Happy New Year to all, and here's hoping for a peaceful 2025
My Top Tips For Club Players to Help Improve Your Tennis in 2025
1. The most important thing is hitting a lot of balls so if you generally play doubles then make sure that you also play some singles. Apart from the tennis benefits this will help keep you fit and healthy and in particular if you play outside to help get some valuable Vitamin D in the winter. Singles helps doubles and doubles helps singles - simple.
2. Master the key elements of the game which are the split step (and timing of), early preparation and breathing out when you hit the ball. (plus keeping your head steady) These are the fundamentals regardless of how you hit the ball so practice this from the first to the last ball in every session so as to make it a habit.Maybe focus on one element at a time, especially for those people who say "What's a split step"?
3. If you want to be a better competitor watch Carlos Alcaraz and learn how to smile more often during the difficult moments. I don't see enough players of all ages and levels look like they are enjoying themselves when in the heat of the battle. I have never seen anyone manage to enjoy themselves when under pressure like Carlito does. This has been taught from a young age but like anything to do with mindset it can be trained at any age. Smiling , even if it feels forced initially, can help release tension, so give it a go!
4. Don't become too obsessed with pure technique as it doesn't exist! Find a coach who can help you develop with the skills and attributes that you already have. There is a science to many elements of training but in general coaching is the art of dealing with an individual. Find an experienced coach who doesn't bombard you with technical tips but will find a way to help you develop with what you already have. Jack Draper has recently spoken about why his time with ex player/coach Wayne Ferriera didn’t last too long in a similar vein to my thoughts above.
Quoted from Jack:
“When you’re younger, a lot of coaches see players and they think the technique is wrong. You look on the TV and you’ve got players like Daniil Medvedev, myself on my forehand, or all these funky techniques. But that’s the way they play, that’s their style, that’s what makes them great. It was a good lesson for me that I just stick with my own style, my own technique and just learn to be more consistent and make it better.”
Ian
[email protected]
My Top Tips For Club Players to Help Improve Your Tennis in 2025
1. The most important thing is hitting a lot of balls so if you generally play doubles then make sure that you also play some singles. Apart from the tennis benefits this will help keep you fit and healthy and in particular if you play outside to help get some valuable Vitamin D in the winter. Singles helps doubles and doubles helps singles - simple.
2. Master the key elements of the game which are the split step (and timing of), early preparation and breathing out when you hit the ball. (plus keeping your head steady) These are the fundamentals regardless of how you hit the ball so practice this from the first to the last ball in every session so as to make it a habit.Maybe focus on one element at a time, especially for those people who say "What's a split step"?
3. If you want to be a better competitor watch Carlos Alcaraz and learn how to smile more often during the difficult moments. I don't see enough players of all ages and levels look like they are enjoying themselves when in the heat of the battle. I have never seen anyone manage to enjoy themselves when under pressure like Carlito does. This has been taught from a young age but like anything to do with mindset it can be trained at any age. Smiling , even if it feels forced initially, can help release tension, so give it a go!
4. Don't become too obsessed with pure technique as it doesn't exist! Find a coach who can help you develop with the skills and attributes that you already have. There is a science to many elements of training but in general coaching is the art of dealing with an individual. Find an experienced coach who doesn't bombard you with technical tips but will find a way to help you develop with what you already have. Jack Draper has recently spoken about why his time with ex player/coach Wayne Ferriera didn’t last too long in a similar vein to my thoughts above.
Quoted from Jack:
“When you’re younger, a lot of coaches see players and they think the technique is wrong. You look on the TV and you’ve got players like Daniil Medvedev, myself on my forehand, or all these funky techniques. But that’s the way they play, that’s their style, that’s what makes them great. It was a good lesson for me that I just stick with my own style, my own technique and just learn to be more consistent and make it better.”
Ian
[email protected]
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