Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

Why I Ignore Technique and Focus On Mentality and Strategy First (And Your WTA/ATP Student Will Thank You For It) The Backwards Coaching Approach That Creates Breakthrough Results By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method I just started working with a new student ranked inside the WTA 1000. In the first session, she expected me to talk about her shaky forehand, analyse her serve technique, and maybe tweak her backhand grip. Standard coaching stuff. Instead, I watched her play points. Studied her patterns. Observed how she handled pressure. Never touched her technique. She looked confused. Maybe even sceptical. But here's what 50 years of coaching elite players has taught me: The fastest path to improvement runs straight through strategy and mentality – not technique. Intermediate and advanced players thrive on receiving specific strategic and mental help with their game; technique can wait. The Problem With "Technique-First" Coaching Watch any typical coaching session. What...

Tennis Match Preparation:  The 4:1 Rule for Peak Performance By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method Your match tomorrow is expected to last approximately two hours. During the last few weeks, how much time did you spend preparing for it? An hour or two each day? You may have hit 4 times this week. But here's the ratio that separates those who complain about their results from those who consistently perform: 4:1. Four hours of preparation for every hour you'll be on court. Minimum. That two-hour match needs eight hours of preparation. Most players invert this completely. They spend 45 minutes, four times a week, getting ready for a 2-3 hour battle and wonder why they begin to struggle in long matches, or why things that were working in practice start to fall apart. The four corners Think of match preparation as a table with four legs. Remove any one leg, and the whole thing collapses when it is first used. Physical, Sleep. Nutrition, Conditioning.  This is the leg everyone sees...

Many coaches believe that all points are the same, but in reality, there are normal and "Big" points. Your ability to distinguish normal points from the big points and take the necessary steps to win the big points more often than your opponent makes you much tougher to beat. The significance of a point can vary depending on the context of the game, match or set. For example, a point at 40-15 in a game may be less crucial than a deuce point, which can determine the outcome of a game. This ability to understand what is "normal" and what are Big points is called good Game Management. A player who understands Game management constantly adapts their shot selection choices throughout the match. Game Management has nothing to do with age, but everything to do with maturity Game Management also involves the score, match stage and a point's psychological impact on the opponent. If you're facing a Break Point near the end of a set, serving an ace to bring the score b...