Roger Federer's "Imaginary Line Rule" + Running PLAYS

[@EssentialTennis]

Awesome lesson, Will! Easily the most simple and actionable explanation of the "inside vs outside ball" concept. I struggle the most against counter punchers....don't tell Kevin. -Ian

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks! Your secret is safe with me lol

[@topspinman1]

Old school wardlaw directional. Learn this raises you almost a half level.

It's amusing to find your comment here Ian, i'm following Essential Tennis for a long time now and if you tought me how to technically play WAY better, while i was watching Will's video i realised that E.T. is lacking strategy&mental videos. This is the first video i'm watching from Will, but maybe a partnership between your channels is to think about ? Thanks to both of you anyway, keep doing such good jobs that make us progress ! :)

[@dr.madhuriaglawe1998]

I don't believe it is Ian sir commenting here

[@Kfm7]

@@dr.madhuriaglawe1998 maybe it’s Ben ( MEP) 😂

[@CoffeeBreakTennis]

Great use of Roger Federer for educating the tennis public!

[@Kriskata33]

Oh hi CBT didn't know that you were watching tactics. Are you trying to up your game or what haha

[@CoffeeBreakTennis]

Krisi Niki always :)

[@Kriskata33]

@@CoffeeBreakTennis Ty for the fast answer Matt. Djokovic just lost so are you going to do a video abour that match or?

[@madhukiranattivilli2321]

Hi Matt, pleasantly surprised to see you here!!...!!! :)

[@madhukiranattivilli2321]

Matt, I noticed in the example that all Fed strokes were cross court, meaning PULL shots (closer to his body) in Will's lang (but not PUSH (away from body)), so Fed saved lot of energy as well. Am I correct w/ my understanding?

[@ricplay7890]

Im barely half way through and I know this video deserves a million views. Bravo!!

[@CabinteelyBrewer]

OMG, what a revelation. I tried this today and it felt like I wasn't playing blind anymore. Thanks Will.

[@shaunacole1]

This video has changed my life!!!!.. I used to go for the wrong shots all the time, now, I always know what shot I am going to play and it has made me more calm. Cannot thank you enough.

[@SunshineSurfsup1]

Subscribed! You explained about $2k with of tennis coaching sessions. Phenom job!!

[@paolocannizzaro11]

worth of*

[@haisay8674]

God loves you, seek him and if you want forgiven of your sins and want to be certain that your sins are forgiven believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved

[@haisay8674]

@@paolocannizzaro11 God loves you, seek him and if you want forgiven of your sins and want to be certain that your sins are forgiven believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved

[@thaipham283]

Wow, I honestly can't believe it. I watched this video before my new tennis season started thinking, I'll give it a chance. I can hit hard but I wanted to stay consistent and I made plays. To attack the opponents backhand, how to hit my forehand. What plays I wanted. And I won, easily. This video is fantastic. Just having a gameplan helps beat better opponents.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

That's awesome Thai, thanks for sharing!

[@SuperChewyDough]

This is excellent. I'm a Badminton player but your keywords about "running plays" is exactly the kind of new mindset that I needed. It's not the quality of my shots that matter, it's the quality of my decisions like you mentioned.

[@TJ_104]

What a high quality video in all aspects, i subscribed instantly!

[@DFEUERMAN]

Thank you for explaining "inside" vs "outside"! My anecodate: I didn't realize until recently that my forehand cross-court was so inconsistent until I started playing a southpaw who had a great forehand. I had to develop my forehand-cross court by ***close-stancing*** my forehand and getting more shoulder-turn to pull the ball cross-court, and now I use the forehand cross-court to hit winners against righties who guard their backhand side of the court too much and leave the forehand side open for a winner. (This might help some folks.)

[@Alexandahls]

Wow! My favorite tennis channel is back!

[@mtns7036]

I always tell my students when they say they lost but... 1st give kudos to opponent always. .. they tell me but my strokes were much better... i tell them nope, maybe you think they 'looked' better..but they were not better and didnt get the job done. Its really about taking accountability. And thereafter watching videos like this for some lovely tactics!

[@sagniksingha]

Fantastic job reinforcing the power and consistency the shots made strategically using the vertical line diagram! I also saw this technique/gameplay being used quite evidently by Roger vs Rafa in the fateful 2017 final in the most dramatic rally of that evening. Thanks.

[@pranavsreedhar1402]

great new kind of idea for improving competetive game. Thanks on behalf of everyone who watches this video.

[@crunchtimecoaching]

I will be looking for Federer to run this to perfection tonight!!!! Go Federer!!! Great video Will as always mate

[@dandalee]

This video absolutely blew my mind. I realize I've been playing tennis with zero plan my whole life. Thank you for your great work!

