Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

Why 95% of Tennis Coaching Accidentally Creates Chokers Why 95% of tennis coaches are accidentally creating chokers (and the 3AM method that fixes it) By Paul Dale | 50 Years of International Coaching If you're still teaching players to "slow down, relax and breathe their way through stress," you're using the same outdated methods that have created generations of practice champions who can't cope with pressure and crumble at competition time. Here's what most coaches need to realise: Every breathing technique, every ritual, every "stay calm" instruction is actually making your players weaker under pressure. We're approaching the topic of stress and pressure all wrong. Players don't need to learn avoidance strategies to conquer their mental meltdowns; they need to see pressure as a motivator and something to be embraced. Avoidance of pressure and stress is a very Western way of dealing with the problem.  The Practice Champion Problem (Yo...

The Serve Question That Puzzled Me for Years (And What I Finally Discovered) Two proven approaches, one surprising connection, and the insight that changed how I teach the serve By Paul Dale | 50 Years of International Coaching The Question That Started It All Throughout my coaching career, I've encountered two distinct approaches to serving technique, each championed by excellent coaches and successfully utilised by elite players. The Snap Method: Sharp wrist action with the racquet tip leading through contact.  The Pronation Method: Smooth forearm rotation with the left edge leading (for right-handers) Both produce powerful, accurate serves. Both have scientific backing. Both create champions. For years, this puzzled me. How could two seemingly different techniques achieve such similar results? Recently, I discovered something that brought it all together—and it's changed how I approach serve coaching entirely. The Observation That Changed My Understanding I was working wit...

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...