The hardest thing to do on the tennis court is win - be it a point, a game, a set, or a match. So much must go right for you, and you must remain focused from the first point to the last. Your preparation leading into the match will predict your success or failure to a large degree. You must believe you can win, and be able to see the finish line at all times, and not doubt yourself once you arrive at the finis line. After all, it's one thing to get to the finish line, and still another to cross it.
Losing is easy. All it takes is a lack of focus, poor preparation, questionable (to be charitable) shot selection, and a love for the low percentage plays. It is aided by low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and believing you have zero chance to win. Self-doubt is something every player struggles with at some point. However, in order to win you must be able to manufacture self-belief and confidence when there is no positive experiential results to hang your hat on.
The bottom line is in order to win you must master EVERY aspect of what it takes to win. In order to lose, all you must do is fail at ONE. In tennis, at level, the margins are so small, all it takes sometimes to determine the winner and loser is one big point. Are you able to do what is necessary to win?
Winning takes an enormous amount of practice. Not only with the technical and tactical aspects of your game, but also with the mental and emotional parts of your game. Are you setting the right kind of goals that allow you to build confidence and trust in your abilities on the court? Are you playing the right kind of practice matches, ones where you know you can win, and ones that will be a serious challenge? If, for example, you play regular practice sets against players who are better than you, and you always lose, you will never learn how to win a match. All you will learn is how to lose, and that you aren't a good enough player to win those types of matches. Yes, your ability to hit the ball will improve, but being a better striker of the ball and winning do not necessarily equate.
What does "manufacturing self-confidence" mean exactly? Simply put it means placing trust in the process. It means believing in the process of actions instead of the results of those actions. It works because it the correct processes that beget the best results. Results, no matter how good we become as players, is very much out of our control. Remember Andy Roddick playing out of his mind in the 2009 Wimbledon Final? It was, according to him, the best match he ever played. He still lost. The fact that there is another person on the other side of the net trying to attain the same results as we are is why we cannot focus ourselves upon the results. The process is the only part of the results equation the we have 100% control over. Our focus should remain there.
Part of the process is making good shot selection decisions. Part of the process is having routines between every point that keep your focus off the previous point and instead focus you on the next one. It is about staying in the present.
Focusing on the result can lead to fear. The fear of losing, the fear of blowing opportunities like crossing the finish line in a match. It leads to nerves getting out of control. Focusing on the process can help mitigate nerves, and calm you down. It keeps you focused on what to do, and leads you to playing your best.
It is hard to focus on the process for an entire match. It takes practice, and lots of it. Everyone is results oriented at the end of the day. This is why coaches get hired and fired with absurd frequency. However, those that do find a way to trust the process will find the best results. It has been proven over and over again, not just in tennis, but in all sports.
Losing is what happens to all but one player in a tournament. 50% of the people in a given match lose. It takes quite a bit of mental and emotional fortitude to continually win every time you're on the court. A small hiccup in one area can cost you a match. A completely focused effort can earn you a win. Most of the time there is a strong correlation between your focus on the process and the level of your play, but even when you play poorly, if you focus on the process, it is very possible you still find a way to win.
Every decision we make, on the practice court and on the match court, directly influences our chances to win or lose. Be sure every part of your preparation builds your confidence, and find a process for matches that works best for you. Then you can turn frequent losing into frequent winning.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Focus on Your Responsibilities To Win More Doubles Matches
Doubles mirrors life in many ways. In both there is individual responsibility and also mutual responsibility. One's individual actions has a direct impact on the success of others. Understanding this concept is the key to being successful in doubles.
Let's look at each type of responsibility and what constitutes them.
Individual Responsibility
1) Your court position when the ball is on your side of the court. There is a right and wrong place to be. As an example, when you are up at net, and your partner is back at the baseline, and the ball has been hit to them, you must move to a defensive position near the middle T to protect against a potential poach. If you fail to do this, you leave the middle wide open for your opponent, and your team will more than likely lose the point.
2) Your court position when the ball is on your opponent's side of the court. This will depend on where you begin the point, and if you are up or back. If you are at the net and you fail to attack (move forward) when your partner hits to the baseline player, then you are forgoing opportunities to poach and putting more pressure on your partner to do more to win the point. If you fail to "shade the ball" when you are at net when the ball is on your opponents' side of the court, you open up space for your opponents to hit through for clean winners.
3) Where you serve. When you are serving, it is up to you to put the ball in positions that both accentuate your strengths and maximize your opponents' weaknesses. Failing to get the ball to your opponents' weakness gives them the opportunity to hurt you and your partner with their strengths. This is the one part of the game that you have almost 100% control over.
4)Where you return serve. Although it is entirely possible that the server hits a great serve and puts you into a reactive position where targeting becomes almost impossible, 80-90% of returns are such that you are balanced and have the opportunity to do the right thing. Returning the serve cross court should happen 90-95% of the time. This not only greatly improves your chances of starting the point on your end as it is the high percentage play, it also allows your partner to possibly pick off the next ball.
5)Your court position when you and your partner are at net. You have heard from tennis professionals and tennis commentators that you and your partner should be "attached by a string x feet apart" in order to ensure that you move together. This is works when the ball is on your side of the court only. When the ball is on your opponents' side of the court, the string analogy only works and makes sense if BOTH of you move to your individual correct spots. You wouldn't follow your partner if they go to the wrong spot. Therefore I recommend not focusing attention on where your partner needs to be or where they are at all, and instead ensure YOU are in the right place. This depends on whether or not you are cross court or down the line from the ball, and the effectiveness of the previous ball, just to name a few factors. If you and your partner focus on where you need to correctly be as individuals, you will APPEAR to be moving together.
