The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
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Situation #7: Our player is down 1-4 but is actually controlling the court and the points. His hard-hitting baseline style is working, but he simply misses the put-away balls by a few inches.
Jason: Spots that the style is working. He adapts by staying with the hard-hitting style of play and chooses to apply more topspin to his shots and simply aim three feet inside the lines.
Jack: He is so upset that he is missing that he does not spot the fact that he is actually controlling the points with his hard-hitting baseline style of play. So, he changes his hard-hitting style, stands flat-footed, and pushes every shot. Jack’s slow, short balls are now “Sitting Ducks,” and the opponent has a field day hitting winner after winner. After the match, Jack says, “He was too good.”
Situation #8: Our player wins the first set 6-2. Upon the start of 2nd set, the opponent shifts from his hard-hitting baseline style into a conservative, retrieving style of play.
Jason: Spots the change in style and counters by simply adapting to the “New Look.” Since he is no longer receiving FREE points, Jason begins to work on his selection of patterns.
Jack: Does not spot the shift in style. He begins to get frustrated by the fact that the opponent is not missing the second or third ball anymore. Jack begins to panic, play faster, and hit harder without even knowing. Jack is trying to force winners left and right. Jack implodes once again and breaks another brand-new racquet!
Situation #9: The Easter Bowl (Palm Springs, Ca.) is famous for its windy conditions. Often, players have to cope with 30-40 miles per hour wind speeds. The result is that a cautious, consistent retriever style of play is often rewarded. The elements play a critical role in shot selection.
Jason: Adapts his offensive baseline style to a safer style of play. He looks for ways to use the wind to his advantage. He applies more spin on the ball and aims four feet inside the court on every shot. He understands that going for winners in these “crazy” conditions is an almost impossible proposition, so he buckles down and uses his “B” plan. This plan consists of letting the opponent “self-destruct.”
Jack: Begins the tournament with the expectation that the conditions are unfair and he cannot play in the wind! He conveniently forgets that he has had many opportunities to practice in the wind in weeks prior to the tournament, but he canceled his lessons because he believed it was pointless to practice in windy conditions. (Jack lives in Southern California and Santa Ana winds are present many times a year.) Guess who lost first and first this year at the Easter Bowl?