[@Kawand62]

I’ve been a Tennis Player for a very long time, and the concept of “Running Plays” was never ever clearly presented. Back in my day it was called playing percentage tennis. Just knowing that my opponent could be using this against me, will give me a better handle on where the ball could go against a fairly competent player. Very nice analysis, keep up the good work!

[@connellbarrett3901]

Loved this! I never post on KZbin, but as a coach myself, I appreciate such clear, practical teaching. Thanks for this awesome lesson. :)

[@pronatural3302]

This is a well basic strategy, thanks mate

[@dave101keith6]

Great info for righty to righty, can you do a video on righty versus lefty?

[@InfiniteQuest86]

Dude, where has this been my whole life. I've won many matches, but somehow was totally clueless to any of this. It makes perfect sense when explained though. Subscribed! Bought the book! So brilliant, yet so obvious in hindsight.

[@jdmalanga]

Love the "imaginary line!" I will use it in my matches, as well as when I'm watching the U.S. Open this week! I struggle with the southpaw (you love that!)

[@kevinarmes9804]

Loved it. Great example point too. Very high percentage. Also I laughed a bit when you used the phrase "No matter which way you slice it" hahaha 🤣

[@systemafunk]

I just realized this is exactly why Roger moves so little during matches. Wow, very cool!

[@jemand8462]

I have two shields:(

[@hrabmv]

lol

[@donadoni468]

haha!

[@smartsportlife]

Haha, go for it than, nothing to lose!

[@dsquareddo9283]

2 shields- damn need a Trojan

[@RubelAhmed-do3jt]

​,,,,,,, 😢😢. ,

[@Tomahawk00984]

Definitely appreciate this, and I will try it for sure. For the record, I still generally struggle with pushers, as it forces me to generate my own pace, oftentimes take the ball at a higher point (which I am trying to improve at), but also their slow balls allow them to be able to recover their position and neutralize any positional advantage I may have on them.

[@cellmaker1]

Great info on strategy. I also enjoyed your opening sequence because it describes very closely my experience of effectively psyching myself out of a match. Misery loves company!

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

You're welcome!

[@kruseisthetruth]

Used this in my 3.5 match last night, 6-2, 6-2. Dictated the point everytime my opponent hit inside, was able to finish at the net or hit winners. I never thought I needed plays but this was great.

[@outcastant]

The driving home part & "I hate tennis" resonates with me so much. Appreciated that section

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

It's a humbling sport sometimes lol

[@foolishwatcher]

I totally agree, same for me so many times! I lost so many single matches to players that weren't faster, stronger or better hitting than I, but I never understood why. I promised myself not to play another singles match (in a tournament) until I figure out what's wrong. I'm glad I found this channel! :-D

[@lucasoscar]

@@fuzzyyellowballs pros aside, no matter how good you are theres always someone that makes you feel you are trash and you dont know how to hit the ball anymore

[@freddaoud4432]

Oh yeah for me too! Looking forward to a league match all week, having a practice session with a friend and doing so well, all pumped up and ready to go... Then everything falls apart during the match, and on the drive home, "I hate this #@!&*(! sport"... It was somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone.

[@akin1989]

This is some high quality analysis. Great video Will

[@WanderVagabond]

Love this video. Can be applied to badminton even. Love it !

[@generalkito]

Loved that! I struggle against pushers and net players.

[@smashu2]

I got a type of shot I can go the opposite this pattern because I can hit down the line block slice forehand. Directing the ball to my opponent backhand and players are completely confuse because they have a lot of trouble to attack cross court with there backhand following that low shot and than I use a battering ram back and to backhand strategy because my backhand is so solid and consistent.

[@ThePandaPump]

It's definitely the Pusher for me - I struggle with those players.I enjoyed watching this, thanks!

[@drelephanttube]

Practice your volley. I used to struggle with pushers but not any more.

[@TheTamrielDrunkard]

You'll get passed if you try to rush the net against a pusher, or lobbed! Practice the short slice followed by pounding the ball to open court!

[@simon0yeung]

Just take it easy and hit deep shots down the middle to begin your points. As you feel good after a few shots and see they can’t harm you, then try move the ball around a bit (no winners) then they’ll start giving you weak balls to really attack

[@edwinrivera3118]

Great teaching. I couldn't agree with you and the Bryan brothers more. I play with a really competitive group of guys, some of them are doctors, but all are very smart successful people, but for some reason most of them do not use their brain when playing tennis. Its as if they leave their head on the bench and just hit balls. Which is the issue with club players. Instead of using tactics, (attack the backhand, bring the player in, slice and top spin, high ball, court positioning, etc), the tendency is to just hit back with out thought. Thanks for making the time.

