Impossible Dream Syndrome

This concept is so simple it seems impossible that anyone could fall prey to this syndrome, but we do. Dreaming the impossible dream means conceiving of and hitting a shot that has no prayer of ever landing in your opponent's court. For example, no amount of topspin in the world will keep a ball in play that is hit from six inches above your service line and is traveling 80 mph over your opponent's court. You should approach low, short balls with all due respect. Conversely, a ball that is higher than the top of the net when you strike it - fine, OK, give that sucker a ride. These are two completely different scenarios, but we often treat them tactically as though they are the same. The fault here is two-dimensional thinking - visualizing your shots in straight lines and angles instead of curves and trajectories. Every ball you hit follows a parabolic path from your racket to your opponent's court. The shape of that path depends on the ball's starting elevation and flight path, pace, spin, wear, weight and wind. Even air temperature and barometric pressure have significant effects. To prevent yourself from dreaming, wake up and understand the basic law of ballistics. What goes up, must come down. If you know where it starts and where it peaks, then you know where it will land. The rule is if the ball is struck at waist high and peaks 20 feet from the point of contact, in 40 feet it will be at waist height again. Wind resistance and spin change the shape of the balls flight path - slightly, but this rule of thumb is beneficial. For example, you cannot hit a drop shot that peaks over the net - it needs to reach apogee on your side, about halfway to the net.

Hello
Basic Ball Trajectory: Although there is no spin on this ball, air resistance alone changes the trajectory of the ball. Otherwise, the summit would have to be on the player's side of the net for the ball to fall in. Under-spin would erase much of that effect, so slices have to be hit close to the net and with not-too-much pace, unless the point of contact is well over the height of the net, as in a volley.
    Impossible Dream Syndrome
  • Chief Complaint
    • "Why do I keep missing that one shot?"
  • Symptoms(Sx):
    • Well hit balls go long or wide a little. Occasional net-strap balls.
    • Otherwise well hit.
  • Signs(S):
    • only certain targets and certain strokes
      • down the line on a low bouncing ball
      • extra sharp angles hit with pace
      • drop shots from the baseline
      • the 100+ mph flat fastball
        Pathophysiology(Px):
      • some shots are just not possible
        • basic ballistics (curved flight path)
        • limitations of spin
        Diagnostic Tests (Tx):
      • have you ever made the shot?
        • if not - it probably is not feasible
        • Treatment(Rx):
      • don't even try for shots that usually miss
  • Differential Diagnosis:
    • none
  • Prevention
    1. know what works
      • always aim for safe targets
      • don't get creative
      • never try for anything you haven't hit 100's of times in practice