Come play tennis.
Because I like it when
you drive me there.
Come play tennis.
Don't think of chores
and come and play.
Come play tennis.
Teach me to put
spin on every shot.
Come play tennis.
Come and play
before I'm not here.
by junior tennis player (age 9)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Question: Is it best to attack or play safe?
As a coach, I often get the opportunity to speak to players when they've finished a match and I often ask them about their strategy. I do get some baffled looks, especially from juniors! Sometimes they admit they went on to court without any kind of plan whatsoever, even when the opponent was well known to them and even when an opponent's weaknesses were obvious! They failed to react to what went on during the match and just relied on their strokes to see them through. If they refer to the opponent at all, a few might assert that they "went after his/her backhand", but usually it's nothing more than a derogatory observation like "he's just a pusher and I can't play pushers!" or an exasperated acknowledgment of the defeat like "she was just too good!". If matches were journeys, these players were effectively nothing more than passengers.
Other players make confident assertions like "I just played my own game" or "I decided to go for it" or "I set out to play really consistent". They may have chosen their mode of transport, but these players are just passengers too.
Many players express strategy in very black and white terms. They either "go for it" and attempt to hit winners all the time or they just go out and play safe. The stats presented to viewers of televised matches reinforce this over-simplification by emphasizing the number of winners and the number of unforced errors. That implies that all the top pros adopt a policy of all-out attack, whereby they either hit their targets or they miss them. That's seldom the case. The most significant factor - the number of forced errors - is usually omitted from the stats altogether!
It's seldom appropriate to attempt to hit a winner with every shot and it's seldom appropriate to do nothing except play safe. Far better to strive to play forcing tennis, using your strengths to expose an opponent's weaknesses. Far better to deploy the right tactics to force your opponent into error or create opportunities for you to hit a winning shot.
So how can a steady player who has no weapons play forcing tennis? By varying your shots and moving your opponent around the court to elicit a mistake. By maintaining good depth to frustrate an opponent who might be tempted to take an inappropriate risk. Now, you might say that's the same as just playing safe, but it's not! The mindset is different. You're using tactics to exploit a perceived weakness.
Most players can and should use a variety of strategies and tactics, based on their own style of play, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and based on the state of the match.
At every changeover in a match, you should ask yourself two simple questions: "what's hurting me?" and "what's hurting my opponent?". If necessary, you should then adjust your tactics to avoid your own pain and increase your opponent's. That's how you play forcing tennis. That's how you get out of the back seat and take the wheel for yourself during a match. That's how you can get on the road to success!
from www.tennisontheline.org
Other players make confident assertions like "I just played my own game" or "I decided to go for it" or "I set out to play really consistent". They may have chosen their mode of transport, but these players are just passengers too.
Many players express strategy in very black and white terms. They either "go for it" and attempt to hit winners all the time or they just go out and play safe. The stats presented to viewers of televised matches reinforce this over-simplification by emphasizing the number of winners and the number of unforced errors. That implies that all the top pros adopt a policy of all-out attack, whereby they either hit their targets or they miss them. That's seldom the case. The most significant factor - the number of forced errors - is usually omitted from the stats altogether!
It's seldom appropriate to attempt to hit a winner with every shot and it's seldom appropriate to do nothing except play safe. Far better to strive to play forcing tennis, using your strengths to expose an opponent's weaknesses. Far better to deploy the right tactics to force your opponent into error or create opportunities for you to hit a winning shot.
So how can a steady player who has no weapons play forcing tennis? By varying your shots and moving your opponent around the court to elicit a mistake. By maintaining good depth to frustrate an opponent who might be tempted to take an inappropriate risk. Now, you might say that's the same as just playing safe, but it's not! The mindset is different. You're using tactics to exploit a perceived weakness.
Most players can and should use a variety of strategies and tactics, based on their own style of play, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and based on the state of the match.
At every changeover in a match, you should ask yourself two simple questions: "what's hurting me?" and "what's hurting my opponent?". If necessary, you should then adjust your tactics to avoid your own pain and increase your opponent's. That's how you play forcing tennis. That's how you get out of the back seat and take the wheel for yourself during a match. That's how you can get on the road to success!
from www.tennisontheline.org
Question: How to play a moonballer?
Players sometimes get in such a stew when they're confronted with a defensive moonballer. I hear this type of opponent described in the most derogatory terms. According to most of the victims I meet, the moonballer should not have won, doesn't play "proper tennis" and won't get anywhere in the game.
Well, tell that to Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario - amongst others!
The problem arises because dogged persistence is a relatively uncommon trait. You kind of get used to opponents who oblige you with a liberal helping of unforced errors when you offer them the opportunities. It can be very baffling to encounter a player who is resolutely intent on doing nothing more than get the ball back without making a mistake.
