General talk about software patterns

["Mike Beedle" <beedlem AT e-architects.com>]

Tennis Patterns (draft)
-----------------------
(Text Version)

By Mike Beedle

My family is a “tennis family”, so I was forced to play tennis since I was
six.  I now sincerely thank them:  what a gift!!!

Since that time (some thirty six years), I came to know a few things about
tennis that much to my amazement I have never seen published.

Here are some of them.

I invite all tennis players out there to test these patterns and or
contribute to refine this work.

Table of Contents

1. General Patterns
2. Singles Patterns
        2.1 Server
        2.2 Returner
3. Doubles Patterns
        3.1 Server
        3.2 Netter on Serving Side
        3.3 Returner
        3.4 Netter on Returner Side
4. Tennis Etiquette
        4.1 Player
        4.2 Observer


1. General Patterns
-------------------

In Front of You
All tennis strokes have at least one common flaw, when the ball is hit at
the same level or behind the player, the player has much less visibility and
control over the ball.

Therefore,

Hit all tennis balls in front of you.  Hit serves, ground-strokes and
volleys in front of you and you will get extra pace and control.


>From Low to High
All tennis ground-strokes, except slices, solve a common problem:   they get
the ball from one side of the court to the other side through parabolic
motion.  However, a common problem among players is to have either a flat
(close to zero degree) or negative angle on their shots.

Therefore,

Hit all ground-strokes, except slices, from low to high.  This will
accomplish two things:  It will give your shots a starting positive angle
for the parabolic motion and when you combine it with some acceleration it
will give your ground-strokes some top-spin.


Accelerate Through
All shots are controlled through an applied force through the ball.  If the
ball simply impacts the racquet at a constant speed, the resulting collision
is more influenced by Newton’s third law (to every action corresponds a
reaction), than by Newton’s second law (momentum change is proportional to
force).

Therefore, 

Accelerate through the ball in the direction you want the ball to go.  It’s
not a collision, act with a force!!  Don’t let the ball from the other side
take action on your racquet, take action and control the ball!!!


Hit to the Hole in the Court
Even unfitted players can hit a good shot if the ball is close by them

Therefore,

Hit the ball to the “hole in the court”.  If the player just returned a wide
serve on the deuce court, make him hit a shot on the add side.  If the
player stays behind the baseline, make him hit a drop-shot, if the player is
too close to the net hit a lob.

Example:  Martina Hingis.


“Play it Safe” Wins Most of the Time
Most matches are lost on “unforced errors”

Therefore,

Play it safe most of the time.  Hit percentage serves, ground-strokes and
volleys at least 1 foot away from the lines.

Example:  Andre Agassi.


Focus on the Ball
Lack of concentration is one of the most common causes of loosing points, 

Therefore, 

Focus on the ball, even before the point is started.  Follow the bounces
from the server on the other side, the toss, the serve, and every stroke.


Read You Opponent
Knowing where your opponent is going to hit the ball is how the problem of
hitting the next stroke is started

Therefore, 

Start the anticipation by reading your opponent’s racquet, her stance, her
motion, her swing, and by knowing her patterns.  After a couple of games
most players have shown their favorite moves.

Keep Same Direction on Hard Shots
Changing the direction of the ball dramatically is hard,

Therefore, 

Don’t change the direction of the ball that much unless you have good
control of the ball, if the ball is harder than usual simply return back to
where it came from.


Extra Aides
Distractions, hunger, de-hydration or excessive sweat can cause rapid
deterioration on one’s games

Therefore,

Be prepared and bring at least one extra racquet, extra shirts, extra socks,
hand sweat bands, towels, hydration drinks with sugars and carbs (like
Gatorade).  The extra prepared will also have scissors (to cut strings on
racquets with broken strings), band-aids, tape, extra grips and/or
over-grips, pain-killers, etc.



