Coaching

One of the most important qualities of a good tennis player is their ability to figure out where the opponent's shot is going. Recognizing the direction and depth of the shot that was just hit enables the player to react quickly and reply with a shot that is as good, or better, than the shot they...Read more

With a few exceptions, once a player steps on the tennis court for a match, they are pretty much on their own. However, each player has a support team. The team usually consists of their parents, multiple coaches, a physical trainer, and sometimes even a sports psychologist. If a player is lucky...Read more

I have often mentioned that tennis has become a power game, basically at all levels. The equipment is better, the players are better, and the ball is going faster. This makes us want to try to hit the ball through our opponents. A better idea is to hit two or three deep shots at your normal speed,...Read more

I see many tennis players standing straight up and with their feet close together when standing in the ready position. Try keeping your feet at least shoulders width apart and knees bent. This will give you a much better chance of reacting quickly to your opponent's shot. A wide stance improves...Read more

Faulty second serves, shaky volleys, careless ground strokes and anger over bad line calls may rob us of many points. However, none of these are the primary cause of why most points are lost. Our mistakes are not as costly to us as are our negative reactions to our mistakes. For most players, more...Read more

As a Developmental or High Performance Coach, it is critical we are aware of the priorities needed to be established by our players, and what areas need to be taught if our players are to become great juniors and move towards a successful career as a student-athlete in college. One of the most...Read more

Very often, a match situation can change the way we hit the ball. When a tennis player is put in a competitive situation, the tendency is to immediately prioritize, "How can I win the point, the game, the set or the match?" Unfortunately, many of the things that happen when using this idea tend to...Read more

When I began to coach tennis for a living there was definitely a lot to learn. Sure, I knew what a continental grip was, but how do you make sure your students have it when they are learning the serve? What kind of continental grip drills are appropriate to use during different developmental stages...Read more

Tennis has become an incredibly difficult sport to master. There are so many different aspects of becoming a good player: hitting the ball, strategy, fitness, and learning how to compete are just some of them. Most players take a lot of private lessons to get the fundamentals of their game to...Read more

I know grips are a big topic of discussion for tennis teaching pros. There are textbook grips assigned to most shots and accepted by the majority of tennis professionals. When teaching a "new" player, I try to stick close to the recommended grip. However, the more time a player spends on the court...Read more