NOT ALL POINTS ARE EQUAL


Within a match, winning a point can be achieved in two ways: hitting a winner or capitalising on your opponent's errors. While hitting winners may give you an immediate sense of satisfaction, strategically drawing errors from your opponent can greatly impact the match. 


1. The Psychology of Errors:

When your opponent makes an error, it not only adds a point to your score but also creates a sense of frustration and self-doubt in their mind. You can disrupt their rhythm and confidence by consistently putting pressure on them and forcing them into making shot-selection mistakes or rushing them into technical errors.


2. Building Pressure:


Drawing errors from your opponent requires you to analyse their game and give them the speed, width, height and placement they least enjoy.  Combining these factors means you constantly force your opponent to make difficult decisions and never allow them to feel comfortable. When building pressure in a match, the ultimate goal is to make your opponent break down technically, physically and, best of all, mentally.

The ultimate goal is to make your opponent
break down technically, physically and,
best of all, mentally.


3. Exploiting Weaknesses:

Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Studying your opponent's game lets you identify and exploit their vulnerabilities during the match. For example, you must analyse whether your opponent struggles with certain heights, speeds, widths and positions on the court (either at the baseline or at the net). A theory I use constantly is called the 8 Opposites. It's a method you can use to quickly create a strategy to give your opponent exactly the type of ball they don't want! 

Any pressure you can apply will come from an
analysis of your opponent's strengths and weaknesses


4. The Ripple Effect:

Drawing errors from your opponent can have a ripple effect on their overall performance. As they make more mistakes, their frustration and self-doubt can grow, eat away at their overall game, and result in a loss of confidence, all of which work in your favour.


5. The Importance of Consistency:

If the overall goal is for you to pressure your opponent into errors and to frustrate them, then consistency is key. Maintaining the pressure consistently throughout the match stops your opponent from thinking they have a way back in the match. Consistency of purpose in the match only multiplies the pressure your opponent is feeling.



While hitting winners may be exhilarating, drawing errors from your opponent has a more profound impact on your opponent's mindset. Remember, tennis is a mental battle much more than it is a technical battle
.
Location: Bangkok, Thailand

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