6)Drifting and Poaching. Drifting is poaching the server's first ball after the serve. Poaching is picking off the return of serve. Both require the attacking player to move at the right time and move in the right path. It also requires the attacker to place the ball to certain areas of the court to ensure your team is in the best position for the next shot.
7) Shot Selection At any time in a doubles match, once you have the opportunity to hit the ball, the responsibility of where to hit the ball falls squarely on your shoulders. Your decision will positively or negatively impact your teams chances. Focusing on the correct locations for the situation will lead to better results, while not thinking or not hitting to the high percentage locations for the situation will lead to poorer results.
Mutual Responsibilty
1) Communication/reading your partner You and your partner before and after every shot must both communicate (verbally and non verbally) where you are moving and also be able to read the other in order to move to the correct locations and hit your next shots. The reason is many "plays" require two or three shot patterns, and you always want to ensure court balance when your team is forced to switch sides. This also includes any signals you and your partner may use.
2) Knowing each others' strengths and weaknesses In order for you and your partner to play at the peak of your abilities, you must not only understand your own strengths and weaknesses, but also understand your partner's strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to only choose the correct sides to play, but also determine who should serve first, which partner sould return serve on any no-ad points, and also help your strategy (example: if your partner is a great poacher, then serve more up the middle, and return crosscourt every time so you set them up more to use their strength)
3) Knowing your opponents' strengths and weaknesses This is what allows you to force your opponents into what they do poorly, which gives you the best chance to win. Both you and your partner should understand this before the match or be able to determine it after four games.
4) Keeping each other positive/ offering support Both partners should be supportive of their partner after errors, give kudos when they play well, and keep each other pumped up and positive in between points as well as on change overs.
By understanding your individual responsibilities and what both of you are mutually responsible for, you will be better able to do the right thing during each point and during each match, thus improving your chances to win.
Let's look at each type of responsibility and what constitutes them.
Individual Responsibility
1) Your court position when the ball is on your side of the court. There is a right and wrong place to be. As an example, when you are up at net, and your partner is back at the baseline, and the ball has been hit to them, you must move to a defensive position near the middle T to protect against a potential poach. If you fail to do this, you leave the middle wide open for your opponent, and your team will more than likely lose the point.
2) Your court position when the ball is on your opponent's side of the court. This will depend on where you begin the point, and if you are up or back. If you are at the net and you fail to attack (move forward) when your partner hits to the baseline player, then you are forgoing opportunities to poach and putting more pressure on your partner to do more to win the point. If you fail to "shade the ball" when you are at net when the ball is on your opponents' side of the court, you open up space for your opponents to hit through for clean winners.
3) Where you serve. When you are serving, it is up to you to put the ball in positions that both accentuate your strengths and maximize your opponents' weaknesses. Failing to get the ball to your opponents' weakness gives them the opportunity to hurt you and your partner with their strengths. This is the one part of the game that you have almost 100% control over.
4)Where you return serve. Although it is entirely possible that the server hits a great serve and puts you into a reactive position where targeting becomes almost impossible, 80-90% of returns are such that you are balanced and have the opportunity to do the right thing. Returning the serve cross court should happen 90-95% of the time. This not only greatly improves your chances of starting the point on your end as it is the high percentage play, it also allows your partner to possibly pick off the next ball.
5)Your court position when you and your partner are at net. You have heard from tennis professionals and tennis commentators that you and your partner should be "attached by a string x feet apart" in order to ensure that you move together. This is works when the ball is on your side of the court only. When the ball is on your opponents' side of the court, the string analogy only works and makes sense if BOTH of you move to your individual correct spots. You wouldn't follow your partner if they go to the wrong spot. Therefore I recommend not focusing attention on where your partner needs to be or where they are at all, and instead ensure YOU are in the right place. This depends on whether or not you are cross court or down the line from the ball, and the effectiveness of the previous ball, just to name a few factors. If you and your partner focus on where you need to correctly be as individuals, you will APPEAR to be moving together.
6)Drifting and Poaching. Drifting is poaching the server's first ball after the serve. Poaching is picking off the return of serve. Both require the attacking player to move at the right time and move in the right path. It also requires the attacker to place the ball to certain areas of the court to ensure your team is in the best position for the next shot.
7) Shot Selection At any time in a doubles match, once you have the opportunity to hit the ball, the responsibility of where to hit the ball falls squarely on your shoulders. Your decision will positively or negatively impact your teams chances. Focusing on the correct locations for the situation will lead to better results, while not thinking or not hitting to the high percentage locations for the situation will lead to poorer results.
Mutual Responsibilty
1) Communication/reading your partner You and your partner before and after every shot must both communicate (verbally and non verbally) where you are moving and also be able to read the other in order to move to the correct locations and hit your next shots. The reason is many "plays" require two or three shot patterns, and you always want to ensure court balance when your team is forced to switch sides. This also includes any signals you and your partner may use.
2) Knowing each others' strengths and weaknesses In order for you and your partner to play at the peak of your abilities, you must not only understand your own strengths and weaknesses, but also understand your partner's strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to only choose the correct sides to play, but also determine who should serve first, which partner sould return serve on any no-ad points, and also help your strategy (example: if your partner is a great poacher, then serve more up the middle, and return crosscourt every time so you set them up more to use their strength)
3) Knowing your opponents' strengths and weaknesses This is what allows you to force your opponents into what they do poorly, which gives you the best chance to win. Both you and your partner should understand this before the match or be able to determine it after four games.
4) Keeping each other positive/ offering support Both partners should be supportive of their partner after errors, give kudos when they play well, and keep each other pumped up and positive in between points as well as on change overs.
By understanding your individual responsibilities and what both of you are mutually responsible for, you will be better able to do the right thing during each point and during each match, thus improving your chances to win.
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