Tip of the Week: Be a Student of the Game

There are so many resources available these days to help you improve your tennis game. Lessons, clinics, and practicing with other players are all good ways to continue to get better. However, watching other players hit or compete can also be very helpful.

There is unlimited video available on the internet (just google "tennis videos") as well as just watching the everyday player at your tennis facility. Even though you will see a lot of different styles, footwork, and even strokes, there will be some visual feedback that can help you make small adjustments to your own game and improve.

Another good resource can be found by reviewing statistics that have been compiled, and focusing on the ones that can be a difference maker in a match. Serving and returning serve statistics are the most important but also notice the average length of a point, unforced errors compared to winners, break point percentages, and many more.

Craig O'Shannessy (Brain Game Tennis) is my favorite coach when it comes to statistics. He not only provides many interesting results from matches, but also analyzes what they mean and how you can use them to help yourself when you are in a competitive situation. He offers a lot of this information for free, as well as giving you the option to go even more in depth by purchasing specific analysis that he has done.

Tennis is finally catching up to the other sports in this aspect and we all need to be better students of the game so that you (and the sport!) can continue to improve and grow.