Tennis Tactics
Our Tennis Tactics homepage is designed to provide you with resources that will help you when it comes to tactics and match play. Tennis is not just about having great technique or being physical fit, it's also about developing your mach play skills and improving the tactical aspects of your game.
Learning From the 2009 Wimbledon Final
It was the vanquished Andy Roddick whom most can be learned from this epic final. Spanning a record 77 games Roddick was able to stretch the great Federer all the way with some small changes that added up to a significant improvement in the Americans performance...read how these changes can help your game>>>
What we can Learn from the French Open Mens Final
Roger's road to the "greatest of all time" continued as he equalled Sampras' 14 Slam record and became the 6th man to win a "career slam." After the 'unbeatable' Nadal was stopped in the 4th round by a journeyman the pressure on Federer intensified, but he survived some close matches before dominating the final. Read this article and analyse how incorporating drop shots and controlling his serve was enough to claim the missing Grand Slam title in Federer's trophy cabinet...read more>>>
The Five Playing Phases - Attacking
During every point players are in one of five phases of play:-
- initiating (serve / return)
- defensive
- rallying
- creating
- attacking
This series of article offrs tips and drills as to how to improve each phase of play. ...read more about the attacking phase >>>
The Five Playing Phases - Creating
During every point tennis players are in one of five phases of play:-
- initiating (serve / return)
- defensive
- rallying
- creating
- attacking
This series of articles offers tips and drills as to how to improve each phase of play. ...read more about the creating phase >>>
The Five Playing Phases - Rallying / Neutralising
During every point tennis players are in one of five phases of play:-
- initiating (serve / return)
- defensive
- rallying
- creating
- attacking
This series of article offrs tips and drills as to how to improve each phase of play. ...read more about the rallying phase >>>
The Five Playing Phases - Defense / "Stay in"
During every point tennis players are in one of five phases of play:-
Initiating (serve / return)
- Defensive
- Rallying
- Creating
- Attacking
This series of article offers tennis tips and tennis drills as to how to improve each phase of play. ...read more about the defensive phase >>>
Tennis Training For Hard Courts Versus Clay Courts
The following research study compares the difference between playing tennis on hard courts versus clay courts. What you can gain from this research is that there is obviously a distinction between the two surfaces and as a result when training players for competition it is important to focus on the "specificity" factor. That is preparing specifically for the tournament by playing and training on the surface that you will play on during the tournament. That includes your speed, agility and movement patterns will be different for each surface and also your body will be under greater stress when playing on hard courts. Click here for Tennis Training Research >>>>
Designing Drills Federer Style [Part II]
By Rufus Keown - Designing Drills Part 1 dealt with Federer's methodical opponent analysis and corresponding training regime. Part 2 explores how coaches can use his technique to design drills for their own developing students at different ages and standards...read Designing Drills Roger Federer Style - Part 2 >>>
Why Do Some Tennis Players Hit So Many Unforced Errors?
Kyril Popoff is a former NCAA Div1 All-Conference Tennis Player, Instructor, Coach and Author.
Here's a doozy. I could literally give you dozens of reasons why people hit more unforced errors that they should, but that wouldn't do you much good. I will give you the number one reason, however: Poor balance. I've written extensively about this subject in the past, but I would like to 'connect the dots' for you, as it were, and explain how poor balance causes a subtle chain of events to occur that, explained individually, don't add up to much; but when linked together, explains how a tennis player can go from being in perfect position to hitting that unforced error in less than one second. Read Article About Tennis Players and Unforced Errors>>>>
Hit The Ball Away From Your Opponent
"Hit the ball away from your opponent into the gaps and not to him unless you mean it as a surprise. You achieve this largely by hitting for the lines. Learn to put the ball where you aim it." Mr. Harry Hopman (The best tennis Coach of all time!) This quote at first seems to be over simplistic but, once you start watching match play even at pro level you start to see how meaningful it is! How often do you see even professional players trade shots cross court to each other just a step or two away from the centre of the court, almost as if they were trying to bust a brick wall? It is indeed an exercise of energy waist as well as plain lack of global vision of the limits of tennis court and for the spectator just a boring event.....click here to read article>>>>
Improve Your Tennis Strategy
Perfecting your strokes is a never ending process which is critical for your tennis game. However, understanding and implementing different strategies is not any less important, and in many cases is the determining factor in prevailing over your opponent. There is no one "cookie-cutter" strategy that works for all players. Obviously, different players have their own style of playing, and would like to adjust their game to benefit the most of their best shots. This could mean running around the backhand for a player with a great forehand, serve and volley for a big server, or approaching the net at any opportunity for a great net player.....Click here to read article>>>>
The Federer File - The Playing Styles
One of the great challenges facing top tennis players is the different styles of opponent they must face, and master, to stay at the top of the game. Roger Federer is a master of adapting his own game plan to break down his opponents style...read article>>>
Learning from the Masters Cup Final
By Tina Dodd - Roger Federer confirmed his dominance of the men’s game with victory in the Masters Cup Final in Shanghai. While not a grand slam event the Masters Cup is a very prestigious event, pitting the top players against one another – with no easy early round matches. Despite tough matches against Nalbandian, Roddick and Nadal in the qualifying matches– Federer destroyed American James Blake in a one sided final. As always Federer provided a master class in stroke production and tactics to dismantle his opponent...read more>>
What Can We Learn From the French Open Tennis Final?
By Rufus Keown - Rafael Nadal confirmed he is the "King of Clay" and continues to build a reputation as being one of the great clay court players of all time. Roger Federer confirmed his great all court abilities but fell short of the dirt ball specialist......more>>