Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

  The 7 Target Zones: Where Smart Players Aim In a previous article, we looked at the DNO Theory — a shot selection system that helps players make better decisions by understanding whether they are in Defence, Neutral, or Offence during a point. Now, we take that one step further. Once a player knows what role they're in , the next question becomes: Where should I place the ball? That's where the 7 Target Zones come in — a simple and powerful court-mapping system that tells players exactly where to aim , based on their situation in the rally. When DNO and the 7 Target Zones are combined, players not only make the right shot selection , but they send the ball to the right part of the court — making their tennis smarter, more effective, and more difficult to beat. What Are the 7 Target Zones? The court is divided into seven distinct zones , each serving a strategic purpose. Learn to use them, and you'll build pressure, force errors, and win more point...

The 8 Opposites: Match Strategy to Outsmart Your Opponent Every tennis player has preferences. Some like the ball high, others low. Some thrive on fast shots, while others prefer slower rallies. Some feel comfortable with the ball wide, while others struggle when it's played into their body. Finally, some players like being at the net, while others are at their best when rallying from the baseline. These four opposites — High vs Low, Fast vs Slow, Wide vs Tight, and Up vs. Back — create a framework for analyzing an opponent. No player is equally comfortable with both choices in any pair. One will always be better than the other, and that's where strategy comes in.  The key to winning a match is figuring out which of these "preferences/opposites"  bothers  your opponent the most and use it to your advantage Understanding the 8 Opposites in Detail High vs. Low – Some players excel at hitting high-bouncing shots, while others struggle with them and prefer lower, sk...

I recently worked with a young player who had made tremendous strides in improving her ball control. She had learned to balance her powerful game with better ball placement and reduce her unforced errors.  Her progress was obvious when she won a local tournament in her age group, defeating a national team member in the final. Notably, she won both the semi-final and final in the third set, showcasing her newfound ability to handle pressure and construct points more effectively. However, last weekend, she competed in an ITF event against a higher-ranked opponent and reverted to her old erratic self. Instead of maintaining her newfound control and confidence, she reverted back to making repeated unforced errors. It was as if all her progress had vanished under the weight of higher competition. Why does this happen? And more importantly, what can be done to guard against players slipping back into old negative habits? "One of the biggest challenges for tennis  coaches is ensuring...

  The Necessity of Hitting Aces in Professional Tennis In professional tennis, the serve is more than just a way to begin a point—for advanced players, the ability to hit aces consistently is not a luxury but a necessity. Let’s explore why delivering aces is crucial and how it impacts a player’s overall game and match performance. Dominating with your serve is a crucial part of  professional tennis. 1. Serving Aggressively: Protecting Your Service Games Losing your serve can spell disaster, and often means also losing the set. Matches at the professional level are frequently decided by a single break of serve, and recovering from such a loss of serve can feel like climbing a mountain. This is why maintaining an aggressive mindset and aiming for aces throughout the match is vital. An aggressive mindset keeps you "honest". Hitting regular aces can save energy while also sending a psychological message to the opponent, signalling that they will have few chances to break your se...

Tennis is as much a mental game as a physical one, and this truth becomes painfully evident for many junior players when they step onto the court. Mental struggles—stress, pressure, negativity and a lack of confidence—can lead to feelings of helplessness, self-doubt, and frustration.  For these players, and there are many like this, it’s so overwhelming that it affects their results every time they compete. This mental anguish is not limited to junior players; even seasoned competitors struggle with it. So, how do we address this challenge? The Baby Analogy Let’s think about a baby for a moment. When a baby is uncomfortable—hungry, tired, on danger—it cries. Crying is their way of signalling to their caregiver that they need help. It’s instinctive, it’s their only way to communicate that something is wrong. Now, here’s the problem: many people never truly grow out of this stage. Even as they age, their first response to discomfort, failure, or challenge is to seek external help or ...