Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

Tennis Power and Consistency: The Head-to-Foot Line Technique That Transforms Your Game Most tennis players and coaches are missing the most crucial line in tennis—and it has nothing to do with any of the lines painted on the court. I’ve spent most of my life analysing what makes the best players tick, and specifically what they do to make the game look so easy. Mostly, what I have found is that the significant differences are mental, physical and biomechanical. While everyone focuses on technique, swing paths, grips, and footwork patterns that inhibit players more than help, they're missing something straightforward and easy to teach – and that’s hidden in plain sight! Watch any lower-level tournament match and you'll see players working incredibly hard—grunting, straining, and fighting for every shot. Then watch the top pros and notice how relaxed they appear even while generating tremendous pace. The difference isn't fitness, talent, or hours of practice alone. I...

The Ground Fundamental: Your Key to Timing, Power, and Balance The missing link to effortless, controlled hitting in all situations. By Paul Dale | 50 Years of International Coaching The Ground is one of my three fundamentals for tennis. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not teaching Ground to a player to enhance their timing, power, or balance.   Your relationship with the ground incorporates movement, balance, and timing. Without these elements working together, you cannot provide energy or control to the ball. Tennis has become so fast and physical that many coaches and players have forgotten some of the most basic fundamentals. Here's our chance to get your game back to basics. THE THREE BENEFACTORS OF GROUND 1. TIMING: SYNCHRONIZING GROUND ENERGY Good timing is essential in every sport. Whether you're swinging a tennis racquet, golf club, or kicking a football, timing determines success or failure. In tennis, most players know when they've timed a shot ...

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...