Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

Why Practice Champions Crumble in Competition (And the 3AM Training Method That Fixes It) By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method Several years ago, I was on a practice court with Tamarine Tanasugarn at 7am after a long international flight. While everyone else struggled to adjust to unfamiliar conditions, Tamarine was striking the ball as cleanly as ever. Her timing was perfect from the first ball until the last. Here's what most coaches need to understand: Every practice session that prioritises comfort over adaptability is accidentally training players to fail when competition demands instant performance. We're approaching tournament preparation all wrong. Players don't need more stroke repetition in perfect conditions—they need systematic exposure to the unpredictability that defines competitive tennis. Your next tournament breakthrough doesn't come from perfecting technique in a comfortable setting. It comes from mastering what I call the 3AM Theory. The Tournament Pre...

What's Wrong With Creating Confident Tennis Players  (And Why It Hurts Their Performance) By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method The Uncomfortable Truth About Tennis Coaching Here's what most tennis coaches won't admit: They're more afraid of their students feeling bad, or their parents complaining, than they are of their students losing matches. So they create comfortable practice environments filled with predictable ball feeding, isolated stroke "tweaking," and very few point play—all designed to make players feel confident. The result? Students leave lessons feeling great and lose matches feeling confused. The problem isn't the players. It's that we're teaching in an environment of comfort when, instead, we should be simulating the unpredictability and discomfort of real match-play. We're teaching competitive players in a comfortable environment to build their confidence. The result is the opposite; players who crumble under match pressure The...

  The Sacred Contract: Why Following Instructions Defines Elite Tennis Success By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method The Clear Division of Match Responsibilities In competitive tennis, the relationship between coach and player operates on a fundamental principle that many overlook: execution belongs to the player, while strategy and accountability rest with the coach . This division isn't just philosophical—it's the cornerstone of championship-level tennis. Immediately after a loss, the coach should shoulder the responsibility as long as the player transferred their learnings from practice and delivered the match strategy laid out by the coach During matches, players have one primary job: execute the techniques drilled in training and implement the specific match strategies their coach has prepared. The coach, meanwhile, bears responsibility for the outcome when these instructions are followed. After a loss, the most powerful words a coach can speak are: "We were beaten, and it...

  Mastering Tennis Doubles: The DNO Theory and Why Doubles Is a Different Game By Paul Dale | The 3AM Tennis Method Tennis doubles isn't just singles with extra players on the court. It's a chess match requiring synchronised movement, tactical awareness, and split-second decision-making between partners. Whether you're looking to improve your doubles understanding or specialise in doubles entirely, mastering the unique aspects of this format will transform your game. The Foundation: Partnership and Shot Selection The first fundamental truth about doubles is that both team members must work together in very specific ways. This isn't about simply avoiding collisions or deciding who takes the middle ball. A true doubles partnership means each player must constantly create opportunities for their partner while keeping them safe from aggressive returns. This dual responsibility comes down to one critical factor: superior shot selection. Every shot you hit in doubles shou...

Stop Chasing Confidence. It's Not Important By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method Bad week of practice. Lost your last two matches. Feeling shaky when under pressure in matches? Everyone's advice? "Start working on your confidence!" Yeah. But will that work? The Confidence Trap Here's the problem with chasing confidence: You've often been through periods when your confidence is high and you go into matches feeling as good as you've ever felt—but eventually the same problems in your game surface, and the downward mental spiral begins again. It's circular. "I'll perform well when I feel confident" → "I'll feel confident when I perform well." You're stuck. And those pre-match confidence checks? "Do I feel confident? Am I ready?" That's like checking if you're relaxed every five minutes. The checking itself creates the problem. What If Confidence Is The Wrong Target? Here's a different way to think abou...