Stuck at 3.5? The 5 Shots 4.0 Players Go After First
Stuck at 3.5? The 5 Shots 4.0 Players Go After First
You beat most 3.5s. Then a strong 4.0 spends the whole afternoon hitting the same two or three balls at you. That's not bad luck. At 4.0, opponents stop rallying with your weaknesses and start aiming at them.
Breakdown based on Peter Freeman's video (Crunch Time Coaching), plus our drills for rec players.
FIND YOUR WEAK SHOTThe short version
Continental grip. Learn a slice before a kick: no jump needed.
Wide, low, split when the server's body drives forward. Short swing, stay open.
One high, deep, topspin cross-court forehand you could make 100 times.
"Hop, hop, hit" to attack, or a low, skidding slice approach.
Continental, no swing, place it (alley or feet), finish overheads.
Why 3.5 players stall
3.5 tennis lets weaknesses survive. A tapped-in second serve, a big swing on the return, a flat-faced volley: they all still win points when the person across the net can't punish them.
Coach Peter Freeman of Crunch Time Coaching calls the five areas below "the five big rocks of tennis." At 4.0 you meet bigger serves, heavier spin and opponents who smell the weak link in a doubles team. Each rock is a shot 3.5 lets you fake and 4.0 doesn't.
Fix the one that costs you the most points first. Then work down the list.
The 3.5 to 4.0 self-check
Think about your last tough loss. Which of these kept happening? If two sound like you, start with the lower number.
1. Build a second serve you trust at 30-40
The fix is a spin second serve hit with the continental grip. Freeman sees it at clubs everywhere: 3.5 players push the second serve in with a frying-pan grip, while solid 4.0+ players almost all serve continental. That grip lets you brush the ball, and spin is what lets you swing fast and still land it.
Learn the slice serve before the kick. The kick needs an arched back, a toss behind you and usually a jump. A slice can be hit with your feet on the ground, works all the way to 4.0, and moves around the box.
Finding continental: frame edge pointing at the net, like hammering a nail with the edge. The V between thumb and index finger sits on the top edge of the handle. It'll feel weak at first. That passes with reps.
2. Return big serves with less movement, not more
Footwork isn't about running far or moving fast. It's about being specific. At 3.5 you can stand tall, shuffle and turn. At 4.0 you'll see heavy spin and, from the stronger players, serves well over 100 mph.
"The minute you turn, it's over." Stay open, keep the swing compact, use their pace.
Feet just outside your shoulders.
Get low before the serve starts.
Wait while the toss goes up. Split as the hips drive in.
A step-in hop toward the ball, or straight up.
Block and redirect. Don't load up.
3. Own one rally ball you can hit all day
The rally ball 4.0 players respect is high, deep and heavy with topspin. Freeman calls it the "ultimate rally ball." Without it you panic, go for low-percentage shots, and leave balls short for your opponent to attack.
The test is consistency, not pace. Once warm, you should feel you could make that forehand a hundred times in a row. When you can, opponents miss first, hit short, or feed your partner an easy poach.
Height and spin are your safety margin, not a sign you're playing passive.
4. Stop missing the short ball you waited for
Even top pros say short balls take huge amounts of practice. Standing still and "arming" a sitter is the easiest way to miss it.
You have two options. Freeman rates the second one higher for match play.
Attack with rhythm
Don't freeze and stare. Move up with a "hop, hop, hit" rhythm, the footwork pros use to crush short balls. Practise the footwork on its own first.
The "toenail-biter"
A low slice approach that skids and stays down. Your opponent has to get low and hit up, which hands you an easy volley. Ideal in doubles.
Our drill, approach and close: partner feeds short, you slice down the line and close for one volley. 3 sets of 8. Ball bounced above the knee? Open the face less and swing more forward, not down. Every fourth feed, attack with "hop, hop, hit" instead.
5. Volley like a surgeon, not a swinger
Strong opponents find the weaker player in a doubles team, especially when your partner is serving. A frying-pan volley won't hold up at 4.0.
Mistakes we see when rec players chase 4.0
Continental feels worse for a few weeks. Commit for a set number of sessions, matches included, before judging it.
It's the harder serve. A grounded slice gets you to 4.0 faster.
You land too early and you're flat-footed when the ball arrives.
Looks aggressive, costs you the margin. Keep the height and spin.
A death grip slows the racket on the serve and stiffens volleys. Firm enough to control the face, no tighter.
Two of the five rocks come down to one grip
Your new second serve and your new volley both live on the continental grip. Switching means finding it fast between points and holding it without strangling the handle.
That's technique first. No grip product will hit a slice serve for you. But the handle under your fingers can make the new grip easier or harder to settle into.
Octopus Tennis Undergrip
Goes under the overgrip you already use
A four-week plan for once-a-week players
60-minute sessions: 10 min warm-up, 35 min on the week's focus, 15 min of points so the new shot meets real pressure.
8-of-10 ladder.
Points: second serves only, both sides.
Shadow returns, then returns off short serves.
Points: return games, partner serves.
Cross-court count, target 40.
Points: cross-court only.
Approach and close, then feet or alley.
Points: doubles, you must come in.
After week four, retake the self-check and repeat, weighting time toward whatever still sounds like you.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a 3.5 and a 4.0 tennis player?
The biggest difference is reliability under pressure. A 4.0 has fewer obvious weaknesses and holds up when an opponent targets them, especially on the second serve, the return, the rally ball, short balls and at the net.
Should I learn the slice serve or the kick serve first?
Start with the slice. It can be hit without jumping or arching your back, it's effective up to 4.0, and it builds the continental-grip brushing motion you'll later need for a kick.
How long does it take to switch to the continental grip?
It varies by player and how often you practise. Expect the serve to feel weaker before it gets better. Commit to it in practice and matches for several weeks before deciding.
Can I keep a two-handed volley at 4.0?
Yes. Freeman suggests moving up a level is a good time to start a one-handed continental volley, but the grip and the compact, no-swing contact matter more than one or two hands.
Do I need new gear to get to 4.0?
No. All five fixes are technique and practice. Gear can make your racket more comfortable or easier to hold, but it doesn't replace reps. If you have pain while playing, see a qualified professional.
Watch Peter Freeman's full breakdown
The return footwork and "hop, hop, hit" are much easier to copy when you can see them.
Video won't play? Watch on YouTube →
Pick one rock. Start this week.
4.0 isn't five new shots at once. It's one weakness at a time that opponents can no longer find. Start with the serve and the volley, and your new continental grip does double duty.
Give that grip a handle that stays put while you rebuild it.
SEE THE OCTOPUS →- Sits under your current overgrip
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Source: "Top 5 Tennis Shots to take your game to a 4.0+" by Peter Freeman, Crunch Time Coaching (YouTube). RocketGrip is not affiliated with Peter Freeman or Crunch Time Coaching. This article summarises and builds on their publicly available video; the self-check, drills, practice plan and gear notes are ours. No endorsement implied. Images are illustrations. This article is general coaching information, not medical advice.