2. Singles Patterns
-------------------

2. 1 Server
-----------
Get the Ball in Play
As a server, you have a main problem to solve:  get the ball in play

Therefore,

Regardless of the kind of serve you hit, get the ball in play.  Aces are
great, second serves with a kick or a slice are great, but the worst you
can’t do is a double fault.  I can’t tell you how many times a match I
played got decided (to my advantage), with a “weak serve” that just went in.

First Serve In
Double faults one of the worst ways to “give away” a point to your opponent,

Therefore,

Avoid double faults by getting your first serve in.  Hit 80% of your first
serve to accomplish this.  This is better than a %100 of an ace that just
missed the line.  It is also better than a weak second serve.  And it is
much better than a second fault.


Serve Variety
If you opponent can predict your serve he can get better prepared for it and
master with enough practice his return,

Therefore,

Vary your serves.  Hit a first flat too the T.  Then hit spin to the body.
 In the next point, hit a wide serve, then a spin to the T.  If you combine
this with Serve to Weakness your opponent is going to have a very hard time
knowing what you will do next.  Remember, most matches are won by holding
serve. 

Example:  Roger Federer.


Serve to Weakness
You want to win your serve and the returner has an obvious weak point, 

Therefore, 

Attack his/her weakness more (See Serve Variety above.)  For example, if he
or she can’t hit a backhand, serve most serves to his/her backhand.  After
the weak return, you will have control of the point, where you can start one
of Tire your Opponent Side to Side, Tire your Opponent Back and Forth, Go
for the Kill on Opportunities.

Just to keep it unpredictable, hit a few serves to the body or to his/her
fore-hands.  Chances are, they will miss most well-placed serves other than
the backhands because they will be prepared and expecting a backhand…. But
you will surprise them.

Example:  Pete Sampras.




2.2 Returner
------------
Return to Weakness
The server has the advantage after the point gets started.

Therefore,

Remove or compensate this advantage by returning to her weakness.   If the
server has problems with deep loopy top-spin backhands, return this way (if
you can!), that way you can take the control away, and start dictating play.
 All you need is one weak shot from the server, after that you will be in
control of the point!!!

• If they server doesn’t have mobility, hit a cross court return wide. 
• If the server has a hard time moving up and down, hit a drop shot, and
then a lob. 

You are not trying to hit winners, just shots your opponent has problems
with.  After Return to Weakness, you will have control of the point, where
you can start one of Tire your Opponent Side to Side, Tire your Opponent
Back and Forth, Go for the Kill on Opportunities.

Example:  Andre Agassi.


Return to middle of the court to Base-Liner on hard first serves.
When the server hits over 100 mph serves, you have a problem – no, you have
big problem specially if they are well-placed!!

Therefore, 

Simply, get the ball back in play to the middle of the court specially if
your opponent is stays in the back.  

There are several reasons to do this:  first of all, you are not in the
position to dictate play with a strong serve.  You opponent is in the
position of control so your best shot is simply to control the shot and get
the ball back.  But this maybe enough to win the point – a hard hitting
server often struggles to get in position after hitting a big serve, she
will be surprised most of the time to see a ball coming back, and often will
over-react and try to hit a winner off your return.

Example: Bjorn Borg.


Return Low, to the side, or a lob to Serve and Volley players
If you are playing a serve-and-volley player, you unfortunately have a
problem:  your opponent is trying to finish the point fast with first volley

Therefore, 

Return low, to the side or a lob, and let her try to hit a winner out of
these shots -- if she can!!  In many cases, if she over-reacts she will miss
the “killing volley”.

If you opponent is a better player she will “place” the volley – typically
to the other side of the court.  If that’s the case, at least you have
another shot at passing her with a ball that has less pace than her serve. 
Also the better your opponent is the less lobs you should hit, as these
shots must be “perfect” with a 5.0+ player to be effective.

Example: Justine Henin-Hardenne


Split-Step on Serve Sound
It is hard to get moving on a serve,

Therefore, 

Split-Step when you hear the serve being hit.  People in motion stay in
motion!!!


