Tennis can be a lonely sport. Until recently, even the pros were completely on their own during their matches. Although coaching is allowed on tour these days, the players still have the most control of how the match is played, as well as the outcome. Self coaching can be extremely helpful on the court. If…
How many times have you frantically checked (and re-checked) the forecast before a game, hoping the rain would hold off or the heatwave would break? Today, managing outdoor sports is becoming more and more like predicting the weather: a tricky and often unreliable task. Climate change is forcing society to adapt, and sports are no…
Even though the game of tennis has gotten faster and faster with players hitting the ball harder and harder, there is no substitute for good ball placement. A player who can target their opponent’s weaker shot, hit the ball to the open part of the court, and use the change of direction when the player…
Doubles seems like a very complicated game. Having four players on the tennis court definitely adds to the potential complexity of the points. However, a sound and simple strategy can help you overcome all of the chaos that you may encounter in a match. Use this basic strategy: try to get your first serve in play,…
Serving is always a rollercoaster ride. It is extremely likely that you have experienced the ups and downs of your serve during a tennis match. One minute, all of your serves are going in and are very effective, and the next minute you can barely swing your arm and get the ball to land in…
Most good players have a plan when they step on the court. Usually it is a combination of what they do well, and something that they believe will be effective against this specific opponent. The top players will try to play the first point of the match like this. As the match goes on, it…
Every time I hit the ball as a young player, I was trying to win the point. My serve, my return of serve, the first shot after the serve and return, were all hit trying to keep my opponent from hitting the ball back. I never even realized this was happening. My competitive instincts did…
If you are looking towards your opponent when playing a match, you can see most, or all, of the court with your peripheral vision. As the ball is coming towards you, the amount of the court that you can see gets smaller. This is one of the reasons why we have such a hard time…
There is no cookie cutter recipe to create the perfect player. Each player’s strokes are different, their style is different, their mentality is different, and even their movement is different. It is important for a coach to let the player develop along the lines of their own individual characteristics. If a coach can give a…
Almost everyone who plays the game of tennis has one baseline shot that they prefer. Most players favor their forehand, but as the level of the player increases, many develop stronger backhands. Regardless of which shot you would rather hit, you can use the other shot to help set up the point. The first step…