In case you don’t know who I am, my name is Ed Francis and I’m one of the founders of Teqnic Tennis. We currently operate our coaching programme out of the Barn Elms Sports Centre in Barnes, as well as providing coaching in 12 local schools.
My goal for these emails archived below will be to cover topics within tennis that will hopefully be of interest to you.
I’d like to share with you a story of something that happened over the summer holidays. We ran a few match play sessions for some of our 12 and 13-year-old players.
This gave them the chance to compete against some new players in a competitive setting, a team of my juniors vs. another coach’s players.
Not only did this expose them to new players (a different challenge to playing against people you are familiar with) But it also exposed them to a pressure environment.
Although tennis is an individual sport, this team-style event meant they had other players depending on them, as well as the pressure we all put on ourselves internally when we compete.
The matches were all very close, a few of the Teqnic Team winning and a few losing. The whole competition hung in the balance.
One of our teams had a match point, I was watching his point from a few courts over when he called his opponent’s ball out.
Now from where I was standing the ball did appear to be out, but the call came a little late and the ball was very close to the line. Understandably his opponent wasn’t convinced and here began an argument.
At this point I had to get involved, I asked them to replay the point as neither of them could be sure what the correct call was.
My player then went on to lose his service game taking the match to a tiebreak.
At this point, the meltdown I had been worried about came. A racket was thrown in the fence and there were a few tears. Now this may sound like a petulant thing to do but understand this. Tennis is an EXTREMELY emotional sport.
This boy genuinely believed he had already won the match (in all likelihood should have already won it) And was now being forced to play a tiebreak to decide the outcome.
After a minute or two he composed himself enough to play, my only instructions were “It’s happened now, you’ve got to be in this moment if you want to win it”
To add to the pressure, the other matches had finished by now, so this tiebreak was to be played in front of spectators.
I’m very proud to say that not only did he compose himself. He reached a level of focus I hadn’t seen for the whole match. He managed to win the tiebreak in front of a small (but cheering) crowd.
In my experience I have seen many children and adults, blow up in these types of situations. Unable to let a bad call or a bad shot go. I was so impressed by his maturity, that I even messaged his parents to explain how well he had done.
Tennis and competition in sport are so good at exposing us to pressure situations and developing our ability to perform under pressure.
What I especially liked about this example is that not only did he perform under pressure but managed to stay in the present and forget about what had happened.
Today I thought I would put something together about consistency and how consistency is the bed rock of the rest of your game.
Let’s start by looking at a new tennis player. Their first milestone is being able to hold a basic rally. You won’t necessarily need to be hitting too ball hard or aiming for the corners of the court. But the challenge is, can you keep the ball under control and without making lots of errors?
Often when beginners come for lessons just getting even a two or 3 shot rally can be very difficult, especially for children.
Tennis becomes a lot more interesting once you reach this milestone.
Then we start to talk about variation, different spins, patterns of play, tactics etc. But initially, we need to be able to hold a controlled rally.
Once you get to a point where you can comfortably keep a ball going for 15-20 shots, you will start to find a rhythm and the ability to go into a “flow state”
This is where you start to feel very comfortable and almost automatic.
You don’t even need to really think about what you are doing it just happens because you are so comfortable and focused. This state is characterized by
It is almost impossible for beginners to reach this flow state because the task is simply too difficult for their skill level.
As coaches we want our players to achieve this level of focus. But it tends to only happen when the difficulty of the task, matches a player’s level of skill.
In other words, if the task is too difficult it will be impossible to reach. If it is too easy the task won’t engross them enough to fall into this hyper-focused state.
This is why consistency is key, without it you will never reach this level of autonomy!
How can I or my children reach this enlightened place?
Play often and with a purpose.
Don’t just hit, hit with a focus, It could be something really simple such as focusing on hitting the exact middle of the racket. Or keeping my hand relaxed throughout the whole swing.
Make the difficulty of the task match your skill level. This could mean rallying from closer to the net. With children, we tend to get them to use lower compression balls to make the task simpler.
The fact that tennis is such a difficult sport, coupled with the fact that it is possible to reach this “flow state”, is part of what makes it so popular.
At first, it is frustrating and difficult, but once you reach the point where it feels almost automatic and easy it is so satisfying. Having said that even good players will lose this rhythm and it can suddenly feel difficult again.
