Tennis Strategies · Delta Tennis Academy - 2018 strategies, they only need to win 30% of the other points to win the match. In other words, let’s dominate the norm! The second

John Parry Delta Tennis Academy - 2018

Tennis Strategies 4 Shot Singles

Singles Strategies, Page �1


Tennis Strategies 4 Shot Singles

There are many versions of the proverb, “There are many ways to skin a cat.” Tennis is no different, but hopefully, this strategy provides an option for the intermediate to advanced player to consider. Whether you agree with the strategy or not, keep in mind that a good plan executed decisively is better than a perfect plan executed hesitantly. A winning tennis strategy is more about percentages than perfection. The four (4) shot singles concept combines the brilliance of Craig O’Shannessy and Timothy Gallwey. O’Shannessy is a strategy analyst for the ATP tour and Gallwey is the author of The Inner Game of Tennis. O’Shannessy’s data confirms my match experience that more than 70% of the points in tennis, including the ATP tour, are won or lost in 4 shots or less. Long, crowd-pleasing rallies rarely take place, and the point is won or lost rather quickly. If a player is coached to hit the ball over the net and remain in the court two or three times consecutively, their chances of enjoying success increase exponentially.

Outside of skill and technique, there are two major issues to consider before the match ever takes place. The first issue is the practice court. Lessons or practices often include endless ground strokes from the baseline which, based on the statistics above, rarely occur in a match. O’Shannessy suggests the practice court is broken. More time needs to be spent within a realistic, match-play environment. If a player is coached to win 70% of the points with 4 or less shots using purposeful practice



strategies, they only need to win 30% of the other points to win the match. In other words, let’s dominate the norm!

The second issue is the player attempts to win the point too early with a big hit which they have seen performed by Roger, Rafa or Serena on television. Sadly, based on skill, or perhaps attempting to return a winner off a good shot by the opponent, they miss and lose the point too early. We need to coach Deep Margin Of Error Shots (DeMOES). DeMOES that clear the net with ease and stay in the court, but are also strategic, increase the chances of your opponent attempting to hit that big winner, only to miss and then get frustrated with their game. Keep in mind, tennis matches are rarely won but often lost. Our true opponent is controlling the mental and physical aspects of OUR game, not beating the opponent on the other side of the net.

So let’s get started…

The 10 minute warm-up - It’s not just a warm-up! Yes, you need to get loose and groove some strokes, but there is data to collect during the warm-up in preparation for the match. If outside, take note of the weather — specifically the wind, sun and shade and how it will affect your game. Considering the weather conditions will be the same for both players, move on to bigger and better issues quickly. In an effort to gather opponent data, you need to move your opponent around the court. Placement trumps power here. Do they have a better forehand or backhand? Do they hustle to hit the ball after the first bounce? Do they move well laterally and vertically on the court? If they choose to take some volleys, chances are they may attack the net a little bit during the match. Can they hit both forehand and backhand volleys? Can they hit an overhead if you feed them one? After hitting from the baseline, what’s



their recovery technique look like back to the center of the court? When they take some serves, are they flat, spin or kick serves? You can get an idea of the type of serve based on their toss. The closer the toss is directly above or behind their head, the more spin. If the toss is out front and slightly to the side of the racquet, the more power. What kind of physical shape do they appear to be in? Did they come prepared as it pertains to refueling and hydration? If the last two questions are answered with “not so much,” plan to run them left and right, up and back all match long!

After the warm-up has been completed and prior to the match beginning, stop and take a deep breath. Remind yourself to relax and have fun! There is a reason they say, “Play the game” rather than “Work the game.”

Getting off on the right foot - Someone is always on offense and someone is always on defense. Don’t be confused and think being on offense means we will hit a jaw-dropping, hard winner or that defense means we will hit a weak set-up shot for our opponent. Offense means we are dictating the momentum of the point and defense means we are attempting to neutralize our opponent’s momentum, switching rolls and controlling the momentum of the point.

