning.

The point does not care who hit harder.

If your opponent has power, speed and big finishing shots, be careful about giving them repeated medium-paced topspin into their strike zone.

That kind of ball can actually help them.

It gives them rhythm.
It gives them a comfortable contact point.
And it gives them pace they can use.

So instead of trying to match their power, change the ball they have to deal with.

Use a low slice.

Make them bend.
Make them lift the ball.
Make them create more of their own pace.

Then change the height.

Go low, then higher, then flatter.

The goal is not to be random. The goal is to stop your opponent from seeing the same ball over and over again.

Because once a powerful player gets rhythm, they become even more dangerous.

Use the middle too.

Players often think they always need to create angles, but the middle can be really useful.

It can jam the opponent.
It reduces the angles they can create.
And in doubles, it can create hesitation between two players.

Then occasionally send one deep.

Depth stops your opponent from creeping forward and taking the ball early.

You want them hitting from farther back, not comfortably stepping inside the baseline and taking control.

And once you have given them a few slower or awkward balls, drive one.

That change of pace is important.

A fast ball after several fast balls is normal.

A fast ball after a few low, slower balls feels much quicker.

That is where variation starts becoming a weapon.

The biggest thing to understand is this:

You want your opponent creating their own pace rather than borrowing yours.

If you keep hitting firm balls at a powerful player, they can use your incoming speed and send it back even harder.

A low, skidding slice gives them less to work with.

Now they have to create the pace.
Create the height.
Create the spin.
And still control the shot.

That is harder.

And this is why I like the idea of making an opponent hit three awkward balls.

You do not always need one amazing winner.

You might be better off making them hit:

low slice → middle ball → deep ball

and then seeing what comes back.

Maybe they handle the first one.

Fine.

Maybe they handle the second one.

Fine.

Make them hit another.

By the third or fourth ball, you may get a shorter reply, a rushed shot, a floating volley or an error.

Then you attack.

The point is not to hope they miss.

The point is to keep taking away comfort until the quality of their shot drops.

That is a different way of thinking about tactics.

Instead of asking:

“How do I hit through this opponent?”

Ask:

“What kind of ball does this opponent want?”

Then stop giving it to them.

And even better:

“What ball does this opponent least enjoy hitting?”

That is usually the ball worth exploring.