Tennis Technology and Training
Last week I wrote about how I was using a Post-Match Evaluation Worksheet as a part of maintaining a Player Development Journal in 2022. That post framed out the initial use of the worksheet during and after my first “real” match of 2022. In strange twist of fate, I wound up playing against the same exact doubles team the following weekend. I was playing with a different partner this time around, but the quick rematch still provided valuable and immediate feedback on the impact.
Here is a link on my previous posts about the worksheets inspired and derived from the USTA Player Development Journal for anyone that missed it or needs a refresher:
- Post-Match Evaluation. Describes the customizations that I made to the Post-Match Evaluation Worksheet that work better for me.
- The USTA Player Development Journal. Introduces the and gives a little more history on the “Playing Styles” section of the document.
- Post-Practice Evaluation. Describes the customizations that I made to the Practice Evaluation Worksheet that work better for me.
As I wrote about last week, my first partner and I quickly fell behind 1-5 in the original matchup which I attributed to an unfortunate game plan. Heading into the second meeting, it was clear to me what our strategy was NOT going to be initially. Additionally, having taken the time to record the in-match adjustments from that experience, I was able to quickly and clearly articulate to my second partner the tactics that ultimately worked in the previous match.
The insight from the Post-Match Evaluation Worksheet paid immediate dividends. In the original match, my overhead play was pretty shaky. The moderately high winds and bad sun glare combined with a couple of early misses resulted in fairly tentative overhead play from me. I recorded that fact as a development opportunity AND carved out some time to specifically work on that shot during the intervening week.
Once the second match started it seemed pretty clear to me that my opponents had remembered and discussed my poor overhead play from the previous match. I saw a lot of lobs early in the first set. Fortunately, I played those opportunities a lot more consistently and aggressively in the second meeting.
In that second match, my partner and I jumped out to an early lead and never took our foot off the gas. The final score was fairly lopsided in terms of a USTA League match. I should note that it seemed a lot more competitive in the moment than the ultimate score might suggest.
I felt that I played a lot better in the second matchup and our opponents expressed the same sentiment. While my overheads were clearly better this time around, I think the most significant difference for me was improved shot selection guided by a much better game plan.
When I set out to maintain a Player Development Journal in 2022 I had anticipated that there would be a discernable return on that investment. I never expected to see such a dramatic data point within the first week of using the Post-Match Evaluation Worksheet.
I highly recommend that other people give this a try.
- Player Development Journal, USTA, downloaded 2/4/2021.
- Fiend at Court Practice Evaluation Worksheet (Download)
- Fiend at Court Post-Match Evaluation Worksheet (Download)
