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Do Tennis lessons help?!

"to derive maximum benefit when taking a tennis lesson you should follow these three guidelines below."

1. Don't compare yourself to others
2. Don't force what you are learning into match play.
3. Develop a simple training plan each week in addition to your lesson.

1. DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS

Players are often not aware that when they compare themselves to other players they are not comparing apples to apples! All players have their own special mental and physical attributes. For instance, many players have told me they began playing tennis with another player at the same time, but that player is catching on faster. They do not take into account a number of different variables. The player who was learning faster could have played tennis at a young age and began again at an older age. That player also could have played other sports at a young age and developed an excellent foundation for tennis skills. Or that player could be a fast learner in the beginning and pass you, but in the long run you pass them!

Rafael Nadal, in the May 2005 issue of Sports Illustrated, says, "People ask, 'Who did you model your game after?'" He adds, "I never thought like that. I just played the way I was comfortable playing."

The bottom line - learn at your own pace, develop your own style and your own "feel" of spontaneous play, and have fun. Never compare yourself to others. Too many variables block any chance of even making a correct analysis. If you are discouraged get back on the court, keep practicing, keep your mind clear of all comparisons and stay focused on YOUR game!

2. DON'T FORCE LEARNING

One huge hurdle to overcome is to not force what you are learning in practice into match play. That is one of the main reasons that too much technical information does not work. You are taking weekly lessons and attempting to incorporate the techniques and mechanics into your match play. But when you play you find that is nearly impossible. Everything on the court just seems to be happening too fast! Well, cheer up, it really is impossible! No player under match pressure can consciously perform all the mechanics and techniques he has just been taught.

The best approach is to keep practicing until the mechanics you are learning become spontaneous and automatic. They will then show up in your match play. There is no need to force this process. In your matches you can practice a technique here and there and apply some simple general information, but the majority of what you are learning must first be rooted in your subconscious as you develop a "feel." If you are not able to apply what you are learning, this means one thing... not enough repetition yet!

3. DEVELOP A SIMPLE WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN

Here is where the majority of players fall short: NO CONSISTENT WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN, other than a lesson or some match play. You must develop a consistent but simple, week by week training plan in which you hit tennis balls on a ball machine, against a wall, or with a practice partner who is willing to be a slave driver!

You do not even need that much practice per week to achieve excellent results. Let's say you would like to improve your forehand and your volleys. If you have a minimum of one hour a week you could hit 150 to 300 forehands, and maybe 15 to 30 minutes of volleys. You could also sprinkle in some of the other shots like backhands or overheads, but your main focus and the most repetition would be on your forehand and volleys. This would significantly separate you from the pack. But you MUST continue week after week for months and months, not just practice for a few weeks and quit. You must make a commitment! This is the commitment that pros make that ultimately separates them from everyone else. Year after year they practice more than everyone else! Did you think it was just talent that makes pros the best in the world?

Tennis lessons can make a tremendous difference if you are willing to think correctly about your game (no comparisons), understand how you learn (do not force new techniques), and are willing to practice weekly (make a commitment).

Tom Veneziano

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Tom Veneziano – First Things First: Constructing Your Mental Attitude

“Go for your shots, and whether you win or lose, keep on going for your shots!” This was the instruction I gave my 15-year-old student entering into a junior tennis tournament.

Did I really think he was going to follow this advice? So few actually do. Well, I was hoping he would be an exception, and, as it turned out, he was! My student, Isaac, played the tournament without fear or reservation, mentally freeing himself to go for his shots no matter what happened. The result? He lost his first match 6-1, 6-0 to a boy he had almost defeated in three sets in a previous tournament. The second match he lost 6-3, 6-4 and went home. Success!

Maintaining a positive, ‘go for your shots’ mindset while under the pressure of losing was an epic challenge in itself. Then, to add to the difficulty, Isaac caught some static from the people around him. They wanted to know what in the world he was doing! He tried to explain but spoke to no avail. When I finally got to him, he was a little confused because of all the contrary opinions thrown at him.

His performance under that type of pressure was brilliant and displayed champion-type thinking. I made sure he understood this, then I added, “Unfortunately, when you learn to think like a champion, most people will be against you and will tell you that you are wrong. This is sad but true. You have to make up your own mind which way to go. You can go with the herd, or you can step out as an individual and stand firm regardless of what is said.” Like a true tennis warrior, this young player took the brunt of the criticism, stood firm and moved on. Fantastic!

