Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

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...

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If you're still teaching players to "slow down, relax and breathe their way through stress," you're using the same outdated methods that have created generations of practice champions who can't cope with pressure and crumble at competition time.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...