Mater professional Dave Sivertson taught me that there are two basic ways players approach the game of tennis. The first is the player who is out there for fun and excitement. The second player is the one who wants to win. They are both fine, you just have to make a choice. The truth is, that hitting winners is overrated, and the player with the least unforced errors will usually win. After several years of charting this theory at many levels of the game, it rings true. My students learn how to play tennis, not just from a physical and shot-making standpoint, but also from the mental side. I want my students to become thinking tennis players and have fun doing it.
Winning at the club level is not about having the most talent or hitting the best shots. Winning is about recognizing that the game is made up of simple concepts and approaches that statistically will allow you to win more points than your opponents.
1. It’s about having a limited number of reliable tools/shots that are dependable and that can be reproduced when needed.
2. It’s about knowing what the right shot to play is, where you want to play it, and why you want to play that shot.
3. It’s about being in the right position, knowing how you are going to get there, and knowing why you are there.
4. It’s about understanding that pressure is a factor in your strokes, and shot selection and court position are as important as hitting an effective shot that you play points differently based on the score, and that players have tendencies that make them predictable.
Tennis is truly the sport of a lifetime and if you like to win, follow these simple rules. Most importantly, have fun.
"Thank you for the clinic today. I had so much fun! Having you as a coach and playing tennis has been one of the greatest joys of 2022 for me."
Kacey -