The fact it is hard to maintain, but, fulfilling when you get it right is what keeps tennis players coming back!
In the last few weeks, I have been asked by more than one of my students why what they are seeing at Wimbledon doesn’t match what I’ve been telling them.
One common thing that I, and many coaches tell our players is to play with more margin. This means hitting the ball higher over the net and keeping it away from the tramlines, as well as not hitting too hard.
“I went to Wimbledon, and they were playing really low over the net and hitting the ball so hard!”
Wimbledon is really making it seem like I don’t know what I’m talking about!
Part of the reason for this is that Wimbledon is played on grass, the fastest of the 3 surfaces, favouring aggressive players who take the ball earlier and hit through the court more.
The other reason is that professionals NEED to be aggressive to prevent their opponents from being able to attack them. This is not such an issue at the recreational level where consistency is key.
A third reason is that they are simply much better players; they play with enough margin for THEM to be consistent. The tour average is that 88% of ground strokes are over and in. One stat from my last email showed Alcaraz was at 97% on forehands.
It’s not uncommon for beginners to be far below that; if you are not able to consistently keep the ball in play, you will be in big trouble. It will be almost impossible to hit enough winning shots to win a match.
My final point to prove that I do, in fact, know what I’m talking about. (at least a little bit anyway) is that the stats simply do not back up this theory that the pros hit low over the net.
In fact, if we look at the average for net clearance on the ATP tour, we will see the average is around 85cm over the net. That is just under double the height of the net! If you look at players who use heavy topspin, such as Nadal, that average goes up to 1.32 meters.
Hopefully, this convinces at least a few of my students not to go out to their next match with the aim of hitting low and hard over the net!
Tennis is hard enough; don’t make it even harder for yourself.
Hot off the back of Sunday’s epic Wimbledon final, I thought it would be a good time to look at Carlos Alcaraz. And give some insight into what it is that makes him so hard to beat
Firstly, it’s important to remember that he is just 20 years old and has already broken the record for the youngest-ever number 1 ranked player.
He already has 2 Grand Slam titles to his name, and with Djokovic and Nadal set to retire in the next few years, he may have an open goal to win quite a few more.
But what is it that makes him so good?
Let’s first start by looking at his spin and power. For years, Nadal has been the topspin king, consistently hitting the ball with the most spin. This heavy spin allows him to hit the ball harder and higher over the net.
This added power not only makes life difficult for his opponent, but the increased net clearance means his shots are safer, giving him more margin for error and fewer mistakes. Alcaraz is not only matching what Nadal has done over his career but is actually hitting the ball even harder and with more spin!
Here are some stats from last year’s US Open, where he was the champion. The numbers in brackets are the averages of the other players on the men’s tour.
As you can see, he is hitting the ball harder, with more spin, and this is leading to more winners and fewer mistakes.
But it’s not just power that makes him so tough to beat. Alcaraz has almost revolutionized the drop shot, bringing it back into the game. He has unbelievable hand skills and a feel for the ball close to the net. By using his power game to push his opponents back, he creates opportunities to play drop shots and wrongfoot his opponents.
The drop shot is a shot that has gone out of the game to a large extent over the last decade. I believe the next generation will use it more as coaches see the success that Alcaraz has had with it and adapt.
It’s not just drop shots from the front of the court though, his volleying skills are a real asset and allow him another route to finish points.
He is so good from both the front and the back of the court it gives him options in how he wants to break down his opponents.
Alcaraz is a supreme athlete; his speed around the court is second to none, and it appears he also has the mental game to get through tough matches.
Alcaraz is the kind of player that we as coaches strive to develop.
A player who isn’t just good at one thing but has so many options at his disposal that he can use a plan A, B or C depending on what his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses are.
It will be fascinating to see how the rivalry between him and Djokovic develops over the next few years, as I predict they will be meeting in a lot of finals.
Tennis has been crying out for someone to come along at shake up the men’s game. For years fans have enjoyed a golden era of tennis.
Arguably the 3 best players of all time have been playing at the same time, not to mention Murray being able to reach similar levels on his day. The generation looking to dethrone Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has been largely underwhelming but Alcaraz has come in as a breath of fresh air. With all the weapons he has in his arsenal, he looks like he will have a career to rival the ‘big 3’.
The only worry for tennis fans moving forward, is once Djokovic and Nadal retire, who is going to be able to offer Alcaraz any serious competition?
