Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

The Ground Fundamental: Your Key to Timing, Power, and Balance The missing link to effortless, controlled hitting in all situations. By Paul Dale | 50 Years of International Coaching The Ground is one of my three fundamentals for tennis. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not teaching Ground to a player to enhance their timing, power, or balance.   Your relationship with the ground incorporates movement, balance, and timing. Without these elements working together, you cannot provide energy or control to the ball. Tennis has become so fast and physical that many coaches and players have forgotten some of the most basic fundamentals. Here's our chance to get your game back to basics. THE THREE BENEFACTORS OF GROUND 1. TIMING: SYNCHRONIZING GROUND ENERGY Good timing is essential in every sport. Whether you're swinging a tennis racquet, golf club, or kicking a football, timing determines success or failure. In tennis, most players know when they've timed a shot ...

From Talented Amateur to Tennis Pro: The 3 Non-Negotiable Mental Shifts By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method The gap between talented players and elite professional tennis players isn't talent—it's how they think, train, and compete every single day. Here are my three non-negotiables that separate professional athletes from the rest. 1. Every Ball Counts Elite Player Mindset Elite tennis professionals don't have an "on/off" switch. They treat every ball with the same intensity. This isn't just about effort—it's about mindset. Over many years, I have observed that top players never switch off or hit aimlessly. I find myself telling young players daily to focus on their fundamentals, to stay aware of the adjustments needed for each ball, reminding them that “every ball is different,” and asking them not to “save their legs” on difficult shots. When you practice casually, you're training your brain to remain calm in high-pressure situations. Y...

From Practice to Pressure: 5 Tournament Coaching Strategies That Transform Match Performance By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method The gap between practice sessions and tournament success depends on how well coaches create a bridge between the two.  However, many coaches find themselves at tournaments with individual players or teams, but without a clear tennis coaching strategy. There are three main jobs for the coach at the tournament:  (1) Bring practice topics to the tournament  (2) Send the player(s) into matches with those topics (2) Give informed reviews on those topics post-match When a player is under pressure, you get the clearest reflection of your coaching program's effectiveness, as well as where the work needs to be done once you return to your base.  Match pressure sharpens both the coaching delivery and the player's receptiveness.  During tournaments,  Here are my five keys to help coaches become tournament-ready:  1. Stick to the Plan: Brin...

Visual Blocking – Dictating Your Opponent's Next Shot By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method

Applying the DNO Theory at Net    A Complete Guide for Advanced Competitive Players By Paul Dale - The 3AM Method In the heat of competitive tennis, few decisions carry more weight than when to approach the net. Make the right call, and you've seized control of the point. Choose poorly, and you'll find yourself scrambling to recover as your opponent passes you with ease. Here's a way to remove the guesswork and provide you with the tactical clarity you need to dominate at the net. The DNO Framework: Your Net Approach Decision Tree Peter Burwash, Master Professional and my early mentor, created the DNO Theory (Defence, Neutral, Offence), which provides the perfect template for understanding when and how to approach the net. Every ball you face falls into one of these three categories, and each requires an entirely different net approach strategy. Defence (D): Survival Mode - Get The Ball Back When you're in a defensive position, approaching the net is tactical su...

I'm in a Match-Now What? The 5 Elements of Match-Play You’ve trained for days, maybe weeks. You’ve worked on technique, movement, fitness, and strategy. Now, you’re standing alone on the court on match day, and it hits you — this is it . All the advice, all the drills, all the repetitions have led to this moment. But here’s the truth: without a clear plan, all that work can slip through your fingers. A player who walks into a match with a plan — even a simple one — will beat 85% of the opponents they face. So, what should your plan be? Forget complicated tactical charts and overthinking every situation. Your job on match day is to make sure five critical elements are in place from the first ball to the last. This is where your focus goes immediately. Without these five working for you, winning becomes more difficult, and at higher levels, almost impossible. The Five Elements of Match Play 1️⃣ High Percentage of First Serves Start every point with the advantage. Missing too...