Rallies
Get a Rhythm:  Cross-Court Rally
Anytime during the match where you feel you are not in control of your shots
you have problem.  This may have been caused by several things:

• You were too greedy and were going for too much and now have missed
several shots in a row. 
• You are a serve and volley player and have not hit a ground-stroke for 3
games and now you are uncertain what will happen if you have to hit one
again 
• Your opponent has made several errors in a row, you have won many points,
but now you are feeling “out of the game” and falling with her game 
• Etc. 

Therefore,

Get the rhythm back, start the safest of all rallies a cross-court rally. 
If you were missing shots you will gain confidence with every ground-stroke.
 If you opponent was missing shots, most likely she will continue to loose
points.  As you regain confidence, you can move the ball around or hit it
harder; the main here is to get the rhythm back.

Example: Stephi Graff, 


Tire your Opponent Side to Side
You have a problem if your opponent is not running because she may hit the
ball “too comfortably”.  This may mean better placed shots, harder shots, or
simply getting the ball back from the other side,

Therefore,

Control play and tire your opponent from side to side.  Put them through the
test.  Can they hit a running forehand.  Good!!  Let’s see if they can hit a
running backhand.  Oh, they got, ok, well let’s try another forehand.  As
they get tired they will often give you a bouncy ball by the T.  Now you can
Go for the Kill on Opportunities !!!

Example: Bjorn Born, Andre Agassi

 
Tire your Opponent Back and Forth
Same as above, if your opponent is not running because she may hit the ball
“too comfortably”.  This may mean better placed shots, harder shots, or
simply getting the ball back from the other side,

Therefore,

Run them back and forth.  On a good opportunity during a rally, a shorter
ball, or if you are an expert, a weaker shot to the baseline, hit a
drop-shot.  If they get it, lob them, if they get it, hit another drop shot.
 Nothing will tire more a tennis player than back and forth motion.  It is
often said than the turning point in may pro matches is a couple of balls
back and forth.

Example: Martina Hingis, Guillermo Coria


Balanced Offense is the often the best Defense
If you are not attacking your opponent they may attack you – this is a
problem:  they will be in control.

Therefore,

Always be on a Balanced Attack.   A Balanced Attack is simply a shot that is
good but it is not great:

• A harder shot but without missing the court 
• A well placed-shot without missing the line 
• Having a player on the move (side to side, or back and forth), but within
1 foot of the sidelines or baseline 
• Etc. 

Example: John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras


Go for the Kill on Opportunities
Hitting winners from any shot given to you is hard;

Therefore,

Set the winners up.  When congratulated on winners Bjorn used to say: 
“Well, it really was the 20 shots before the winner forehand what allowed me
to hit that shot.”  And the same goes with Serena, Andre and thousands of
other players.  It is not the winner on and by itself:  it is the hard work
to set it up.

Example: Bjorn Born, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams


Hit Behind the Running Man
Hitting winners from is hard but when your opponent is on the run there are
special circumstances

Therefore,

Hit the ball to the hole that your opponent is running away from.  This shot
is even more effective if you hit it in the opposite direction your opponent
is running away from but "just to the hole left out" is often good enough.


3. Doubles Patterns
-------------------

3.1 Server
----------
Serve to Backhand’s Returner on the T
To hold serves is to win in tennis, 

Therefore, 

Attack to the hardest shot in tennis:  a backhand return from the T.  Why is
this shot hard?  Because ground-strokes are easier to hit to their “natural
cross-court”.  If you are right-hand player and your are playing deuce, when
your opponents serve you a backhand serve to the T, it is very hard to hit
“away” from your body and cross-court because your natural motion is going
to try to hit a ball down the line.  It takes extra motion to even setup
your feet correctly, and in most cases that’s all you need to win the
point.  However, the forehand variant of this shot is not true in most
cases.  Most players can and will hit an open-stance forehand cross-court
away from the body.

