THE 3AM THEORY

4 Reasons Tennis Players Stop Competing When Matches Get Tight By Paul Dale -  www.3amtennis.com Over fifty years of coaching at every level — from grassroots juniors to ATP and WTA professionals — I've seen one trait separate the players who actually compete from the players who merely participate. It isn't the fastest serve. It isn't the prettiest backhand. It isn't even fitness. It's the ability to solve problems — in real time, under pressure, when everything is going wrong. Tennis is chaos management. Every match presents new puzzles: an opponent who hits with heavy topspin, a gusty crosswind, a surface that plays slower than you prefer, a score-line that suddenly feels insurmountable. The players who succeed are the ones who look at those challenges and ask, "What do I do about this?" The players who struggle ask a very different question — or worse, stop asking altogether. Below are four players I have coached or encountered during my career. I...

If you’re a junior tennis player or coaching junior players, focusing on the right skills can make all the difference. Let’s explore three essentials that can make all the difference to a junior career and set you up for your next step in tennis. 1. The Value of Underspin Underspin is one of the most useful tools in tennis, but it’s often overlooked by young players and their coaches. Underspin keeps it low and controlled. Mastering underspin gives you a significant edge in several parts of the game: Approach Shots:  The art of moving forward on the court and putting pressure on the opponent is missing from many junior games. However, if you can't move forward to the net when the opportunity arises later at the professional level, your game will be severely limited. Underspin keeps your approach shot low and forces your opponent to hit up, making it easier for you to volley  and  harder for them to pass you at the net. Volleys: When volleying, underspin helps you creat...