How to Beat a Moonballer

If you play junior tennis long enough, you will face a moonballer. They hit high looping balls with lots of margin, stay patient, and seem perfectly content letting you make the mistake. It can be frustrating, especially for players who like to play aggressively.

The biggest mistake players make is assuming a moonballer is playing poor tennis. They are not. They are playing a style designed to test patience, footwork, and decision making. Beating them requires discipline and a plan.

Stop rushing the point.
Moonballers want you to end points quickly. The more impatient you become, the more effective their game becomes. You have to accept longer rallies and understand that winners will be harder to come by. Your goal is not to finish the point fast but to build it correctly. If you cannot stay patient for ten to fifteen balls, you are playing into their hands.
Take the ball earlier.
High bouncing balls are dangerous when you let them drop too low. They push you back and force late contact. You need to either take the ball on the rise or move back enough to hit it at shoulder height with control and margin. What does not work is drifting backward while swinging late. Early contact keeps you balanced and prevents the rally from turning defensive.
Use heavy topspin, not flat power.
Trying to flatten out high balls is a low percentage strategy. Moonballers rely on that mistake. Instead, you should use heavy topspin, aim higher over the net, and focus on depth. You do not need to hit hard. You need shape, margin, and consistency. Deep balls with spin do far more damage than rushed flat shots.
Attack the short ball decisively.
Moonballers eventually leave a short ball, but many players waste it by hesitating. When the ball lands inside the service line, you must step in and commit to your shot. Aim crosscourt with margin and intent. Half attacking is worse than not attacking at all. A weak approach gives the opponent time to reset the point or throw up an easy lob.
Use the net strategically.
Coming to the net can be very effective against moonballers, but only when it is done on the right ball. You should come forward behind a deep approach, a ball that pulls them wide, or a short ball you can control. Most moonballers are far more comfortable rallying from behind the baseline than hitting passing shots on the run. Moving forward takes away their time and preferred contact height. When you do come in, you should always be ready for the lob. Recover quickly after your approach, keep your feet active, and be prepared to turn and move back. You do not need perfect volleys. Good positioning and anticipation are usually enough to force errors.

Beating a moonballer is not about hitting harder. It is about playing smarter. Patience, footwork, early contact, and margin win these matches. Once you understand that, moonballers stop being frustrating and start becoming very beatable.