I hope you enjoyed this short analysis of Carlos Alcaraz and what it is that makes him such a special player!
In the fast-paced world we live in, maintaining focus has become a valuable skill that can greatly impact our performance, productivity, and overall well-being.
Today, I want to talk about the importance of focus and how the sport of tennis serves as an exceptional training ground for mastering this essential skill. Join us as we explore the remarkable connection between tennis and the development of laser-sharp concentration!
On-Court Demands: Tennis is an exhilarating sport that demands the utmost concentration and focus. The dynamic nature of the game, combined with split-second decision-making and rapid reactions, requires players to be fully present in the moment.
Every shot, every point, and every match requires a high level of mental engagement, ensuring that distractions are kept at bay and focus remains unwavering.
Through practice and match play, tennis players learn to hone their ability to tune out external noise and channel their attention to the task at hand.
Multitasking Skills: Tennis is a sport that requires players to multitask effectively. Simultaneously tracking the movement of the ball, adjusting footwork, planning shots, and anticipating opponents’ moves demand excellent multitasking abilities. As players develop their tennis skills, they naturally enhance their capacity to divide their attention and focus on multiple aspects of the game simultaneously. This transferable skill carries over to other areas of life, enabling individuals to efficiently handle multiple responsibilities and prioritize tasks with greater precision.
Mental Resilience: Tennis is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Players face a wide range of emotions, challenges, and pressure situations on the court. Learning to manage these mental obstacles requires unwavering focus and concentration. By training in tennis, individuals develop resilience, learning to maintain their focus amidst adversity, setbacks, and distractions. This mental fortitude extends beyond the tennis court, helping players remain composed and focused in various aspects of life.
Transferable Skills: The focus cultivated in tennis is a skill that extends beyond the court.
The ability to concentrate on the present moment, block out distractions, and maintain a sharp focus is invaluable in academics, professional life, and everyday life. The discipline and concentration developed through tennis training can improve productivity, decision-making, and performance in all aspects of life.
Through our coaching and training programs, we try to instil in our players the importance of focus and give them the tools to enhance their concentration skills both on and off the tennis court.
I want to discuss a topic that has been gaining immense popularity in the world of sports coaching: gamifying practice for our young learners.
What is gamification? Gamification is taking a normal exercise, for example hitting a cross-court forehand and turning into something more fun.
One classic game we play is Treasure Island.
If the players hit a good shot with the technique we are asking for, then they can run and pick up a cone or “piece of treasure” to put in their treasure chest. Whichever player or team can collect the most treasure will be the winner. This small change makes simply hitting a ball a much more appealing “task”.
As we all know, children learn best when they are engaged and having fun. Integrating game-like elements into their training sessions can make a significant difference in their progress. So, let’s delve into the reasons why gamifying practice is immensely beneficial for our budding tennis stars!
Increased Engagement and Motivation: By transforming regular drills into interactive and enjoyable games, we create an environment that creates buy-in from players.
Engaging in friendly competition, setting goals, and earning rewards help boost their motivation and make practice sessions something they genuinely look forward to. When the focus shifts from repetitive exercises to exciting challenges, they develop a deeper passion for the sport, leading to long-term commitment and improvement.
Enhanced Skill Acquisition: Gamification introduces an element of playfulness that facilitates skill development in young children. By incorporating various game-based activities, we create opportunities for them to work on specific techniques while having a blast.
Whether it’s a target-hitting contest, a timed obstacle course, or a tennis-themed scavenger hunt, these games allow players to practice fundamental skills in a dynamic and enjoyable manner. As a result, they acquire new abilities faster and retain them more effectively.
Mental Agility and Decision-Making Skills: Tennis is not just about physical prowess but also requires sharp mental acuity and quick decision-making. By integrating gamified elements into practice, we provide young players with situations that demand strategic thinking and rapid decision-making.
Whether it’s adjusting shot placement to hit targets, anticipating opponents’ moves during a simulated match, or solving on-court puzzles, these games sharpen their cognitive abilities, fostering better tennis intelligence.
Teamwork and Social Development: Gamifying practice can also create opportunities for teamwork and social interaction, which are vital skills for young children. Team-based games foster collaboration, communication, and the development of healthy competition. They learn to support and encourage each other, which strengthens their bond and builds a positive and inclusive team culture. Through these experiences, our young tennis stars not only develop their tennis skills but also grow as individuals, learning valuable life lessons.
