No Pride

A player should be proud of her preparation, training, attitude, passion for the game, etc., but many times certain variations of on-court pride leads to poor results. Obviously, you should always be honorable and seek to avoid engaging in gamesmanship or performing kabuki theater that is so prevalent in modern junior tennis.

By "having no pride", I mean once you step on the court to play a tournament, most of everything that you have learned up to that point is theoretical. Too often, players attempt to actively BEAT their opponents (going for low-percentage winners on every shot); not enough times do they make the effort to allow the opponents to BEAT THEMSELVES. This is not always helped when the player's parents clap for aces or wild shots but are silent when it comes to long points - cleverly thought out and constructed - but not flashy. What message are you sending your player when you clap every low percentage shot?!

For example, not every match needs to be played as if the ESPN highlight real is at stake. In most matches, good, solid tennis is sufficient to pull through. In these matches, don't be afraid to resort to a strategy that is beneath you in the event the gamestyle or strategy that you have initially picked does not pan out. Yes, sometimes you will have to dink, other times you will have to push, some other times you may have to chip your forehand or serve underhand. First, it's obviously important to practice these shots so that you are comfortable executing the same under pressure. Second, it's important to practice these shots so that you can draw upon them by instinct rather than forethought. Third, it is important to understand that these shot have no bearing on who you are as a player. They are just tools for being used at the correct time and discarded. 

On the other hand, however, there are some players who seem to specialize exclusively on these shots. This is not something I advocate although players such as Fabrice Santoro have made a very lucrative career at mastering the odd-ball shots or strategies. Prior to Santoro, there was Karsten Braasch. It seems that Santoro's heir apparent may be Dolgopolov although he possesses more pop and dimensions than his predecessors. However, when you watch Dolgopolov you will notice two things: (1) he's having fun. Tennis does not seem to be a burden for him. He's often smiling and doesn't look like he has too many cares in the world. And (2), he's not afraid to hack, slice, chip, drop shot or hit jumping shots. Although cameras are rolling, he doesn't seem particularly interested in making the highlight real. When the opponent's game calls for a slice, he slices. When the opponent's too far back, he drop-shots. 

Developing players would be well-served by sitting on an outside court and watching a player like Dolgopolov practice his craft. Often times, juniors watch the top players (Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic) and think that that's how the game should always be played. Yes, those guys are certainly the cream of the crop. However, in the trenches of junior, college and low-level pro events, it is often a different type of animal who is king of the jungle. Your objective, as a developing player, is to be able to come up with any stroke, any time. Master all the shots and don't feel like you're too proud to rely on them under pressure. Remember, matches are won point-by point. If you can hit a great shot one point, scrape another point, allow the opponent to miss on the third point and get an easy point on the fourth, you win the game. Like a poker player, don't be afraid to bluff and whittle away your opponent's chips. You don't have to have 4 Aces to win the hand. Sometimes, a well-played weak hand will do. 

Practicing For Mental Toughness

Mental toughness and physical toughness go hand-in-hand. One simply cannot be mentally tough without first developing his physical characteristics. All the best players out there have a "gotta want it" attitude. Whoever "WANTS IT" the most, usually wins. This person never gives up in the face of adversity. 

There is no easy and straightforward way to develop mental toughness although one drill that has worked for me (along with other players) is to place a physical exercise component prior to playing 2-3 sets. For example, players can do a timed 2-3 or 5 mile run (depending on level of fitness and age) PRIOR to playing a 2-3 set match. The player who wants it the most will usually win. With two players of equal will-power, both players will improve dramatically since they are forced to dig deep and develop a "never say die" attitude. If a long running course is not available, player can run on-court sprints for 30 minutes (or jump rope) and then play.

The key to this type practice is for the player to figure out ways for winning points most efficiently and to focus and fight for every point. Physical fitness begets mental toughness. This is also a useful drill given that tournaments often have back-to-back matches with 30 minute break in between. You can pull through a tough 3 set match against a seed in the first round and than have to grind out a match against a lesser player in the afternoon. A player needs to be tough enough to believe that he has done everything possible in order to defeat both opponents back-to-back.  

Other practices can involve playing sets without "proper" warm-ups. That is, the players just show up and start playing points. Often times, particularly at junior events, the players will not have a proper warm-up anyway due to lack of hitting partners or tennis courts (or traffic that precludes the player from showing up on time). So it's important for the player's to be ready from the word "GO".

