How To Hit The Drop Shot Like Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest ever world number 1 in men's tennis when he won the US Open at 19 years old. The Spanish prodigy has become one of the most popular figures in the sport now. His drop shot, in particular, has become a signature shot of his and is something many players try to replicate.

The drop shot is a powerful and useful tool for any tennis player. It can be used as an offensive weapon or defensive tactic when you need to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm and control the point. In this post, I'll give some pointers on how you can hit the drop shot like Carlos Alcaraz.

Undetectable Grip Change

One of the reasons Alcaraz is the drop shot king is his grip technique. With no obvious grip change, he is able to hide the shot's intention. When you plan to hit the drop shot, do make sure that your grip change is not obvious.

Execute The Drop Shot On Slow And Medium Paced Balls

If you pay attention, you can see that Alcaraz typically attempts to execute a drop shot when the ball's speed is slow to medium, as this makes controlling the shot a lot easier. The drop shot works ideally when returning slower balls, not fast ones. Control is key. You should not attempt to hit the drop shot on fast balls.

Unique Forehand Inside-Out Drop Shot

Alcaraz has a unique and sneaky habit of using the forehand drop shot inside-out. This type of drop shot catches the opponent by surprise, leading to effective results. You will need good footwork to position yourself well to execute this shot.

Incorporate The Forehand Inside-In Drop Shot

Not only does Alcaraz have the unique inside-out forehand drop shot, but he is also able to execute the more common inside-in drop shot should his opponent begin to handle his inside-out drop shots. Remember to use different types of drop shots in your games.

Aim Away From The Sidelines

Alcaraz typically avoids hitting his drop shots too close to the sidelines to provide himself with more margin for error. Players often try to execute their drop shots too close to the sidelines and as a result, tend to hit the ball out of the court. When you hit the drop shot, you do not necessarily need to win that point outright - it is good enough to get your opponent scrambling to return the shot so that you can hit a winner following that.

Master The Classic Backhand Down-The-Line Drop Shot

Alcaraz is a master of the backhand down-the-line drop shot. He is able to execute it with great disguise, just like Djokovic. When you are learning the drop shot, the backhand down-the-line should be the first one you try to master, as it is the easiest to execute.

Approach The Net After The Drop Shot

After hitting the drop shot, Alcaraz might move to the net to play a volley on his opponent's return. He has the option to hit a winner with a sharp angled volley, or even lob the ball over his opponent. Instead of remaining at the baseline to hit a groundstroke, remember to try approaching the net to finish off the point with a volley.

The drop shot is a great way to surprise and disrupt your opponent’s rhythm. Carlos Alcaraz has mastered the art of executing this powerful shot in different situations, making him one of the best players in tennis today. By following his example and incorporating some of his techniques into your game, you can become a better player yourself. Some key tips include changing your grip subtly so as not to give away your intentions, aiming away from the sidelines for more margin of error, mastering backhand down-the-line drop shots, using forehands inside-out or inside-in shots when needed, and approaching the net after hitting drop shots.