In conclusion, gamifying practice is a proven method to make tennis training sessions more engaging, productive, and enjoyable for young children. It ignites their passion for the sport, accelerates skill acquisition, sharpens mental agility, and fosters teamwork and social development.
Today I’ll be looking into a crucial aspect of a young tennis player’s journey: the importance of competition. Engaging in competitive matches not only brings excitement and thrill to the sport but also plays avital role in a player’s development. In this edition, we will explore the benefits that competition offers to young tennis players, with a particular emphasis on character development.
1. Skill Development: Competition provides young players with a platform to apply and refine their skills under pressure. It tests their technical abilities, decision-making, shot selection, and strategic thinking.
Through competitive play, they learn to adapt to different playing styles, manage nerves, and make split-second decisions, all of which contribute to their overall skill development.
2. Mental Resilience: Tennis is as much a mental game as it is physical. Competing in matches exposes young players to various challenges, setbacks, and intense situations. It helps them develop mental resilience, learn to cope with stress, and overcome adversity.
They learn to stay focused, maintain composure, and make effective decisions even in high-pressure situations, skills that are invaluable both on and off the court.
3. Sportsmanship and Character Building: Competition offers opportunities for young players to learn and demonstrate sportsmanship. It teaches them how to win graciously, accept defeat with dignity, and respect opponents. Engaging in healthy competition in stills values such as integrity, perseverance, humility, and respect, fostering character development that extends beyond the tennis court.
4. Setting and Pursuing Goals: Competitions provide young players with clear objectives to strive for. Whether it’s aiming for a specific ranking, winning a tournament, or improving their win-loss ratio, competitions give them tangible targets to work towards. The process of setting goals, planning strategies, and taking steps to achieve them develops their ambition, motivation, and work ethic.
5. Building Confidence: Success in competitive matches, whetherit’s winning a match or performing well against a tough opponent, boosts youngplayers’ confidence. It validates their hard work, skills, and preparation,instilling a belief in their abilities. Even losses provide valuable learningexperiences and opportunities for growth, contributing to long-term confidenceand resilience.
6. Goal-Oriented Training: Competitions serve as benchmarks for young players to evaluate their progress and identify areas for improvement.
They provide a purpose and direction to their training, guiding them to focus on specific skills, strategies, and fitness levels necessary for success in future competitions. This goal-oriented approach ensures that their training remains purposeful and tailored to their individual needs.
It’s important to note that the emphasis should be on healthy competition that promotes growth, learning, and personal development.
Coaches, parents, and mentors play a vital role in creating a positive and supportive competitive environment that nurtures young players’ growth while prioritizing their their well-being.
In conclusion, competition is an essential component of a young tennis player’s journey. It contributes to their skill development, mental resilience, and character building. Embrace competition as a valuable opportunity for growth, and watch your young players thrive both on and off the tennis court.
Today we will be answering a question that many parents grapple with: Should my children play lots of sports or specialize in one?
As parents, we want to provide the best opportunities for our children’s physical and personal development. In this edition, we will explore the benefits of both approaches, weigh the considerations, and offer insights to help you make an informed decision.
Benefits of playing Lots of Sports:
Encouraging children to participate in multiple sports offers numerous advantages. Here are some key benefits:
Versatility and Transferable Skills: Engaging in various sports exposes children to a range of movements, techniques, and strategies. They develop a broader skill set that can be applied across different activities. For example, agility and hand-eye coordination learned in tennis can benefit them in basketball or soccer.
Preventing Burnout and Injuries: Over-specialization at a young age can lead to burnout and overuse injuries.
I personally know a lot of performance tennis players who trained full time as juniors only to be completely sick of the sight of a tennis court now!
By participating in different sports, children enjoy a diverse and balanced physical workload, reducing the risk of repetitive strain and allowing their bodies to develop holistically.
Discovering Passion and Talent: Exploring multiple sports enables children to discover their true passions and talents. They may excel in a particular activity that they wouldn’t have discovered if they had specialized too early. A broader exposure helps them make informed choices about their long-term interests.
Benefits of Specializing in One Sport:
On the other hand, focusing on one sport has its own advantages. Here are some points to consider:
Skill Development: Specialising in a specific sport allows children to dedicate more time and focus to honing their skills. They can delve deeper into the technical aspects, strategies, and nuances of the sport, which can accelerate their progress and performance.
