In a sport with a challenging double hump learning curve, the first challenge is to achieve a credible level of consistency. Then, to aspire higher to a station of true excellence, one must scrutinze their fundamental skills even further to scale the steeper second tier.
Understanding Players and the Game
The absolute beauty of tennis is its inherent adaptability. There is no right or wrong way to play it! And, one can continue to improve their overall skills as long as they continue to play, well into age group tennis.
Simply put, there is only Efficient vs. Inefficient play. The best approach to playing the game is staying true to what is most natural, innate and comfortable to the inner athelete...your own signature game.
Just visualize the contrasting styles of these champions, past and present, who are clearly representative of this approach:
- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
- Christ Evert and Martina Navratolova
Enabling motivated individuals at any level, of any age, to acquire the core fundamentals--both below and above the neck--without stifling one's potential for continued growth and evolution is
key towards stimulating their desire to become better players... and it's never too late to learn new tricks.
There are 4 Distinct Components that must be expertly multi-tasked, day in and day out, in order for anyone to regularly play the personal best tennis they are capable of playing, and have played before:
- Shot-Making - skill with the racket-on-ball in every phase of the game.
- Physical - footwork and overall agility in defending the court and setting up for balanced shots.
- Mental - sorting out solutions that sustain success or manage adversity, both strategically and tactically.
- Emotional - exuding a cool, calm and collected demeanor while simultaneously distancing oneself from the ever present, judgemental, over thinking alter ego...you gotta fight right.
Pete Sampras, on the subject of his own recent retirement from the tour, stated, “Honestly, I think the best tennis I played was when I was older. I was ten times the player as I got older than when I was really dominating.”
Still need convincing that improvement is always possible? Look no further than Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors who, at nearly 46 years young and headlining the '98 Nuveen Senior Tour, said, "I think I can strike the ball better now than I could fifteen years ago. And I think I anticipate better than I did in the past.
Or, on a more contemporary note, James Blake, who, if you've read his recent book Breaking Back or know his story, has overcome all sorts of adversity on and off the court by crediting his commitment to the mantra that he and his coach first prioritized when Blake was a young boy - getting better. "Don't worry about winning every match or about your ranking - just worry about getting better. Getting better was, and always would be, the goal."
Thanks for reading,
Jak
"Perfection is not achievable, it can only be pursued."
- John Wooden, Hall of Fame Basketball Coach