If this scenario confuses you and my advice does not make sense, let me explain what you may be missing. Learning is stratified. As we learn, we build one principle upon another. Most of us understand this concept when it comes to a school subject like mathematics where we build from arithmetic to algebra to calculus. The physical game of tennis is also stratified, as is the mental game. Though when it comes to the mental game, misinformation and uncertainty tend to trap many players on the ground floor!

Let me tell you what happened with Isaac. During that tournament, he had discovered and experienced a brand new level of control — mental control, that is. He had learned that the mental attitude of ‘going for his shots’ was within his own power. The foundational level of the stratification process was set firmly into place, and in the weeks that followed, going for his shots was no longer an issue. This meant he was ready to experiment with higher-level thinking. Freedom to go for his shots meant freedom to focus on the next levels: accuracy and consistency. Why was that? Because his mind was no longer frozen with fear of missing or losing! He could concentrate his mental energy on aiming his shots and playing more consistently. And now, weeks after the tournament, this boy has become a totally different player. All because he had the courage to do the right thing even though he knew he would probably lose.

Really, how can any player effectively concentrate on accuracy or consistency when that player has not yet overcome the fear of missing? He obviously cannot! Priority number one is to master the mindset of going for shots and accepting the outcome. Once this first hurdle is overcome, a clear mental pathway opens up that leads to greater, more advanced thinking skills.

Remember that going for your shots does not mean to kill the ball every time. It means the absence of cautiousness or tentative play. You could be hitting a drop shot and still be going for the shot. The point is, you execute the stroke freely and instinctively, without holding back for fear of missing. Some players try to master this mindset by cautiously going for their shots. This does not make any sense! There is no cautiously going for your shots. You either do it or you do not.

Yes, you might fail enormously while you are learning this mindset, but sooner or later you must sacrifice some matches in order to master this incredible champion-type thinking. May I remind you, a teenager did it! You could begin with your practice matches and eventually use it in your important matches.

The concept is simple. Learning the correct mental attitude is a stratified process. One layer builds upon another. Not only that, but the stratification process is also prioritized. In other words, if you want to build a structure that is solid and unshakeable, each layer must be laid down in the correct order. The first priority in tennis is to learn to go for your shots without fear of missing. First you master going for your shots, then you are free to learn other aspects of match-play thinking. It generally goes like this: Once you possess a clear and uncluttered mind, adding a new skill like accuracy becomes easier. As you learn more accuracy, you become more consistent in your play. Consistency and accuracy, in turn, give a monumental boost to your ability to execute match-play strategies. As you can see, with every layer that is put into place, you become a smarter and stronger player.

This process is a gradual one — it requires much practice and determination, and, like any worthwhile endeavor, it is not without its struggles. But my student has risen to the challenge, and I believe you can too!  http://www.tenniswarrior.com/

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“Tiebreak Quick Tip”

TIEBREAKER QUICK TIP – Credit to Tom Veneziano –
Break in your favor

You have played great tennis and worked your way into a 6-6 tie. A tiebreaker will now determine the set. Wow! Now what? All players have a different spin on how to handle tiebreakers. I’ve always liked Jimmy Connors’s approach. He, like many other top players, would play more aggressive in a tiebreaker scenario.

Playing on the aggressive does not mean constantly attacking the net, but being mentally aggressive with controlled playing. Remember, each point in a tiebreaker is like winning a whole game. You are trying to make things happen and keep your opponent under pressure, but WITHOUT risky play. You can accomplish this in many ways: making sure your first serve is in, attacking the net, speeding up your shots just a little, increasing depth, better ball placement, and making sure you return serve consistently. Do anything you can do to increase the pressure on your opponent!

Controlled aggressive play can be effective in tiebreakers, but I caution you, controlled aggressive play can easily turn into reckless pandemonium. If you find that you are missing often and becoming out of control, back off from your overly aggressive play. Remind yourself that you are attempting to keep pressure on your opponent, but at the same time not go outside your own ability or style.

In this manner you can become much more effective in tiebreakers and increase your percentages of wins.