Competitive Advantage: Specialising in one sport at an early age may give children a competitive edge. With focused training and consistent practice, they have the opportunity to master their chosen sport and potentially excel at higher levels of competition.
Goal Setting and Commitment: By specializing, children learn valuable lessons about goal setting, discipline, and commitment. They understand the importance of consistent effort, perseverance, and sacrifice to achieve their desired level of success.
Making the Right Decision:
So, how do you make the right decision for your children? Consider the following:
Age and Development: Younger children benefit from exploring multiple sports to develop a broad range of skills. As they grow older and demonstrate a clear interest and ability in a specific sport, the option to specialise can be considered.
Individual Preferences: Understand your child’s interests, passions, and motivations. Engage in open conversations and observe their enthusiasm for different activities. Ultimately, their enjoyment and passion should guide the decision-making process.
Balance and Well-Being: Ensure a balance between sports and other aspects of your child’s life, such as academics, socialising, and personal growth. Avoid overloading their schedule and prioritize their overall well-being.
Professional Guidance: Seek advice from coaches, trainers, and experts who have experience working with young athletes. They can provide valuable insights tailored to your child’s unique circumstances.
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether children should play lots of sports or specialize in one. It ultimately depends on the individual child’s interests, aspirations, and developmental stage. Both approaches offer benefits, and finding the right balance is key. Having said that, I would certainly not look to specialise in just one sport until at least 12 years old. In many cases I wouldn’t look to specialise at all unless your children are aspiring to make a career out of their chosen sport.
When you watch tennis on television, one of the first things you notice is how hard the players are hitting the ball. They are seemingly putting everything into each ball. Grunting and whacking it as hard as they can!
So, it’s unsurprising that when players first come to play tennis, they inevitably want to hit the ball way too hard.
Today I’m talking about risk vs reward in tennis. When should I take it easy and when should I be aggressive?
Instead of talking about the strokes themselves, forehands, backhands etc. It is better to think about our tactical intention on each shot.
These are: trading, building, finishing and neutralising.
Believe it or not you should have a clear idea of what kind of shot you are playing on EVERY ball you hit.
What do these tactical intentions mean?
Trading – Many people interpret this as ‘just get the ball in’. Really what we should do is hit a quality ball, but with plenty of margin. Cross court is generally safer. Giving the ball lots of room over the net also makes it less risky. I recommend playing the ball at a moderate speed, with good height over the net.
Building – Try to hit away from the centre of the court, can you make your opponent move? By making them move you create gaps on the court and force them off balance.
Finishing – Have you moved your opponent from the centre of the court? Maybe they have hit a poor shot that you can take advantage of? Time to go for the kill! Move up the court to take the ball early and hit to the space your building created.
Neutralising – This is a defensive shot. If your opponent has put you under pressure, use a low risk shot to get yourself back into the rally.
At any given point in a rally, someone will either be on top, behind or both players will be roughly even.
When on top try to build the point!
If the point is 50/50 and no one has the advantage, as a beginner you should look to trade. When your opponent gives you an easier shot then you can start to build. (More advanced players will look to build when the point is at 50/50)
Don’t go for the finish too early!
This is a classic mistake for beginners, they’ve seen the highlight reels on tv with professional players hitting winners at 90 mph. But this strategy will likely cause you to make too many errors.
If you are behind in the point and your opponent is putting you under pressure, you may want to try to neutralise the point to get yourself back to a level playing field.
A chip or a slow looped ball to the back of the court is a good way to do this. Look at Andy Murray’s returns, he is the absolute master of blocking a return from a 130mph serve straight back down the middle and completely nullifying his opponents serve.
The key to good tactical play is risk vs reward. The reward in tennis is winning the point, but the risk of each shot changes depending on the situation!
Generally, playing low risk shots is the way to win more points. High risk shots lead to mistakes. Instead, be patient, move your opponent and wait for a low-risk chance to finish the point.
In the last few months I have recently taken up golf!
I have played before, but this is the first time I have taken it seriously and actually invested in some proper lessons.
It’s been very interesting as a tennis coach to approach another technical game where I am coming in as a complete beginner. It’s very easy to take what people can do for granted when teaching a sport you have played for years.
Having played tennis from the age of 5, for the best part of 25 years, there are certain aspects of the game I assume are easy now. For example I don’t need to be reminded to be on my toes, or to prepare my racket early. These are just things I automatically do without thinking, which gives my brain more bandwidth to think about other more technical things. Like flattening out the ball or adding more spin.