Most players below 5.0 either miss this shot, or return a weak return.  Only
extremely good players with outstanding backhands can return this shot
well.  If combined with variety this shot is a good first choice.

Serve Variety
(same as in singles) but with the caveat that a serve to the T is easier to
pouch by the netter in the middle of the court.  And a wide serve is easier
to pouch by the netter as a down the line to the alley shot.

Serve to Weakness
(same as in singles) but with the caveat that a weak return might simply be
a floater to the netter.


Serve Wide Occasionally if Player doesn’t have good Mobility
You want to win your serve against players that don’t move well,

Therefore, 

Try a wide serve on players than don’t move well.  In doubles you are
typically standing between the middle of the court the end of the court (the
alley), therefore it is much easier to hit wide serves.  However, use these
serves judiciously, if the returner “gets” this pattern, they will close in
and hit a cross-court return, which is easier an easier return than one from
a Serve to Backhand Return from the T.

Serve, Split-Step, Move to the Net and Volley (on both serves)
Most double points are won at the net, so if you are serving you must find
your way over there.

Therefore,

Serve, Split-Step, Move to the Net, and Volley.  The return is probably
coming back to you so Volley the Ball to the Netter on High Balls, or Volley
the Ball to the Baseliner on Low Balls.


Server Tells the Netter where he is Going
In doubles not knowing what your server partner is doing is a problem,

Therefore,

Tell the netter what you are doing and what you will expect from him:  “I am
going spin to the body on the first.  Look out for a floater.”  Or, “I am
going wide, cover the alley”, etc.  If you are not talking, you are not
really playing doubles.


Play Australian for Variety
The more predictable is your serve, the easier it will be to break you,

Therefore,

At least in a couple of games, try Australian (where your partner is
standing on your side of the court), and then he can pouch (to his side of
the court!) of not (say on your side).  This works well, specially if you
have rehearsed and practiced this position and you can just say to your
opponent “Australian”, and he can Signal The Server.

I-Formation for Variety
(same as above) but your partner is standing low or kneeling in the middle
of court.

3.2 Netter from Serving Side
----------------------------
Signal the Server
You want to throw off your opponent at the very last minute,

Therefore, 

Signal the Server you are going or staying or faking.  This typically
happens when the Server Tells the Netter where he is Going did not happen.


Cover Alley if Your Partner serves Wide
A special situation or problem occurs when the server goes wide, because the
alley is now open,

Therefore,

Whether you have made plans or not (Server Tells the Netter where he is
Going, Signal the Server) cover the alley.  This overrides anything planned.


Pouch if your Partner serves to the T on a first serve
A special situation or problem occurs when the server hits the T on a first
serve, because the returner is now going to have a lot of problems returning
that ball,

Therefore,

Pouch even if you had previous plans (Server Tells the Netter where he is
Going, Signal the Server).  The netter should be the preferred person to
take floaters or weak returns and put them away.


Switch if Returner Lobs
A special situation or problem occurs when the returner hits a lob above
you,

Therefore, 

Switch (go to the side of the server, and let the server take care of the
lob), usually with another lob or passing shot to the base-liner.


Hold the Extra Ball
The server has to concentrate and get his serves in, 

Therefore, 

Hold the Extra Ball, that way if it is a “let” i.e. a ball that hits the net
but goes in, you can help your partner in not loosing her concentration
while another ball is found.


Split-Step on Serve
Moving towards the ball while you are waiting for a return is hard,

Therefore,

Split-Step on Serve, this allows you to move better in any event:
• Server Tells the Netter where he is Going 
• Signal the Server 
• Cover Alley if Your Partner serves Wide 
• Pouch if your Partner serves to the T on a first serve 
• Switch if Returner Lobs 


3.3 Returner
------------
Return Cross-Court if netter is not Pouching
As a returner you have one basic problem:  get the ball in play

Therefore,

Do the easiest thing possible, return cross-court to a non-pouching netter.


