When your opponent hits the ball to you at a high speed, your reactions need to be fast. You turn your shoulders, get your feet to the ball, and swing. If a ball is hit to you at a slower speed, the tendency is to get ready slower and also to have less of a…
Tennis is a highly intellectual and intuitive sport. The foundation for competitive play starts from an early age, and it is necessary to develop mental abilities, tennis skills and, of course, passion. These are the qualities which form a successful tennis player. Before each match a player should prepare accordingly. The right preparation will…
Earlier this spring, I received an e-mail that would completely change my life for the better. It was an email from the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) introducing their National Career and Leader Mentoring Program. The mission of the program aligned with my goals of creating a clear career plan, polishing up my…
I am very much in favor of live ball drills, playing a lot of points, games, sets, tiebreakers, and any other competitive practice situation. However, one of the best drills that I have found to get your players to swing consistently and with the same follow-through on every shot is a feeding drill. It…
There are so many ups and downs in tennis. One minute you are on top of the world, and the next you are wondering if you actually know how to play the game. Novak Djokovic came into the Olympics having won just about everything he has played (with a couple of exceptions) including the…
We’re always saying that kids grow up way too fast. Why should we let that happen on the tennis court as well? Other sports have successfully incorporated smaller- scale versions for years; why notextend that to tennis? Hear me out! Most of us crawled before we stood, stood before we walked, walked before we…
There are many things to think about during a match. If you can create some good habits with the small things you are doing, the rest of your focus can be on the “difference makers” in the match. First, always call the score out prior to serving. Make sure your opponent hears you and…
I’m giving Paul Annacone credit for this. I’ve heard him state numerous times that a player should “hit the ball aggressively to a big target”. This is a much underused strategy and one that can be extremely effective. Many players have shots with a lot of power and/or depth, and that itself is enough…
Are your best shots failing you in a match? It may be time to change tactics. Strategy and tactics go hand in hand when winning a tennis match. Strategy is an overall plan to achieve your goal, while tactics are the actions that implement the strategy. When your best efforts to win a match…
This seems like a minor detail, but it’s very important and can make or break your next shot. Many players do not assume the correct ready position when they are waiting to hit the ball. The racquet should be directly in front of you with the racquet head above the height of your hands. If you…