When I’m playing golf, these basics DON’T happen automatically. I really have to think about parts of the swing that a more advanced player would do naturally.
This has made me think about our approach to tennis as coaches.
Simplicity is the key.
First off, when coming for lessons as a beginner. Your first priority certainly shouldn’t be power. It should be on producing technically sound strokes with good control. Basic things to look out for are early preparation, making contact with good spacing in front and making a proper finish.
These are just some of the basics and there a million reasons that the shot may not be working, but you as a player should only be thinking about ONE thing at a time.
It’s down to the coach to identify the ONE thing that is going to make the biggest difference and focus on that until it becomes automatic.
I would strongly recommend it to any new player in tennis. Get some lessons early! A good coach will help you identify where you should be focusing and will hold you accountable to focus on that thing until it becomes second nature.
I wish I had started my golf lessons before I had ever picked up a club, it’s so much harder to break a bad habit, than it is to start from scratch!
When we approach our holiday camps we do this in the same way. We put players into groups based on ability, as players with different levels of experience need to focus on different things.
Next we identify each players area of focus and we are persistent with players, we hold them accountable and focus on making that teaching point stick!
If you come for a whole day of camp and have a coach constantly remind you to hit your forehand further out in front, you will start to do it!
Our coaches are also very experienced in gamifying practice. Although our teaching point may be repetitive, our drills and games are varied to keep young players engaged!
Imagine yourself in a match against someone who is simply a better player than you. They have a better serve, a better forehand and a better backhand. So how do you beat them?
Well, Tennis is as much a mental and tactical battle as it is a technical and physical one. Your opponent may have better shots in a straight up. So, how can I avoid getting into exchanges where your shots are indirect competition with theirs?
Instead, can you approach the point in a way that will use your own strengths to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses?
Hopefully, you should know already what you are good at. So, the main goal early in a match is finding out what shots your opponents do, and don’t, like to hit.
This can be done before the match even starts, a traditional match warm up will look something like this:
Both players rally from the back of the court for a few minutes. Then each player takes turns coming to the net to warm up volleys. Finally, both payers hit some serves before beginning the match.
Finding your opponent’s weaknesses goes a little more in depth than just thinking ‘Do they have a good forehand/backhand’
During your warm up I recommend hitting a variety of shot shapes. Start with a ‘normal’ rally ball for yourself. Then try hitting a few loopier balls to your opponent’s forehand and backhand. How do they deal with these shots?
Hit a few slices and give them some low balls, Again do they deal well with these kinds of shots?
Finally, slowball your opponent. You’d be surprised how many players play better on medium to fast-paced balls than where they don’t need to generate their own pace. Pay attention to how your opponent deals with these different shots.
You’re not trying to beat your opponent during the warm-up, this is bad etiquette. However, by giving them different balls you are not only developing your feel on the ball for the match. You are getting an idea of what shots they like to play and what they struggle with.
When they warm up their volleys, are they comfortable at the net? Do they even bother warming up their volleys? Recreational players are typically not great volleyers and can be vulnerable when forced into the net.
This is all information that you can use in your match. Once you start your match, you can experiment. I always think at the beginning of a match it’s a good idea to make yourself hard to beat. i.e. be consistent.
As the game goes on you may start to loosen up and be more aggressive. At the beginning, you are still feeling your opponent out. Patterns of play will start to emerge and take note of which ones work and don’t work.
Remember this is a guide on how to beat somebody who is a BETTER player than you.
Just going out without any direction will most likely result in a loss, you need to find a strategy that is going to help you play well and make life hard for them.
If they don’t like a slice to their forehand, skid that ball low. If they don’t like it high to the backhand loop that ball high. Are they not comfortable at the net, bring them forward on your terms!
Tennis is chess with a racket, and you need to outthink your opponent!
I was recently having a discussion with a friend about the positives of different sports on your health.
We are both a little biased, she is into CrossFit in a big way and claimed that CrossFitters were “the fittest” athletes in the world.
In terms of having high levels of athleticism, I agree, they are not only strong but also cardiovascularly fit. In the end, I conceded that Tennis players couldn’t possibly be as fit, as strong as weightlifters or have the endurance of marathon runners.