In addition, players can play sets but switch rackets with their practice partner. Often times, the player will break all of his/her strings during the match and be forced to finish with a replacement racket. Similarly, vary the location of the practices - sometimes at the country club, other times at the local park, maybe someone's back-yard, indoors, clay, grass, carpet, etc. MANY junior tournaments (and even open or future events) are played at facilities that are comparable to public parks. Many are in fact played AT public parks. There will be people playing soccer on the adjoining field; families barbecuing; cars backfiring; and dogs barking/fighting. These are conditions to which the player must become accustomed. Until you reach the manicured lawns of Wimbledon, it's mental and physical "sink or swim."

A coach should not always tell the player in advance where you're meeting her. The purpose of these practices is to develop confidence that the player can win under any conditions on every court. Champions are made on the back-courts not stadium court so no need to practice there. Regardless of what the opponent or fate throws your way, you can figure out a way to pull through. 

Ingenius Way to Defeat a Counterpuncher (aka Moonballer)

I always hear people say, "I can't play pushers.  They get everything back and give me no pace!"  There are a few remedies you can practice to solve this dire situation (heaven forbid someone makes 10 balls in a row against you).  The easiest solution is to suck up your pride and do to them what they are doing to you.  Are they giving you no pace?  Give them no pace back.  See how they respond to generating their own pace.  See if they can create enough pace to hit some winners by you.  In fact, let them hit some winners by you.  Give them no pace to work with and let them overwork their muscles while you just block the ball back.  Take immense pleasure in their struggles and chuckle at yourself inside.  Think about what you will cook for dinner in-between shots, really have fun with it.  Matter of fact, plan your dinners a few days in advance and all the ingredients you need to shop for.  Try to nudge them towards the edge of the cliff and dare them to do something uncharacteristic like swinging for the lines.  And if they say something along the lines of "I'm playing soooo bad!" you are starting to get under their skin.  Keep it up, keep pushing them towards the edge of the cliff.  To really tickle them, give them even more time in-between shots (not points, but shots) and see how they like tasting their own medicine.  Now if they slam a ball into the fence or hurl the racquet towards the bench, you are doing FANTASTIC!  

Sure they might hit a few winners here and there out of frustration, just ignore it.  Its part of the master plan.  There will come a time in the match, the tipping point, where your opponent will realize their is no easy way out.  That is when you will need to double-up your efforts as he/she will decide to engage into a battle of mental and push the ball back with you, trying to outlast you.  This is when you need to stick to your plan and match them.  Doesn't matter if it takes 10 balls, 20 balls, or 60 balls- you do what it takes to extract as much mental energy from them as possible.  Sure they might win that point, but then make them do it again, and again, and again.  You really should have the next months' worth of dinners planned out, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Really take extreme pleasure in their suffering and pain- then after you crush their spirits and have them succumb to your master plan, I am willing to bet they will never "push" with you again.  And if they do, you will practice some of these other solutions to the ever annoying "Moonballer"....

Have Fun

We often hear parents or coaches tell their students or children to "just go out there and gave fun". Unfortunately, most players and coaches do not practice with this same goal in mind. Often times the too parties spend an inordinate amount of time developing the "meat and potatoes" of the game (forehand, backhand, some serves and volleys) while completely ignoring the rest of the game. Just like a mechanic has hundreds of tools in his box, a tennis player needs to be proficient at shots even though s/he may only be required to hit them a few times during the match.

For example, slices are not just great for defending, but they also work for neutralizing the opponent's weapons, for moving the ball around while not giving the opponent too much time (due to trajectory of the ball), for changing up the spins that you impart on the ball, as well as for breaking down the opponent's legs (by having her bend her knees repeatedly). In addition, swinging volleys are great for taking "moon balls" out of the air and not allowing the opponent to recover from a defensive position. Drop shots work wonderfully against players who spend a great deal of time close to the back fence. Top spin lobs, jump shots, sky-hook overheads, "lefty" forehands, mid-court chips, backhand overheads, "pick-ups" or half-volleys, between the legs, behind the back, etc. are all shots that a player should learn as you never know when you will be called upon to execute such shots at a critical point. Furthermore, executing these shots will give the player "true confidence"; the knowledge that s/he can handle whatever the opponent throws his/her way and that s/he can create openings with all of her tools. 

Now, we're not advocating utilizing these shots exclusively; far from it. The whole point of practicing them is to understand not just HOW to hit them but also WHEN to hit them (and when not to do so). For example, a player who has executed 1000 drop shots in practice and has been successful at hitting 200 targets is less likely to hit them at an inopportune time (because s/he understands the risks and his/her limitations). But, again, it is important for the player to have all these pieces in his/her arsenal in order for the player to be able to truly "have fun." There's only so much fun that a player can have while hitting 10,000 forehands in a  match. Lastly, a varied practice is more likely to be exciting for the player - keeping him/her coming back and asking for more - and result in LESS burn-out. So go out there are work on everything and use the tennis court as your canvas for producing great art.