For those wanting to practice some deception I found it much easier if you got to the ball early, all prepared, w-a-i-i- t-e- d before striking the ball (this would give you a better idea of where the opponent is on court, especially from balls played near the front wall), then play the shot.

Deception is more difficult when you are in a running through the ball mode, as often the deception can in fact trick up the wrong player, and the ball goes straight onto the opponent's racket, drrrrrrrrr.

Back to top

Good stuff. I definitely agree that this is a highly deceptive shot. I also agree with Adz that it's not all that hard to learn. Just get on a court and practice opening the racquet face while swinging like you would for a typical crosscourt. I think the difficulty comes when trying to execute it accurately in a real game (like when applying any of the other skills we acquire in solo practice). Another similar shot by JP:

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpnRLbewDKc

 

And while on the topic of deception, I'm sure this one has been posted before, but I just can't get enough of it (esp. the first one):

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwqwQ-vszpY

 

And while I'm posting vids with JP, I like this one too (at 1:37):

 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfqRkNYqqjI

 

 And now just for fun:

 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OaDJYRPbjY

 

 Enjoy!

Back to top

Interesting post this........ I haven't read it before or seen the youtube clip.

 

Initial thoughts were that this type of shot is not really that difficult to play. It just needs some good timing and a slightly deceptive body position coupled with a tired opponent!

 

Watching closely it's the way that Nicol places his body in the previous shot that steps up the deception so well. His body position for the drop is "direct" into the corner with a closed stance (e.g. front foot forward). Then for the crosscourt fake, he changes his stance to an open stance, suggesting a twist in his body. Then he tilts his head ever so slightly to his left as he approaches the ball, and finally in mid swing he allows his racquet face to open slightly changing the face angle from a crosscourt to a drive. You can see this best by watching the top edge of the racquet and how it doesn't match the swing movement.

 

Talking the swing through in direction, it starts high then comes almost horizontally through the swing into the ball. This change in direction makes it initially look like it's going to be a crosscourt, especially with Nicol's body position being open. The racquet face opening just at the strike point changes the tradgectory of the ball into a drive, but the body position is telling "crosscourt".

 

The entire thing from start to finish is basically designed to be a short, sharp attacking crosscourt but Nicol leaves his racquet face open. Easy enough to teach........ As you approach the ball, just open the wrist more (tilt it backwards) and that opens the face.

 

Equally in a straight drive body position, a very similar wrist movement will allow a trickle-boast.

 

Adz

Back to top

I think you can get to a point where you become so focused on playing a deceptive shot, that the deception becomes obvious and the opponent reads it,

 

Maybe thats what they want you to think! It still can be deception. Your concentrating so hard on that one shot and making it obvious, the opponent think that its going to be deceptive, but it isnt! Like Disguising a deceptive shot so its actually normal if that makes any sense?

Mind games.;D

Back to top

Here is an article where David Campion has his say on deception.

Back to top

Sam - deception or not - there are only two sides the ball can go - and it then becomes a 50/50 chance.  Normally in deception (as in this video) I would advise to take the side that looks the least obvious, and that will be the deceptive side. 
Try it....try it as a player....try it as a receiver...only when you are placed in such a hidden position as this though. 
It is good to stick your head around one side, and then take off to the other side.
Try this yourself by setting up some false cues, it is good fun, especially when you trick the opponent.   Not so good when you trick yourself.

Deception or not is my point, if Nicol's opponent had guessed right (50/50 gamble) the outcome would have probably been reversed. 

Yes, it was smart work with that inside out drive by Nicol, and it has to be when in this position at the front of the court; and the receiver has to be equally as smart, mostly by taking the gamble. 

Hey, you are both right....no problem.

Back to top

I'm with Ray on this one, I think it's an incredible deceptive shot.

 

I think you can get to a point where you become so focused on playing a deceptive shot, that the deception becomes obvious and the opponent reads it, if you get me?

 

On the replay from the front wall camera, you see Nicol's head turn very slightly as he plays the straight drive, indicating he's 'watching' a crosscourt shot being played. Plus also the fact that Power was almost on his rear end after Nicol played it, I doubt that would have happened with a normal straight drive.

Back to top

shib - some excellent clips at that link.
The problem was I could not find the same clip twice in a row....found it, here is another example,  Lincou v Isklander - same situation on the backhand front corner, except a drop shot was played, and the point was not won on deception, but more the opponent had to commit early to have a chance (especially when they are both in a bunch at the front) of recovery but guessed wrongly, so again a clean winner.
So we all see things differently, where I am saying the player had plenty of options, and the opponent took a calculated guess, and was wrong.

Back to top

i have to disagree

at that level, deception is incredibly subtle.

• he plays a drop with a high backswing on shot one
• plays exactly the same backswing on the drive (second shot) except he comes across the ball a little (you can only see that from the front angle) to make it look like it could be a cross court (he may well have played a few cross courts earlier as you suggest jbs)
  
• then plays a slightly inside out drive
• he may have even started the drive slightly slower to really bamboozle him

believe me, if someone like jon power is deceived, it really is deceptive.

try playing these blokes, you never know what they are going to do half the time. they can do just about everything off every ball!

does that help you at all shib?

Back to top

jbs - I read it the same way.  There was not too much time for deception, and the footwork and swing allowed for either shot from the front, and the court was wide open for a cross court, so that was the risk Power took, a fairly safe bet normally you could say.

When this happens to you, remember there are only two sides to cover,ie left or right, so at least Power gave himself a 50% chance of intercepting the return.
Bad luck Power.

Back to top

There wasn't anything really deceptive about it and it only helped Nicol that his previous drop was tight and Power's drop was way above the tin. This gave Nicol a lot of options, so Power guessed cross-court, and Nicol just picked the straight drive. I'm guessing he set Power up with a bunch of cross courts earlier in the match.

Back to top

post a link shib

Back to top