Pulling the trigger – The best player in the world only pull the trigger once a point. Player further down the rankings ladder try and pull it more, on shots that are really not worthy. That’s when mistakes happen. The best player in the world pull the trigger a little less than the others, being more selective, and therefore makes less errors.
One more ball – Men’s tennis is right about 70% errors and 30% winners. By just getting half a shot in more on average, the opportunity to make an error cuts down as another ball goes back in the court.
Defense – Look at the top of the tree. Nasal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray = ridiculous defense. These guys makes you play one more ball with exquisite defensive skills around the edge of the court.
In a rush to make an error – Most player on the planet are in a rush to make an error. They just can’t wait to finish things early. – with our correctly setting the points up. Don’t be in a rush to finish the point. – to finish with a lower percentage winner. The number one way a point ends is by forcing an error.
Patterns of play – Construction and building of point is important – patterns of play.
Pattern 1
Shot 1 = Serve. If power is not a weapon, you must absolutely be good at hitting targets
Shot 2 = Return. A great chance to be offensive. Do it with the feet as well as the racket.
Shot 3 = Serve + 1. Love t see the returner on or slightly inside the baseline for this specific shot. Don’t back away.
Let the reality of an average of 4 shots completely dictate the practice court. Practice the first 4 shots a lot until the cows come home.
Pattern 2
Shot 1 = Serve. Practice serving at more targets, particularly out wide in the deuce & Ad courts
Shot 2 = Return. Be defensive vs. 1st serves. Get it back deep. Be offensive against 2nd serves. Attack down the middle.
Shot 3 = Serve + 1. Look for a forehand to do the most damage
Shot 4 = Return + 1. Again, look for an aggressive forehand from the middle of the court, standing around the baseline.
Let the reality of an average 3.7 dictate the practice court. Practice the first 4 shots a lot more than you are currently doing.
Pattern 3
Shot 1 = Serve. If power is not a weapon, you must absolutely be good at hitting targets
Shot 2 = Return. A great chance to be offensive. Do it with the feet as well as the racket.
Shot 3 = Serve + 1. The smart money is on forehands hitting in C. You will upgrade your weaponry, double your target area, and remove anticipation.
Shot 4 = Return + 1. Love to see the returner on or slightly inside the baseline for this specific shot. Don’t back away.
Pattern 4
It’s OK to practice consistency and feel. Just less than you are currently doing it.
Reorganize your practice court. If winning patterns, then the first 3 shots must be a priority.
Practice a serve, then a serve + 1 shot. Work on defense and offense.
Most serve + 1 combinations will be a forehand hit form C to C+.
Incorporate serve and return at the start of practice instead of at the end.
Let the first 3 shots regularly be the majority of your practice.
Confidence will grow from taking ownership of the start of the rally.
Pattern 5
3 is the magic number. Which really = Serve + 1
The serve is meant to enhance the serve + 1 shot (3rd shot of the rally) as much as possible.
A wide serve to Position 1 will typically result in a weaker return and an aggressive Serve + 1 forehand
Look at how few long allies there really are. Don’t be obsessed with shot tolerance. Be obsessed with what happens the most.
Practice specific 3 shot patterns. Learn the natural angles of where serve typically comes back.
Pattern 6
Sometimes, all you need to practice before a match is serves and returns.
The serves and return are mountain range you need to navigate to reach the happy valley of groove
How abt flipping the time you spent on the practice court between rallying, serve and return
Embrace the efficiency of winning short points
Shorter points are worth just the same as the longer ones. More gas in the tank.
Pattern 7
Shorter matches = staying fresher (physically/mentally) for later in the tournament
Be more than one dimensional. Be able to defeat an opp who strops both very short, and very long tactics at you.
Play the majority of your matches short her than the tournament average
Specifically use the serve and return to start and end the point on your terms
Play longer if that’s the correct pathway forward for you to obtain victory
Take away the opponents strengths by winning the key battleground of the First 4 Shots