[@Dark_Voice]

The more you use head in your job, the less you wanna use head in your spare time. Its simple. Balance mental work with physical hobbies and vice versa.

[@MrsCrazyrange]

@dark_voice yeah but if you’re competitive you surely want to use your brain and seek out every possible advantage!

[@scarlattibeet]

Lovely, I now understand what is going on in Wimbledon. Before it just didn't make much sense. Thank you.

[@TheRealDrJoey]

I just happened on your channel. I've played for ...a long time...before you were born. This is good stuff. Subscribed.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks Dr. Joey, appreciate that!

[@aiyka_music]

Coaches don't teach this. This single handedly changed my entire tennis game and took me to the next level. Thank you for the brilliant analysis

[@HarryJohnson69]

This is so great that you’re coaching tactics. Just as you said, this is not stressed enough and I don’t know why. Here in America, all the coaches stressed to me hitting the ball hard, having a big forehand and serve and always hitting to the opponent’s backhand. It wasn’t until I started training in France that I was taught all sorts of tactics and how to beat different playing styles. The best peace of advice I’ve ever been given is not to play on my strength, but to always play on my opponent’s weaknesses. So my game style is an aggressive baseliner. I try to set up forehand winners with my serve as well as take the offensive position on the rallies. However, even though i prefer my forehand, if I see that my backhand is stronger than my opponent’s, I’ll try to go backhand to backhand with him rather than trying to always run around my forehand to hit an inside out shot or as you demonstrated in the video, hit down the line forehands during neutral rallies which are tough to be accurate on. Even though I don’t feel as comfortable at net as on the baseline, if I play a pusher,I’d rather go to net to take time away than spend all day at the baseline and get myself tired.

[@ElasticGum]

Hi, this is probably too late but which academy did you go to in France?

[@nikhilprabhudesai7195]

Love your tacticts

[@owlkishu6007]

Wow amazing video with the explanation and example. I just found this channel and I'm a new tennis player. Thank you so much.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Welcome to the game! Glad you liked the video :-)

[@iliyangeo]

Thanks for the explanation! In this instance Federer applied a special case of this tactic that is simple to remember. He directed his shots to always cross that imaginary line, regardless of where the ball came from. Seems like a decent go-to tactic.

[@Roberttttttt446]

Thanks I will use this strat in my next match

[@Tompey2]

Thanks Will.. Great advise. I struggle with pushers. Normally I end up winning 1st set with power and serve and volley. Then the pusher cops this and starts playing high and deep over the net. This leads to me getting frustrated as I like "proper" ground stroke tennis. Sometimes I limp to a cagey win or Sometimes I lose in 3 sets, through beating myself as I try to force the game. I feel your pain when you lose to someone you know you should put away.

[@barbarapenge7409]

I’d love to see some running plays for doubles, too.

[@Piggy123407]

Great explanation of the inside and outside groundstrokes! Thank you. My question is when can we hit the outside down to the line?

[@JimKirk1]

Great video, but quick question: how much would this strategy/play change for a left-hander like myself?

[@macprocm]

That is fantastic thank you 🙏 This play helped me fantastic today.. awesome

[@danielscott4514]

One simple tip to add to the great advice in this video. Remember to take note of whether your opponent is left or right handed - you feel pretty silly when you're part-way into a set and you finally figure out why all the balls you hit to the backhand side are coming back so strong and consistent. **ahem** ... speaking from experience there.

[@williamhock5603]

The "singles playbook" sounds like something Barney Stinson would come up with lol

[@bobpeterson7176]

Great video! I've seen this lesson before and even have the home run in the playbook but it didn't click before now. Two nights ago I'm playing and having the exact same conversation with myself that you were. Truth be known he is a more accurate hitter than me but I am faster and more mobile but he always gets me out of position. Driving me nuts! I even have the advantage because I'm a lefty and he's a righty. All the sudden this info/strategy clicks. I now see that I have a tendency to hit the wrong low percentage shot at the wrong time giving him the advantage....or the point because of an error. Pushers drive me nuts.

[@eddieteabagify]

Aggressive baseliner

[@bartekbutcher]

Awesome, I will try this against a pusher in my club 🎾

[@johniii8147]

Practice and a live opponent when it matters are completely different things

[@alextanasoiu]

Great play explanation!! Problem arises when villain is Nadal and he goes and smashes down the line shoots from an outside ball :D

[@gazoller]

I'm going to try this in my next match (tomorrow).. if it works, I'm buying your Singles Playbook.

