The Jensen Zone: Tennis Made Simple
“Tennis is a simple game played by very complicated people.” That is a quote my brother Murphy uses all the time when talking about tennis.
At all levels of play, the game of tennis is more about the management of unforced errors.
It is a simple formula … make sure your unforced error number is below that of your opponent at the end of the match. It seems simple enough, but I find many players are not aware of all the unforced errors they are making.
I use video analysis on every match my players play and go over the match, win or lose, in film study sessions following the match. During the film sessions, I have the player chart their own matches and grade themselves on attitude and positive body language, as well as winners to unforced errors in the match.
Using this time has made massive jumps in my players’ awareness of what is going on during their matches. Grading them is an easy way for them to use their classroom mindset and where they are rather than the score of a match.
Pros at the WTA and ATP levels have mastered this level of play and mental approach. Pros have solid overheads and groundies. Pros do not have glaring weaknesses or massive holes in their games. The players in the Grand Slams have the next level of play and the ability to manage offense.
The Grand Slam players must navigate through the power and placement required to win at the highest level of the game. There are the power ball players that grip it and rip it. They understand there is high risk in that approach, but high reward as well.
There is the pro pusher that is using placement and precision as the weapon of choice. These players are the savvy strikers that will redirect pace to the open court or use a cut slice to disrupt their opponent.
Both are different ways to attack, but the mindset is more about what you want to do to your opponent instead of not trying to beat yourself with silly errors during the course of the match.
For you, it’s real simple … master the game of efficiency and simplicity. Don’t play the game that beats yourself. Just because the players on TV do it, doesn’t mean you should. I watch the Indianapolis 500 on TV, but that doesn’t mean I can drive 220 mph!
Let your opponent miss first in the rally and go home a winner!
Fight to the last swing!