Let's face it, though, this opponent has no weapons and is relying on you inflicting wounds on yourself. The danger lies in your own reaction to the problem. If you become a headless chicken and select shots you never practice, adopt tactics you never rehearse and allow yourself to be totally manipulated by a situation that really isn't all that threatening, then you will find yourself in deep water.
So, DON'T PANIC! You don't have to suddenly conjure up drive volleys in the mid-court - especially if you can only just cope with the orthodox variety. There's no point rushing the net at every opportunity - especially if lunging and jumping are anathema to you. Risking a strategy of drop shots and lobs may prove disastrous - especially if your touch is suspect. In short, if the relevant weapons are not in your arsenal, then all the conventional wisdom about playing moonballers can be discounted.
Changing tactics is only an option if you can execute the required shots with competence and confidence. And if it's not an option, tackle the problem from a psychological perspective as opposed to a tactical one.
In this case, focus on the strong points of your own game - your most reliable shots (or sequences of shots). Accept you're going to have to be a whole lot more patient than usual and accept it will take longer to construct your openings. But keep believing in your own weapons!
Keep believing even when your best shots keep coming back. Keep believing even when they appear to have no visible effect on your opponent whatsoever. After all, this type of player loves having to react and loves having to defend. Your task is to keep a positive mindset! Your weapons will gradually have an effect, albeit a drip drip effect. Persist! Eventually, you'll get a shorter ball. Eventually, you'll create space on the court for a really incisive blow.
Play according to the score. When you're 40-0 or 40-15 up, for example, you can probably afford to risk a little more. Working your feet is important too. Just because you don't need to move fast, you can get lulled into sloppy shot preparation. So keep your feet busy!
Playing a moonballer can become hypnotic. Be a bad hypnotic subject by resisting the suggestion that you should get frustrated. The ability to resist depends on belief and expectations. Make sure you're equipped with both.
from www.tennisontheline.org
Well, tell that to Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario - amongst others!
The problem arises because dogged persistence is a relatively uncommon trait. You kind of get used to opponents who oblige you with a liberal helping of unforced errors when you offer them the opportunities. It can be very baffling to encounter a player who is resolutely intent on doing nothing more than get the ball back without making a mistake.
Let's face it, though, this opponent has no weapons and is relying on you inflicting wounds on yourself. The danger lies in your own reaction to the problem. If you become a headless chicken and select shots you never practice, adopt tactics you never rehearse and allow yourself to be totally manipulated by a situation that really isn't all that threatening, then you will find yourself in deep water.
So, DON'T PANIC! You don't have to suddenly conjure up drive volleys in the mid-court - especially if you can only just cope with the orthodox variety. There's no point rushing the net at every opportunity - especially if lunging and jumping are anathema to you. Risking a strategy of drop shots and lobs may prove disastrous - especially if your touch is suspect. In short, if the relevant weapons are not in your arsenal, then all the conventional wisdom about playing moonballers can be discounted.
Changing tactics is only an option if you can execute the required shots with competence and confidence. And if it's not an option, tackle the problem from a psychological perspective as opposed to a tactical one.
In this case, focus on the strong points of your own game - your most reliable shots (or sequences of shots). Accept you're going to have to be a whole lot more patient than usual and accept it will take longer to construct your openings. But keep believing in your own weapons!
Keep believing even when your best shots keep coming back. Keep believing even when they appear to have no visible effect on your opponent whatsoever. After all, this type of player loves having to react and loves having to defend. Your task is to keep a positive mindset! Your weapons will gradually have an effect, albeit a drip drip effect. Persist! Eventually, you'll get a shorter ball. Eventually, you'll create space on the court for a really incisive blow.
Play according to the score. When you're 40-0 or 40-15 up, for example, you can probably afford to risk a little more. Working your feet is important too. Just because you don't need to move fast, you can get lulled into sloppy shot preparation. So keep your feet busy!
Playing a moonballer can become hypnotic. Be a bad hypnotic subject by resisting the suggestion that you should get frustrated. The ability to resist depends on belief and expectations. Make sure you're equipped with both.
from www.tennisontheline.org
Friday, June 26, 2009
Navigating my way as a parent
When I played...
- Parents dropped you off and did not watch your matches
- You stayed at other people homes for neighbor island tournaments
- No one had private lessons
- The big event was States because you got a trip off island without your parents
- Parents are really involved and watch all your matches
- You stay in hotels or condos with your parents
- Everyone gets private lessons
- One of the big events is States, but your parents fly-in to watch you
- Another big event is Zonals, which cost your parents a lot of money and becomes your family vacation trip
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