[@gazoller]

Result: Playing against someone who regularly beats me... It took me a few games to get the hang of it (and break old habits) but I came back from behind to win - so I'm buying your Singles Playbook! :-) My match was much less stressful than normal because the "what" (to do) part was already defined (hero/villain play) and all I had to focus on was the "how" (execution of the shots). Thanks for the video!

[@timn4481]

the assumptions of the players going to different places is a concept that i couldnt get past. at 10:23...based on what an outside ground stroke is, what you are describing isnt that. if the villain has the time, he can make that either an inside or an outside stroke.

[@cowdesigner]

I'm so glad to stumble upon this video! Subscribed! Excellent work and easy to understand explanation. Just the kind of thinking tennis that I needed! Thank you!

[@Hansolo4427]

Nicely explained, Will. Have read a book which talks about similar concepts by Anthony Stockman, he talks about angle of deflection, playing to your strengths, pulling the ball etc... (How to hit out, get ball control and play percentage tennis). Always good to visualise this like you have, makes me actually look at tennis shots differently now!

[@mjmpeace]

Thank you - it helps me to win my last match agian an old friend, who plays much better then I for years.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

That's awesome, congrats!

[@butta73]

I.LOVE.THIS.VIDEO. I've been searching for content like this online and IRL, but I never had the right terminology..

[@wanzacharywanisa5762]

Omg it’s been so Long since I’ve seen FYb! I remember back in 2011. I bought all of your videos! Miss you lots will!

[@tomsd8656]

I heard Lendl said that Tony Roche told him "when in doubt, play aggressive". He didn't say to play safe and just push.

[@Piotr_Szyba]

The only tactic i use is Medvedev's super wide slice serve on the deuce side, which lands on the side wall :)

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

Will, does that make inside shot include inside out sword(forehand)? If an inside shot do you propose to go cross court generally? Thank you sir.

[@garyfarrow7207]

Hi Thanks for the insight. Great strategy. The video demonstrates sword to sword rallying on the deuce side with the concept of 'Outside' being the sword side. My question is - if you are rallying shield to shield (backhand to backhand) presumably the concept of 'outside' switches to being the Shield ( backhand ) side ? ie you would return the ball backhand cross court if the ball lands outside. Otherwise the strategy would suggest you are allowed to attempt a low percentage backhand down the line... which as you have pointed out is going to get you into trouble.

[@ashatola]

Enlightening and fairly obvious...once it is explained. Why has no other teaching pro mentioned plays to me in the past? They are all about technique and you're right, technique alone is not enough to win with, it just provides your opponent some nice balls to return.

[@cristianradu3801]

amazing, Will!

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks Cristian!

[@StephenWhitesdw1]

makes sense Will I didnt notice this before thanks

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

You're welcome!

[@iamatrader666]

This is called Directionals. Interesting to hear the hero villain analogy, but the technical term is Directionals.

[@Goldadon]

Federer has 2 swords

[@daptor1427]

I was thinking about Nalbandian. Unfortunately he has retired, but he had basically two forehands.

[@petarvasilev2007]

Davydenko had 2 swords too

[@mixchief]

Wawrinka’s shield is the world’s greatest sword.

[@sabinehillenmeyer3785]

Don C Federer’s backhand is a sword but his forehand is God’s ⚔️

[@tommy9755]

YASSSSS FYB IS BACK!!! 🎾🎾🎾 I struggle the most against Aggressive Baseliners, like my bro who I’ve been trying to beat FOREVER! Can’t wait to go out again and try this! 💪

[@eash_6799]

Where can I buy this book plz plz plz answer

[@mauricefrerejean8645]

Video starts at 4:25

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

Connors was tremendous with tactics. He was always working the point to get into the net.

[@coolkid5289]

I'm going to hit tomorrow. Not an official match, but will still try this technique!

[@mjw2080]

Serve & volleyer and all counters. Good explanation. Easy to understand and probably implement. Probably.

[@Kfm7]

The biggest excuse I’ve ever heard in tennis is , I didn’t play well that’s why I lost. People don’t seem to say I played well I just got outplayed . People aren’t always truthful with themselves.

[@suneanderson9952]

The home rum analogy is more about hitting beyond the point of impact vs not. Awesome video though, thanks a lot.

[@Cleveland_Rocks]

So you only change direction when they hit it to your other side. If they hit it to your back and then you can hit it across court the other way?

