Tennis Tactics and Patterns of Play Concluded: Be Intentional
Tennis Hits the Books This is the final installment of the series of posts on Tennis Tactics and Patterns of Play. Tennis at a highRead More
Tennis Tactics and Patterns of Play Part 4: Looking Across the Net
We are in the middle of a multipart examination on strategies and tactics for competitive tennis play. The first three weeks we have been focused on our own side of the court. All tennis players must have a deep understanding and awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses in order to develop strategies and tactics that work for them. Today we are shifting our attention to the other side of the net.
Tennis Tactics and Patterns of Play Part 3 : Using Your Strengths
In 2019, Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic to win the men’s singles title at Rome. In the course of doing so, he provided us with a statistic that is probably one of the best examples of how to develop strategies and tactics around a player’s own strengths. The very best players in tennis have a sharp understanding of what they do well. More critically, they are able to develop tactics and techniques that maximize their strengths.
Tennis Tactics and Patterns of Play Part 2: Think to Win
I am currently on the process of examining point composition in tennis viewed through the lens of books about tennis tactics and strategy. Last week in part one of this series, I started building the theme that the best tennis players will have the ability to develop strategy and tactics independently of magic playbooks and coaching input.
1 responseTennis Tactics and Patterns of Play: Part 1
I received a question this week about point composition from one of my friends who also happens to be a regular follower of this blog. My first reaction to the inquiry was that I am a curious person to reach out to for strategic or tactical advice. It is widely rumored that the reason I prefer playing singles over doubles is to avoid having to regularly apologize to my partner for my erratic shot selection and inability to maintain focus on the game plan.
Tennis: The Bassett System
Last week in “Tennis Literary Time Machine: 1980 USTA Publications” I waxed nostalgic about coming across a list of books that one could order from the USTA. I commented at the time that I had several of the titles in that list in my possession. One such example is “Tennis: The Bassett System” by Glenn Bassett.
Tennis Literary Time Machine: 1980 USTA Publications
I was recently thumbing through the USTA Yearbook from 1980 and happened on an advertisement for “USTA Publications.” It is a relic from that forgotten era before the internet and amazon.com brought us the gratuitous ability to order books online and download digital books on demand.
An Open Discussion about Tennis Autobiographies
As a general rule, I am not a big fan of biographies about tennis players. I double down on that statement when the book is positioned as an autobiography. The simple fact of the matter is that if I am going to read a book about tennis I am looking for a return on the investment of time. For me, that narrowly boils down to books that can help me play at a higher competitive level and books that help me understand the history of tennis.
3 responsesWinning Ugly
The final installment in the “obvious three” series is Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis–Lessons from a Master, by Brad Gilbert. Winning Ugly is the essential companion to Inner Tennis. I wish I could claim that observation, but it is actually asserted in the forward of Winning Ugly. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hitch their plow to the tennis book juggernaut that is Inner Tennis.
Tennis Books: The Inner Game of Tennis
The Inner Game of Tennis is the only book I will make the following statement about. You can say that you are serious about improving your game, but if you have not bothered to read this book, you’re kidding yourself.