Pace

Pace is a term that is used extensively in tennis. You hear of players hitting with a lot of pace (aggressive hitters), or of no pace hitters (pushers) hitting the ball with very little pace. But what exactly is pace and how is it used in tennis?

Simply put, the term pace in tennis refers to how fast your shot travels after it leaves your racket. In other words, the ball speed. If you hit with a lot of pace, you are hitting the ball hard. If you hit with no pace, it means you are getting the ball back at a low speed. Pace can be used strategically during a match to control the tempo of play.

Pace is important in tennis because if you can master it, you can control the match. Players who are able to switch the pace of their shots during key moments in a match can gain an edge over their opponent.

A common strategy among no pace hitters, for example, is to hit with very little pace and then when their opponent gets too comfortable or when they are off balance or out of position, blast the ball past them, either down the line or cross court.

Fast pace hitters, on the other hand, tend to not vary the pace of their shots as much. They typically like to hit hard and win points by outpowering their opponent. However, even hard hitters can benefit from mixing up the pace from time to time to throw their opponent’s timing off.

Generally speaking, as a player you want to be the one who controls the pace of a match. Typically, this means that you want to put your opponent on the defensive by hitting hard and keeping them pinned back.

By combining this with strategic placement, you can not only overpower them but also move them around the court to your advantage. This strategy is good in principle, but often it results in overhitting balls and making unnecessary unforced errors.

If, on the other hand, you alter the pace from time to time, you can throw off the timing of your opponent, keep them guessing on how hard and fast the ball is coming at them on your next move, and increase your shot percentage.