I have a really important issue to talk to you about today. There’s something that I see players do all the time that just drives me crazy because, I know they could raise their game to another level (…3 times over) if they added just one aspect to it.  And I really don’t want you to make that same blunder. So here it is…

Since I’ve started playing, one of the things that really grabs my attention is how so many players come out onto the court without the slightest clue of how they’re going to play the match.  They think that just showing up and “going with the flow” or “letting it unfold” as the match progresses is the best play. That’s a HUGE mistake.

And because of that lapse in judgment, those players continue to lose tons of matches simply from not being prepared.  If you want to win the match, it’s an absolute MUST that you know what types of shots and strategies will be most effective against that particular opponent even before the match starts.

How can you do that? The answer is simple. You HAVE to a game plan!

You see, every shot has a purpose. Rarely is anything done by accident out there. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. In tennis, everything is very tactical and strategic.  When the pros like Agassi, Nadal, and Federer are hitting in a big-time match, they’re not just sitting back there hitting whatever shot sounds good at the time. NO NO NO . They’re making quick meaningful decisions left and right.

I mean, they’re doing it all over the place (forehand vs backhand, charging the net for a volley vs staying back, hitting a slice vs crushing a thundering flat stroke etc.). You simply NEED to have some sort of structure to your game, otherwise you’ll only frustrate yourself.

Having a game plan to follow will provide you with a step-by-step blueprint that’ll give you the sense of purpose and direction you need to win matches CONSISTENTLY. It’ll tell you what specific shots to go for or to execute for a particular situation and also what specific strategies to use for that particular opponent without having to think twice about it.

By using the two powerful strategies above within your game plan, you’ll be a much more structured player. You’re taking the guesswork out of your play. And by doing those things, you’re both quieting the mind and allowing yourself to focus on the aspects of the match that are the most important in getting you the victory.

By the way, the idea of a game plan isn’t just for tennis either. It’s actually used in sports across the board. What do you think teams in the NBA, NFL, and NHL are doing when they have a couple days in between games? It’s all about game film. They want to see what type of things their opponent is going to do, so they’ll be adequately prepared and know exactly how to counter it.

IMPORTANT: If you’re current game plan isn’t producing the results that you’d like, and you feel that you should be doing better, don’t stick with a strategy that’s not effective. Change it. It’s perfectly fine to do that. Actually, I strongly encourage it.

That’s the very reason why teams in professional sports are allowed timeouts, so they can strengthen or fix something that might not be working the best for them at some point. Sometimes, the small changes you make can do wonders for you.

But whatever you do, don’t abandon it completely and go at it on your own. Not having a plan will leave you mentally and physically all over the place. You’ll be out there running around the court like a chicken with its head cut off swinging away hoping to somehow just slide by. And “hope” is good in The Lord Of The Rings, but in your tennis match, that alone,  just won’t get the job done.

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For more game plan related material, please see the posts below:

1. Leave A Lefty In The Dust
2. Perfect Way To Punish A Pusher

Have a great day, and an even better game!

All the best,

Brian Hall, Head Coach
TennisMindCamp