Return with Lob or go down the line if Netter is Pouching
If the netter is moving, you have a problem,

Therefore,

Hit the ball away from her:  lob her (to her backhand) or go down the line.

Cover the cross-court volley for down the line returns
You have a problem if you just hit a down the line return but the netter
didn’t move,

Therefore,

Cover the cross-court volley, 90% of the time that’s where her volley is
going to go to.


Tell the Netter what you are doing
Communications is important in returning as well, if you partner doesn’t
know what your doing you might loose the point, or … in the worse case
scenario get hurt ;-)

Therefore,

Tell the return netter what you are doing, like:  “I am going cross court”,
“I am going to lob”, “I am going down the line”, etc.  If you don’t know
beforehand just play the point.

Chip and Charge
As above, as a returner you have one basic problem:  get the ball in play,
but there are many ways to accomplish this,

Therefore, use this alternate way,

Chip and charge!  By this I mean, step closer to the serve, and simply chip
or slice the return cross-court.  This will take time off the server to get
prepared and at the same time allow you to move in the net.  If you chip is
low, most likely someone is going to hit that ball up…. That’s when you hit
a winner volley to the middle of the court.

Move to the Net
Most balls in doubles are won at the net,

Therefore, 

Move to the net at any time during the point.  The earliest you do it, the
better chances you have to win the point.


3.4 Netter on Return Side
-------------------------
Pouch on Good Return
Your partner just hit a great return, that is either hard or low,

Therefore,

Be looking for a ball coming up and pouch for a winner.


Call the Serves
For the point to start someone has to make the final decision to call the
serve,

Therefore, 

Call the serve.  Be quick, loud and honest.  You, as the Netter from the
Return Side, are the only player with vision perpendicular to the ball that
can watch the service line.  It is your job to call the serves!!!

Split-Step on Return
It is hard to get your legs moving when your partner hits a return, 

Therefore, 

Split-Step on the sound of your partner’s return.


Double Volley Rallies
(Anti-Pattern) Base-Line Rallies
An experience team will always avoid this situation.  For once the guy at
the net should pouch the ball on the very first opportunity.


Volley to the Middle between the Players
Finishing a doubles point is hard, you want a safe but effective shot,

Therefore,

Try to hit your volley between the players.  First of all, chances are you
are not going to miss wide or long.  And if you miss slightly either way, a
player will hit the ball back, but if you hit it right in the middle… most
likely it will be a safe winner.  That is textbook tennis, by the way.


Volley the Ball to the Netter on High Balls
A special situation or problem occurs when the ball is coming high and one
player is still back,

Therefore,

Hit a high ball to the feet of the person at the net.  They have less time
to react, and a difficult time bending over to catch the shot.  (If you hit
this shot to the guy in the back he has time to react to it.)

Volley the Ball to the Baseliner on Low Balls
A special situation or problem occurs when the ball is coming low and one
player is still back,

Therefore,

Hit a low ball to the person in the baseline.  Basically, your shot will be
going up, and you don’t want to give a high ball the guy at the net.  The
best you can do is give this shot to the baseliner, who you may force to
stay back, or hit a ball “on the run”.

4. Basic Tennis Etiquette (Rules)
---------------------------------

4.1 Player
----------
Wait for Your Opponent to be in Position Before you Serve
Wear Tennis Clothes on Tennis Courts
Don’t Argue Out Loud on Tennis Courts (If necessary talk to the opponent
outside the court)
Limit Grunts to First Serves -- you are out of etiquette if you grunt on
every shot!!!)
Give First Serve to Opponent if a Ball or anything else runs into the Court

4.2 Observer
------------
Don’t Talk or Scream While Ball is In Play
Don’t Walk, Run or Move While Ball is in Play
Don’t Clap to Missed Shots like Faults and Balls Out
Don’t’ Open the Court Doors while Ball is in Play
Don’t Stand or Sit (if possible) behind Players