Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

Teaching "Loading" Alone Is Ruining Your Players' Timing (And What to Teach Instead) By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method Every coach knows the importance of ground reaction forces in tennis. We teach players to "load"—bend their knees and thrust upward to create racquet-head speed. It's fundamental to every powerful groundstroke, serve, return, and overhead. However, here's the problem: teaching players to  only  load the ground creates  more timing issues than it solves. The Loading Trap That's Destroying Player Development Loading refers to a player interacting with the ground by bending their knees and thrusting out of that position to create greater racquet-head speed. While this happens on all good shots, the instruction to "just load" is backfiring for most players. Here's what typically happens: A coach tells a player to load. The player dutifully bends their knees—precisely what the coach wants to "see." For a small ...

  Master the Two-Handed Backhand: 4 Essential Tennis Techniques for Control and Power By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method Complete guide to developing a versatile two-handed backhand with professional-level control, spin, and directional accuracy The two-handed backhand can be one of tennis's most reliable and powerful strokes when executed with proper technique. However, many tennis players struggle with consistency and versatility because they focus on rigid grip positions rather than understanding the fundamental mechanics that create control and power. These five essential elements will transform your two-handed backhand from a defensive liability into an offensive weapon. By mastering hand positioning, power generation, and directional control, you'll develop the backhand versatility needed for competitive tennis success. 1. Bottom Hand Positioning: Controlling Your Contact Zone Length The bottom hand grip position directly plays a part in the length of your two-handed bac...

Why Tennis Players Fail in Matches Despite Perfect Practice (The Hidden Transfer Problem Every Coach Will Face) By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method How the 3AM Method solves the practice-to-match performance gap that affects most competitive tennis players I was watching a junior tennis tournament last month. A young player was hitting absolute rockets  during the warm-up,  perfect tennis technique, incredible power, shots landing exactly where intended. Her practice partner could barely keep up. Then the match started. Within three games, this same tennis player was struggling to keep balls in the court. The powerful groundstrokes that looked so impressive ten minutes earlier were now sailing long or finding the net. Her confidence was gone entirely; she looked like a different player. This scenario unfolds in courts worldwide every day, revealing a crucial aspect that many tennis players and coaches overlook about the relationship between tennis practice and competitive perfo...

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...