Too Much Power?

Since a tennis racket cannot move by itself, I am not sure if there can be "too much power" in any racket.

Through playing with friend's friends, I got to meet very different folks. Many have unique and interesting strokes and swings. Some have impeccably well disguised drop shots and inside outs. Most have formidably powerful forehands.

Between the young and old, male and female partners, there seem to be a trend of over-hitting, especially during friendlies. Could this be related to the trend of very polarized, stiff rackets with high swingweights?

When engaged in deep baseline exchanges, I usually lose from "under-hitting" after a few shots. Just one short ball landing around their service line, and I'm done for. How should I engage these chaps armed with nuclear-powered sticks? 

I changed tactics.

Power shots were "switched off". Any other type of shots were used except deep baseline topspin rallies - drops, lobs, slices and heaps of very slow-paced low-powered angled blocks to the sidelines.

Then they self-destructed.

With the momentum of their body weight behind their running forehands or backhands, coupled with their "nuclear technology" sticks, many sent their shots to the moon! Or straight to the back wall with a heavy thud!

Several times, I asked different people, that if they were to compete with Lewis Hamilton for 10 laps on a F1 circuit, with them driving a F1 car and Hamilton a stock Toyota Corolla, who would win? All were unequivocally confident that Hamilton would eat their dust! Really?

The dichotomy between power and control exists in all sports. Anyone who can truly master both reigns. Just like Bruce Lee.

For lesser mortals like myself, I would stick with low to mid powered setups to maintain control for a broader spectrum of shots.