Thoughts Before, During and After a Match

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  • Know your rally speed for % tennis. Find the most comfortable, consistent shot that you can always depend on… the “no unforced error shot.”
  • HIT THE BALL ON TIME. Maintain your timing, RHYTHM & balance. Try to hit the ball at your ideal contact point.
  • An AGGRESSIVE mistake is a PHYSICAL error. A TENTATIVE mistake is a MENTAL error.
  • “PLAN YOUR PLAY AND PLAY YOUR PLAN”. What are your tactics? Think tactically not technically as you “play your plan”.
  • MATCH THOUGHTS: Play the match on your “OWN TERMS” How do you want to play this match? How do you want your opponent to play this match?
  • Keep an eye on recovering. Hit shots you can track down. Hit shots that give you the least distance to recover.
  • Offense: relies on hitting winners and forcing your opponent to gamble. Defense: is best described as winning through attrition.
  • How can you “Engage Primary Weapons”. Hit shots that force their % shot to feed your favorite stroke.
  • Play the ball, don’t let it play you. Cut the angle off and control your baseline. Remember that’s your baseline don’t let them push you off it.
  • Try to match up strategies against their weakness. How does their game relate to your style? What is their style?
  • How are you going to WIN POINTS.
  • How do you make them play an all court game.
  • Work on SHOTS that SHORTEN and LENGHTEN your BACKSWING.
  • THINK INTELLIGENTLY not emotionally at the shot.
  • Are you ahead in the point? Are you behind in the point?
  • Let’s find the error rate on: b. short and deep balls c. fast and slow balls d. wide and middle court balls
  • 3 THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL IN A MATCH the mental, the physical, the visual
  • How can you HIDE YOUR WEAKNESS
  • HOW DO YOU LIKE TO BUILD A POINT?
  • 3 THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU HIT A SHOT: miss the shot, hit a good shot, MISPLACE THE SHOT.
  • Where is the HOLE/WEAKNESS in your game?
  • SINGLES 50% of the game is out of your control. DOUBLES 75% of the game is out of your control.
  • Don’t let the GAME WITH YOURSELF be harder than the GAME WITH YOUR OPPONENT. You need not fight battles you cannot win.
  • Are you better than your opponent? Don’t forget it and don’t let them forget it.