If we are serving, we are starting the point on offense and if we are returning the serve from our opponent, we are starting on defense. Our mind needs to understand throughout the match when we are on offense (controlling the court) or defense (attempting to neutralize our opponent’s offensive shot), so it can tell our body how to appropriately hit our first and subsequent shots. When the mind and body are not on the same page, mistakes will be made. When mistakes are made, your



mind will get frustrated and send nasty messages to your body, like “Come on! Get your act together,” and then more mistakes will be made because the body is now tense based on receiving that nasty message. This cycle can get pretty ugly, pretty quickly. Let’s attempt to avoid frustration and think positive thoughts when we confirm our mind and body were on the same page, but we just had a miss hit or our opponent just made a great shot. We must think some points lost are not a big deal as they compare to our complete body of work for the match and there is lots of tennis ahead to be played — move on! If every shot we hit went in, we’d be getting paid to play. Hall of Fame baseball players failed 7 out of 10 at bats. Remember, you will win the set if you can hold (win the game) each time you serve and break (win the game) only once each time your opponent serves. It’s a game of percentages, not perfection.

Four shots in - Player A serves to Player B. Player B returns Player A’s serve back to Player A. Player A then hits Player B’s return of serve back to Player B. Lastly, Player B hits Player A’s shot back to Player A. Sound confusing? Well, here is another version — each player attempts to hit the ball twice consecutively over the net, landing in the court during the same point. Another common definition, used below, is Serve plus 1 (shot) or Return plus 1 (shot).

If the 4 shot strategies below do not create a winning point within the first 4 shots, re-establish the momentum of the point by hitting a DeMOES to your opponent’s backhand.



The following assumes both players are right handed

Adjust accordingly for left handed players

Serve plus 1 strategy:

1. Slow down — do not rush serving — especially your 2nd serve

2. Until you master power, spins and kick serves, stick with your most consistent (over and in) serve in an attempt to reduce or eliminate double faults (free points)

3. Placement trumps power (for now) and we need to eliminate serving to our opponent’s forehand

4. After serving, quickly recover and be prepared for your next shot — balanced, ready position, center of court, prepared to split step and changing from continental grip to your forehand grip

5. Unless your opponent’s return of serve from the deuce service box is down the line toward your backhand or from the ad court service box, a well-angled, deep backhand corner, run around the return of serve to hit a deep, topspin forehand to your opponent’s backhand corner area. Placement and topspin trumps power here. Were looking to hit a DeMOES to the corner

6. After hitting your plus 1 shot, attack the net, stopping when your opponent begins to prepare for a backhand, split step and prepare for a volley (plus 2 shot) to the opposite, open court




SERVE SERVE

PLUS 2

VOLLEY

SHOT PLUS 1

SHOT

SERVER’S SIDE OF COURT

SERVER’S SIDE OF COURT


Return plus 1 strategy:

1. Your racquet (take back) preparation on your return of serve should be half way between a volley and groundstroke. Meaning your racquet will not go all the way back but it will include a full follow through

2. Since most servers “fall” into the court and do not immediately prepare for the next shot, to neutralize the point, we want to aim our return of serve shot straight back toward the server and attempt to get it deep but in - MOES. We’re using them as an aim point, but we would want to favor them having to hit a backhand if possible rather than a forehand

3. After hitting your return of serve shot, quickly recover and be prepared for your plus 1 shot — balanced, ready position, center of court, prepared to split step and with your forehand grip

4. Unless your opponent returns your return of serve shot deep to your backhand, run around their plus 1 shot and hit a deep, topspin forehand, plus 1 shot to your opponent’s backhand corner area. Placement and topspin trumps power here. We’re looking to hit a DeMOES to the corner

5. After hitting your plus 1 shot, attack the net, stopping when your opponent begins to prepare for a backhand, split step and prepare for a volley (plus 2 shot) to the opposite, open court




PLUS 2

VOLLEY

SHOT

RETURN

RETURNER’S SIDE OF COURT

RETURNER’S SIDE OF COURT

PLUS 1

SHOT

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Tennis Strategies · Delta Tennis Academy - 2018 strategies, they only need to win 30% of the other points to win the match. In other words, let’s dominate the norm! The second