In tennis, it’s common knowledge that you can’t just show up on match day without any prior preparation and expect to win, at least consistently, right? I mean, practically everyone who plays tennis knows that practice, even though it can be incredibly tough at times, is one of the most critical aspects for improving your game on a long term basis as well as boosting your winning percentage.

But that being said, only a select few are able to really take advantage of this time and see the real benefit. In fact, the majority of players put in the time, but only enjoy the intense sweat-drenching sensation of a hard workout without any worthwhile results.

And that’s no fun. To be honest, it actually can be quite frustrating. Have you ever felt like this?  You ever feel the “What’s the point, I’m going to lose anyway” feeling? Well, there are a few key factors behind this:

Check them out below so you can avoid it happening to you or stop the feeling dead in its tracks, not letting it bog you down ever again.

Reasons Players Fail To Achieve Adequate Results:

Reason # 1. Inadequate or Improper Coaching: In most cases, players don’t consider it of major importance to get proper coaching or the coach they employ fails to properly guide them. This can really do major damage if not caught and dealt with right away. Why?

Coaching is actually a HUGE factor, especially if you’re involved in some level of competitive tennis.  Picking the right coach for your personality as well as getting the best results out there on the court is a lot more important than many might think.  I mean, why is it that coaches like Phil Jackson of the Lakers or Pete Carol for the USC Trojans get paid such a high salary?

That’s easy. It’s because the organizations  are smart.  They know how valuable a great coach is to the success of their programs. That’s the  same reason why Andy Roddick among other players have gone through so many coaches. The top-ranked players also know the importance of a great corner man.

The coach is that team or player’s virtual backbone. He’s the one that’s going to be teaching and instilling in you the proper game-winning strategies that you need to go out there and get the victory. Not to mention, you’re the one paying. You’re the one who has something to lose, not the other person.  You’re taking a risk.

So, you don’t want to just get your friend who just started playing tennis a few months ago to be your coach. You want someone who’s been around a while, someone who’s sharp and knows their stuff.  I find the best way to find a good coach is by referral. Oh yes, word of mouth is the best. Don’t go by an ad in the newspaper, because anyone can call themselves a tennis coach; just like I can call myself and doctor. It doesn’t make it true.

So to avoid all the hassle and rip-offs, check out some of your buddies who are doing pretty well, and see who the man (… or woman) behind their consistent winning is. It’s highly likely that if your friend is seeing the type of success he wants , you will too. That, my friend, can fix your problem in a heart beat.

I’d advise you to do this, and do it ASAP. Don’t wait another minute. Because let me tell you, if you think learning the right stuff is hard, when you have to unlearn all kinds of bad habits and improper game plan components, then you’re in some major trouble.

Reason #2. Playing Without Understanding: Many players sweat a lot on the court but don’t actually understand the reasons why they’re working on certain things or why they’re even out there in the first place. They’re just blindly going through the motions.  And on top of that, the points being played out in the practice session have no game plan nor any actual strategy behind them which greatly slows down improvement.

You see, tennis is a thinking man’s game. So, it’s extremely important that you really understand what’s going on out there. That’s why, at TennisMindCamp, we focus so much on the “why” things happen and “why” you do certain things. For example, your coach my say hit the ball cross court in a particular situation, but if you have no clue as to the purpose for that specific execution, it most likely will not stick. This means you won’t use it in a live game, which means you just wasted some valuable time.

But on the other hand, once you do obtain a deep and clear understanding of the things you’re doing, you’ll feel and play a lot more fluid and a lot less mechanical. How can you do this? The first thing you want to do is make sure there is an open dialogue between you and your instructor. Don’t sit there “tight-lipped” and not say anything.

This isn’t world history class. This is tennis practice. Don’t just nod your head up and down.  You should be very vocal, and ask questions if something is unclear to you. That way, when you’re in a real game, you’ll know and understand exactly what to do and see the real value and results of your practice sessions.

Reason #3. Lack of Objectivity in Practice: You’d be surprised at the number of players in your own club who practice everything all at once. If you ask them what they’re working on, their reply will sound something like, “My groundstrokes, my volleys, my serve, my footwork, overhead strategy etc.” They rarely concentrate on improving a specific shot or have realistic goals in mind. Well, let me be the first to tell you, this type of practice is definitely NOT the way to go!

You end up trying to do too many things  in a very condensed amount of time. And as a result, you don’t spend enough time on anything at all. This means no aspect of your game is really getting the proper work and attention that’s needed and your overall game will take a lifetime to show the improvement you desire.

The players who you’ll see with the highest percentage of matches in the win column do, in fact, work on very particular areas of their game in each session.

For example, he’ll work on improving his backhand on Monday.  While, on Tuesday, he’ll be working on getting to the net and strengthening his approach shot.  This way each session is much more focused, has a lot more structure, and each part of your game will progress by leaps and bounds because of it.

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You can achieve a lot out of your practices if you know the ingredients that every session should include: Individual session goals, understanding of particulars of each practice, and adequate coaching.

And you might be saying “The good coaches are too expensive.” Don’t worry, you’re in the same boat as most of us. If you can’t afford a big-wig like Paul Annacone, no big deal.  Many coaches now actually offer payment plans which are much better on your wallet. But hey, if that still doesn’t work for you, try playing with a partner who understands the elements I mentioned.  He can help guide you, and you’ll both have a lot of fun doing it!

All the best,

Brian Hall, Head Coach
TennisMindCamp
webmaster@tennismindcamp.com

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