TEACH THE STROKE ALONG WITH THE STRATEGY

 

Don't Just Teach the Stroke — Teach the Context

Why Every Tennis Lesson Must Link Directly to Match Play

When we teach players a new stroke, footwork or tactical pattern, it's easy to fall into the trap of isolating the skill, perfecting the action in a vacuum. The issue? Tennis isn't a closed-skill sport like gymnastics or archery. It's an open-skilled, reactive sport. Success depends not only on how well a player executes a stroke but on when and why they use it.

This is where context becomes everything.

The Missing Link: Strategic Relevance

Too often, players leave a lesson with a technically improved shot but without an understanding of how or when to use it in a match. They've learned the how, but not the why or the when. We hand them a tool, but without a blueprint for how to use it effectively.

The result? Players are left to "bridge the gap" on their own, trying to figure out how the new backhand, serve variation, or rally pattern fits into actual point play. This can take a talented player months to assimilate, but for other players, the "gap" between what they are taught and successfully applying that lesson to match-play sometimes never happens. 

This causes a massive amount of anxiety in competitive players around the world..

Every technical lesson must carry strategic purpose.

For example:

  • Don't just teach the slice backhand. Explain how it's used to change rhythm, defend from deep/wide, or approach the net.

  • Don't just teach the kick serve. Show when it's best used—against an opponent's weak backhand, or to give yourself time to get to the net and make a volley.

  • Don't just teach the inside-out forehand. Teach the rally pattern it belongs to, the court positioning it demands, and the recovery route after it's hit.

Closed Skills vs. Open Play: A Coaching Mistake

Many tennis programs, especially at the junior level, teach strokes in isolated drills without variable outcomes or decision-making elements. For me, this is simply lazy coaching.

Players are being taught using a closed-skill methodology because it requires minimal effort and analysis to teach this way. Teaching this way simply requires visual comparison.

Tennis is a fluid, unpredictable, and situational sport. Every shot response you make depends on the opponent's position on the court, the qualities of the oncoming ball, your shot selection, and the pressure of that moment. Leaving out these factors in training disconnects practice from performance.

Train the Decision, Not Just the Action

I often take my lesson topics from previous matches. That's when you see identify situations during matches where your player might be struggling, or you notice opportunities to further develop their game. Context-based training means teaching players to:

  • Recognise scenarios where a shot is needed or is more appropriate.

  • Understand intent (am I defending, neutralising, or attacking?).

  • Anticipate the next ball, not just admire the stroke they've hit.

This is where your coaching becomes transformational and truly develops a successful tournament player.

Application for Coaches: A Checklist

Whenever you teach something new, ask:

  • "Where in a match would this apply?"

  • "Against what type of opponent is this most useful?"

  • "What situation (DNO, pressure, ball type) demands this decision?"

If you can't answer these, don't teach the technique yet.

Final Thought: Match Play is the Real Test

A technically perfect shot without strategic context is like handing someone a steering wheel without teaching them how to drive. We must move beyond textbook stroke production and guide players in becoming smarter, more adaptable competitors.

In tennis, context isn't a bonus—it's the bridge to winning.

Don't let your players build strokes in isolation. Connect every lesson directly to the match court, where it truly counts.

Location: Wimbledon, London, UK

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