Tennis players at all levels of the game tend to develop their own unique swing. We see similarities in players’ swings and shots but there are very few (if any) that are exactly the same. The professional players have many things in common (shoulder turn, early point of contact, etc.) but when comparing, there are…
The courts at Wimbledon have changed significantly in the 21st century. The grass used to be thicker, slicker, and actually a different type. This has enabled the baseline players to play more defense, get more balls back in play, and then be aggressive once they get into the point. They can basically play similar to…
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…
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 not allow me to follow the idea to hit the first few shots to set up the point. As a result, I lost to a lot of players who were…
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…