Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

  Don't Just Teach the Stroke — Teach the Context Why Every Tennis Lesson Must Link Directly to Match Play When we teach players a new stroke, footwork or tactical pattern, it's easy to fall into the trap of isolating the skill, perfecting the action in a vacuum. The issue? Tennis isn't a closed-skill sport like gymnastics or archery. It's an open-skilled, reactive sport. Success depends not only on how well a player executes a stroke but on when and why they use it. This is where context becomes everything. The Missing Link: Strategic Relevance Too often, players leave a lesson with a technically improved shot but without an  understanding of how or when to use it in a match. They've learned the how , but not the why or the when . We hand them a tool, but without a blueprint for how to use it effectively. The result? Players are left to "bridge the gap" on their own, trying to figure out how the new backhand, serve variation, or rally pattern fi...

When most players first pick up a tennis racquet, what’s the first thing they do? They start swinging Even without a coach, they imitate what they’ve seen on TV or from other players at the club — copying the appearance of a forehand, a serve, or a backhand. This appearance-first learning model has become the default approach across much of the tennis world. The majority of coaches around the world also take their lead from what they see the top players do, appearances, without understanding the fundamentals these top players have honed over years of work. And that’s a problem. The Danger of Appearance-First Learning This imitation approach might seem logical at first — after all, we learn many things by copying what we see. But in tennis, it creates a dangerous foundation. Why? Because tennis is not a closed-skill sport like golf, snooker, or diving, where the environment is predictable, stationary, and repeatable. In those sports, copying a swing or movement pattern can act...

One of the biggest breakthroughs in my coaching career came with my learning the  DNO Theory.   This practical shot selection theory helps players instantly recognise whether they’re in Defence, Neutral, or Offence during a point. Master Professional and long-time mentor, the late Peter Burwash, first introduced the theory to me, and it has been in my coaching "tool bag" ever since. Instead of guessing or reacting emotionally, players begin making smart, structured decisions based on what the DNO Theory is telling them. And the beauty of this system is that it works at every level — from juniors to professionals, in singles and in doubles. The Two Rules of DNO DNO is built on two simple rules that apply to every point you play: 1. Foot Position If your feet are behind the baseline , you’re in Defence . If your feet are on or inside the baseline , you’re in Offence . The further inside the court you go , the more offensive your opportunities b...

  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 Mental Trap That Stops Good Tennis Players From Succeeding Talent and hard work are not always enough in competitive tennis. Many players—some of them highly skilled—never reach their full potential because they struggle with  stress and pressure  during matches.  It’s not just nerves before a big point. It’s a mental pattern that builds up and slowly takes over: frustration after mistakes, fear of losing, negative self-talk, and panic when things go wrong. This article combines two powerful ideas that can help  coaches and players develop a healthier, more successful mindset for dealing with competition stress. 1. Tennis Is a Sport Where You Lose… A Lot Here’s a fact that surprises most people: In Novak Djokovic’s best season—when he was the number one player in the world—he  lost 46% of all the points  he played. That’s right. Nearly half the time, even the best player in the world didn’t win the point. Tennis scoring is unique. ...

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...