However, I recently listened to a podcast about the benefits of different types of sports. I was surprised to hear the expert claiming that racket sports help you live longer than other sports. I did some research of my own and found more evidence to back this up. But why is this? And why do racket sports seem to do more good for you than other sports?
Here is a cross-section of some different sports that were included in a recent study, and how much you can expect them to increase your life expectancy.
Callisthenics (3.1 years)
Walking or jogging (3.2 years)
Swimming (3.4 years)
Cycling (3.7 years)
Soccer (4.7 years)
Badminton (6.2 years)
Tennis (9.7 years)
As you can see Tennis and Badminton are some way ahead of the others in this list. The reason for this is that racket sports not only work your cardiovascular system but also your brain. Because of the complex nature of the sport, which requires you to track a fast-moving ball and simultaneously move towards it. You really are giving your cerebellum a great workout. This is the largest part of your brain and is responsible for balance and coordination.
Versus some other types of exercise such as running or going to the gym, Tennis is also a much more fun form of activity. It’s not boring or monotonous and every point is different!
There are many aspects to the game (serving, forehands, backhands, volleying, singles, doubles etc.) You are more likely to keep it up than you are with more repetitive forms of physical activity.
At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Dick Fosbury introduced the world to his famous ‘Fosbury Flop’ a technique that would go on to revolutionise the world of high jump.
Tennis has also evolved over the years to become almost unrecognisable from what used to be the norm.
Today I’ll be talking about how tennis has changed and the way that we develop children to excel in Tennis, the way it is today!
Up until the ’70s, 3 out of 4 of the majors were played on grass. This meant the game suited players who were able to keep the ball low and get into the net to finish the point quickly.
Jump forward to the present day and only one major is played on grass. The other 3 are played on hard courts and clay courts.
The bounce of the ball on hard courts and on clay in particular is much higher and the court is much slower. What this means is that there is less of an advantage to keeping the ball low. Instead, players tend to play higher over the net with plenty of margin and spin. This means fewer errors and longer points.
Tennis players today need to be unbelievably fit, fast and agile to deal with these longer exchanges from the back of the court.
Movement skills are an absolute must to be successful in tennis, and in almost all other sports: Football, Rugby, Hockey, Netball, and the list goes on!
We as coaches aim to spend some of every lesson working on ABCs: (Agility, Balance and Coordination). By developing these skills we can develop players that aren’t just good at swinging the racket but also great at moving.
At our holiday camps we do plenty of work on these areas, Not only do we do drills which help our players to become better movers, but we gamify these exercises to help children see moving as something fun! These are skills that will help children to create a lifelong love affair with sport, not just in tennis but across all sports which involve movement.
Today I’m discussing the age-old debate, Should I use a single-handed backhand or a double-handed backhand?
Roger Federer is without a doubt the most adored and most popular tennis player, possibly of all time. Known not just for his winning accolades but also for his grace on and off the court.
He is also the most famous player to use the one-handed backhand.
The double-handed backhand, on the other hand, is used by the majority of players at the top of the game. Players such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray all use the double-hander.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros of each shot
Single hander:
You have more reach with a single-handed backhand. You also tend to play with a big step across from your right foot (if you are right-handed). This means you can cover quite a lot of the court with one big step. Because of this, it is a little easier to judge spacing and cover the court.
It looks good! There’s no denying that most tennis fans would describe a one-handed backhand as the more elegant shot. So why not show off and use it?
Double hander:
The role of the non-dominant hand is very important for the 2 handers. When hitting on the backhand side, the back of your dominant hand is facing the ball.
If you imagine trying to push against something with the back of your hand rather than the front you would find your wrist is much weaker. The big advantage the 2 hander has is that the non-dominant hand IS facing towards the ball.
Timing is everything on a single-handed backhand, if your contact is late you will not have the left hand to bail you out and pull the ball into play.
Pros of the double hander:
More power! Two hands are stronger than one.
More forgiving in terms of timing.
You will also be able to generate more spin. The left hand almost acts as a left-handed forehand allowing you to apply spin to the ball.
In conclusion, I along with most coaches generally teach the two-handed backhand initially. This is because it is simply much easier to control for players who struggle with the precise timing needed for a one-hander.
In some rare cases, we will teach a one-hander, generally to people who have naturally quite good timing but also struggle a bit more with their spacing and footwork. These people are relatively rare!
