In this format, look how easy it is to shift to another pair of options. The first change will be, drop shots and lobs and then, to either hitting hard or soft.
Now, last change we will make is hitting with power or more control. In other words, hitting hard or soft.
Let's finish this section with a quick trip, back in time to the 1996 U.S. Open, tour player and former collegiate star Scott Humphries was playing a tough early-round match. At a critical point towards the end of the second set, Scott's opponent hit a short, high "sitter", exactly what Scott would have hoped for. The ball bounced just inside the service line, was sitting there, waiting and asking to be put away. Scott moved in to win the point, to break serve. Unfortunately, he hit the ball out of the court. Scott screamed, "Make up your mind."
Now, let's go on in time a little bit because a few years later, I ran into one of Scott's former college coaches in an airport. He shared with me, that Scott was so talented. He had the ability to hit a huge variety of shots on any given ball. Unlike many players, he could take a high bouncing sitter and hit it with power to either corner or turn it into a deadly drop shot.
The downside was that Scott had so many choices that he sometimes had trouble deciding which shot to hit. And in that particularly ill-fated moment of the U.S. Open in 1996, Scott's talent turned against him. He had too many choices and couldn't make up his mind. After missing the shot, he became so disappointed. He went on to lose the match.
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