DNO THEORY: THE SHOT SELECTION TEMPLATE
Knowing when to attack or defend is crucial Playing tennis is a little like a car. The engine will drive you forward but without a means to change gears or steer the car, there’s no real way to use the car in a purposeful manner. Many players, particularly in the women’s game, rely solely on how hard they can hit the ball. The faster the better. It’s all about the engine! When I watch a tournament, the players who catch my eye are those who can switch from offence to defence and understand which shot is most appropriate for the situation. This ability to change gears and understand the shot required is a difficult lesson to teach as it has nothing to do with stroke mechanics but instead requires a player to learn instinctiveness under a variety of situations. The best theory I know to teach this instinctiveness, and one I have used for many years, is the DNO Theory. The DNO Theory helps a player understand the correct shot to hit under v...