We frequently get players asking for work on a specific stroke, how can I make my forehand more controlled? How can I get more power on my backhand?
Just this week I had an adult player say to me that they were struggling with their forehand. After hitting a few balls it became apparent the problem was nothing to do with the swing itself.
Today we will be looking at an aspect of tennis known as receiving skills. Let me explain how we approach a lesson with a younger player. Most tennis coaches will start taking players from 3 or 4 years old. At this age, it is very rare for children with what we would call a good-looking swing, the reason for this is:
Teaching a swing with topspin, a full take back and a follow-through will produce a swing that has little margin for error and requires a lot of coordination.
Even if you do teach it, the chances the child will be able to move to an oncoming ball and time it correctly is unlikely.
Instead of working on the swing in detail, we tend to work more on their ability to put themself in position to hit the ball.
In tennis, we call this ability a player’s receiving skills.
This distinction between sending skills (the shot itself) and receiving skills (the ability to position yourself to play the shot) is very important.
Especially in younger years players, we tend to work on these receiving skills. The ability to track a ball’s flight, predict where it is going and position their body accordingly. Interestingly these skills are the same skills that set players apart at the very top of the game. Djokovic and Nadal are fantastic examples of this. If you were to analyse their shots compared to say a player ranked just inside the top 100 you wouldn’t see a huge difference. It’s only when you see them playing in matches that their ability to quickly position themselves behind the ball becomes apparent.
It’s also interesting that these receiving skills are very transferable across sports. By learning these skills players set themselves up for success across a wide range of other sports.
Now back to our adult player, this player had quite a nice-looking forehand swing. The problem was that they were only able to play it when the ball happened to fall right into their hitting zone. They hadn’t developed the ability to read the ball early and position themselves properly. Luckily for them, they had quite a common mistake. In this case, this player tended to get too close to the ball.
We started by feeding the ball away from the player, strangely a ball that was fed a few metres away from the player was actually an easier shot. How could this be?
Well like I said, this player could move well when needed.
The player tended to switch off their footwork on ‘easier balls’. the thing with tennis is that there are no such things as easy balls. Only balls that require different footwork.
Once the player had established what distance from the ball felt right, we started to feed back towards them, forcing them to move away from the ball and create space. Within 20 minutes, we were varying the feed to be close and far away, the player having to read the ball and react to it accordingly.
Finally, we put this into a rally and challenged the player to stay on their toes, paying good attention to the flight of the ball and maintaining good spacing from the ball.
We saw a big improvement, all without once mentioning what the player was doing with the racket!
This week we had a group lesson where we set the children the task of getting a 20-shot rally. We deliberately made this a tough target for the children. The initial response was “20 shots, that’s impossible!”
Initially, it appeared that they were right.
None of the pairs managed to get above a 7-shot rally. So, after 2 minutes we stopped them and sat them down to discuss how we could improve.
Rather than the coaches showing them how to achieve this, we picked two players out and got them to demonstrate.
We added in a few technical points about slowing the ball down and lifting it higher over the net when dragged out of a good court position. Our two demonstrators attempted another 20-shot rally with the rest of the class watching. On their first attempt, they got to 14, double the highest score from before.
Before we sent all the players back to try again, we drew attention to how much better the two players focused when performing in front of the class. We challenged the rest of the class to match their level of focus.
“Go out and get a rally of 20, the first ones to complete it are the winners!”
After 5 minutes every pair had managed to hit their goal!
After collecting the balls, we had a recap. “What was it that allowed you to reach your target” Focus, not giving up, hitting higher over the net were their answers.
“Did watching these two get 14 on their first try make you think that 20 might be possible?” Yes, they replied.
“Did the competition to be first help you focus more?” Yes.
By watching their peers succeed, the players saw that the goal was achievable. By adding some competition to be first, the players also improved their focus.
It’s also important that, at the end of the exercise, we draw attention to the factors that allowed them to succeed. The hard work, the focus and the belief that you can succeed if you apply yourself. In my opinion, those are three factors that partly makeup resilience.
As coaches and as parents, we need to be able to improve our children’s view of what they can do when they apply themselves.
This is an early-stage example, of how shaping mindsets can lead to more belief and grit. Take Andy Murray for example, he wasn’t born able to play 5 set matches over 7 hours, all on a metal hip.
It was early challenges and successes that instilled in him his self-belief. With every challenge he overcame, he deepened that belief.