[@pookievanderbilt6889]

Subscribed- badass video my man

[@lucasoscar]

Im 5`7, "on my prime" my villain was Dr. Feel Good, i literally had to run extra steps to properly hit the ball and in long rallies those added up fast, now that i dont train anymore i dislike the counter-punchers... i was want the point to be over and not run anymore xD

[@johndunlap9139]

This video taught me a lot! Thank you!

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

You're welcome!

[@Tommytoolsqueezer]

a good trick i always used.. play closer to the baseline, take the ball earlier. It takes time away from yourself to not over think things

[@juanrojano7966]

Very good tactics thanks.

[@Tennis.101]

Counter puncher and slicer...especially backhand strong slicer

[@harracks]

Will, how do you think of the imaginary line with regard to running around a forehand? If someone is not hitting hard and you have time to turn a backhand inside stroke into a forehand can you walk through what that means for decision tree. It's like you're turning an inside stroke into an outside stroke in order to get to your sword, but having the option to go back cross court or redirect seems the same. Is that right?

[@lenwelch2195]

Problem with this method is that for cross court shots the player needs to get behind the ball to direct the ball back cross court. If your late to the ball you can only hit the ball straight back down the court . Net rushers use this to predict where your trying to pass them. If you arrive late to their approach shot 80 percent of the time the guy at the net will know that pass attempt will be down the line, if the player is early they have a choice - cross court or down the line. This helps the net rusher to anticipate where the pass may be going. Use the same method from baseline. If a player moves poorly , they often hit the ball down the line from where they are. They seldom hit cross court if they can’t track the ball early.

[@yboulais]

Will, this is a great video. Thank You!

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks! You're welcome :-)

[@cristianconstantinescu7264]

By the way Top Tennis Training they have a video on what tactics to use against pushers, but I say this to you: practice drills on short balls - attack + volley, that will be your winning combination 70-80% of the time. If they hit moonballs , practice forehand drive volley. The most useful tactic is the short slice backhand crosscourt to draw them to the net, but you can't use that all the time. For the rest, attacking short balls + volley is best, practice overhead shot and be ready to hit a forehand drive volley when they will hit the moonball, they always go to the moonball when they get cornered by a good baseline shot to avoid hitting a short ball (especially when they see you converting the short balls to points). Easy to say, but surprise- it takes years of practice.

[@vladfilip6068]

Nice video! Reality feels different for me, when I hit the forehand cross court to my opponents forehand it really has to be a quality shot becuase if I hit it short he is going to put me in the penality guessing mode and really stretch me (on both corners) forcing errors, where if I hit down the line a short (soft shot) and he plays the backhand shield, it's going to be a much tougher shot for him to play than the forehand shot and it will be harder for my opponent to force errors out of me, actually he can also hit weak shots from the backhand shield that let me run around the backhand and hit the forehand sword. I am a pro player and I find the backhand inside shot coming from my opponent down the line forehand a really tough shot. I find it really difficult to hit a really good cross court shot and make him stretch on the backhand side and hit the outside shot. So for me the forehand down the line is easier than the backhand cross coming from the forehand down the line. It would be really nice to have a great backhand cross from that position. Nice video again!

[@NickL0VIN]

That was amazing. Using physics at its finest! I still lose because my shots suck, but at least the physics makes sense and I can see this strategy working once I know how to hit the ball correctly. Lol.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks Nicholas! Lemme know how it goes when you run the play.

[@mixchief]

@Fuzzy Yellow Balls: I'm a bit confused. Is this "home base" tactic/play a universally applicable one, or, more useful when the opponent in fact *does* have a weaker ground stroke (side) than the other? What I mean is, there are players who have equal forehand and backhand strengths, which makes it hard for me to follow the sword and shield analogy. (edit: great channel!)

[@zishuchen8089]

Hi will, I like your video so much, and thanks a million for your kindness effort. Would you please tell me where can I get this strategy book, I am in Beijing, China.

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Thanks Zishu! You can get it on our website FuzzyYellowBalls.com

[@davidoldham5958]

Great video. Pushers, always struggled against pushers.

[@MIKATENSITY]

Excellent video

[@billhughes5662]

Great. Good step up from my standard plan, 'thump it at their backhand'.

[@rudygorgod9914]

Wow awesome sauce! As a casual player I now see why I loose to beginners...

[@fuzzyyellowballs]

Lemme know how "Home Base" goes when you try it!

[@rudygorgod9914]

@@fuzzyyellowballs tried it dear friend it worked out well, my only issue is predictability, pace and consistency, otherwise I did won my first game. (Big smile)

[@TheLukeguy7]

Incredible video top top work

[@dnomdelopez1921]

v nice play...hope to incorporate that in my game ...

[@michaelreily5607]

Where do I get that teaching board?! It’s fantastic