Tennis Versus Competitive Tennis

Discover the real differences

December 5, 2016 | By Xavier Luna
Tennis_Handshake_Credit_gpointstudio
Photo credit: gpointstudio

Many young players are baffled when their practice play doesn’t translate well to competitive play or to their performance during tennis team tryouts. What’s happening?

A player may tense up on the big stage, with anxiety and nervousness that increase in direct proportion to the stakes of the game. There is also the possibility that the player has not been practicing correctly. As the old saying goes, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”

If you want to earn a place on the school tennis team or perform well in tournaments or other competitions, now is the time to reevaluate the way in which you practice.

The benefits of practicing match play
There are a host of reasons match play appeals to coaches and helps you in your overall tennis game.

Practicing match play:

►Match play shifts the focus to scoring. Standard tennis practice and tennis drills focus solely on technique.

Match play can simulate a game-like atmosphere when you play a best-of-three sets match and abide by USTA time limits for changeovers and time between points.

Match play broadens your experience by taking you beyond your usual settings and opponents.

Match play can gives you the opportunity to compete in flex leagues and in individual tournaments.

Match play provides a much valuable more experience, while shortening the learning curve.

Match play builds confidence that you can apply in tryouts and during competitions.

Match play helps you adapt to the level of play you need when the stakes are high.

Take a closer look at how you practice today. Including match play in your practice regimen will leave you better prepared to enjoy a higher-level game … and win!


Xavier Luna
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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