Last December, I wrote a series of posts that identified the “12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players.” Throughout 2023, I am taking a more in-depth look at one of those habits over the first weekend of each month. The deep dive for April is “long planning horizons.” The very best players in Adult Senior tennis view their personal development in the sport as a long-term investment.
Tennis is a sport with a steep learning curve. Following mastery of basic stroke techniques, enhancing and developing more advanced skills can take a lot of time. The very best players in tennis do not shy away from making significant investments to hone their on-court performance. They are willing to accept trade-offs between temporary performance degradation and long-term gains that propel them to the next level.
For example, a player with a reliable but relatively weak second serve will be willing to break down their existing shot in favor of a new technique that allows them to start points in a less defensive posture. They may temporarily commit more double faults when using the new skill in competition. However, the very best players recognize that the long-term return on that investment is worth losing a few more points than usual in the interim.
Another advantage of that long-term perspective is that it allows for the development of skills necessary to execute complex patterns of play successfully. To serve and volley, a player has to develop a strong serve, a quick approach to the net, and good approach volleys. Additionally, finishing volleys and an overhead is required to close out points. Playing that pattern requires the long-term development of several tennis skills and then working over time to string those shots together.
The very best adult senior players prioritize training for longevity and injury prevention. These players are angling to play competitively well into their 90’s. Consequently, they specifically work on balance and flexibility. They also pay close attention to their nutrition and diet with an eye toward maintaining their health over the long term.
If you ask the very best players in Senior tennis what their next “big” event is, they will frequently cite a tournament or event that is still months away. That is in contrast with less competitive players who are much more likely to answer that query with their next local league match. Long-term planning helps the top Senior players achieve ambitious goals while avoiding burnout and injury.
If your competitive level in tennis has plateaued or stagnated, perhaps creating a long-term plan is the key to propelling you to the next level. It is exactly what the very best players in tennis did to put themselves in that position.
Throughout 2023 I am exploring the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players. A complete summary of all posts to date on that topic as well as what is coming up for the remainder of this year can be found on the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players homepage.
