New Year's Resolution - The GIft of Self-Improvement

Happy New Year!  As it is the dawn of a new beginning for each of us this year, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage every tennis player and tennis parent to resolve to give themselves or their children the gift of self-improvement.  What better way to ring in the new year than to add that elusive 10mph to your serve?  Or learn that slice backhand that would leave your opponents dumbfounded?  Or maybe master some patterns of play that will dominate your singles opponents tactically?

Bobby Knight, former Indiana University, and Texas Tech University Basketball Head Coach and renowned hot head said correctly, "The only way for a player to improve is to change."  Oh, how true this is.  Keeping your game at the status quo will only serve to give you a birds-eye view to a tapering off of good results, and a front row seat to watching both lower level players and your current peers speedily pass you by as you lay stuck in the mud.

A "change," depending on what it is, may take a week, or may take 6 weeks or 8 weeks to master.  Longer if you only practice it once a week.  When determining what exactly to change, consider your long term goals.  As an example, if you are currently a 3.5 adult and your goal is to be a 4.5 or 5.0 player, and you serve with an eastern forehand grip, then you need to address your grip ASAP else you will never reach your goal.  If you want to be a 4.5 player but have eastern grips at the net, your grips and subsequent technique must be changed in order to reach that goal.  Technique is very important as far as level of play.  Better technique expands the number of tactical plays in your toolbox that are at your disposal, as well as the types of shots you are capable of producing.  The difference between a 4.5 player and a 3.5 player is not just athleticism, it is better technique.

For junior players, set 4-6 goals that involve a change of some sort.  They can be technical, tactical, emotional, or physical.  It is good to employ some of each type.  Challenge yourself.

Every player should be aware that major changes such as grip changes will initially set you back.  Beginning those changes now is important, especially for adults.  Remember that Adult Gender Leagues usually start in March or April depending on the level.  So you have 2 months right now in order to affect some sort of change to your game.  Another great time to make the appropriate changes is after adult league season has finished in May or June.  Remember that if you play Adult Gender League, mixed doubles has ZERO effect on your rating. (Combo has zero effect also, no matter what).  If you are concerned with changes to your game affecting your ability to keep or improve your rating, make sure the change occurs around the adult gender league schedule.

When implementing your changes, it is vital that your focus shift from winning at all costs, to ensuring you are practicing your changes.  If you instead focus on winning only in your matches, you will never implement your changes - players will always resort to hardened muscle memory if they are not thinking about practicing their changes.

So gift yourself, your significant other, or your children the gift of tennis self-improvement this New Year.  Their games will be better off due to your beneficence.