Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

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...

  The 7 Target Zones: Where Smart Players Aim In a previous article, we looked at the DNO Theory. This shot selection system  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 error...

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...

  To play your best match these 5 elements must be present, or your game will not function

The cross-court ground-stroke in tennis is the equivalent of the boxing jab. It's used as a stepping stone for other, more offensive shots and is also the best direction to defend.

Within a match, winning a point can be achieved in two ways: hitting a winner or capitalising on your opponent's errors. While hitting winners may give you an immediate sense of satisfaction, strategically drawing errors from your opponent can greatly impact the match.  1. The Psychology of Errors: When your opponent makes an error, it not only adds a point to your score but also creates a sense of frustration and self-doubt in their mind. You can disrupt their rhythm and confidence by consistently putting pressure on them and forcing them into making shot-selection mistakes or rushing them into technical errors. 2. Building Pressure: Drawing errors from your opponent requires you to analyse their game and give them the speed, width, height and placement they least enjoy.  Combining these factors means you constantly force your opponent to make difficult decisions and never allow them to feel comfortable. When building pressure in a match, the ultimate goal is t...