The Tennis Parent’s Bible
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COMING SOON – THE TENNIS ENCYCLOPEDIA!
Observing Their Tendencies
Kim: “My favorite play is returning a second serve. I’ve got a big forehand, so everyone tries to serve to my backhand. If it’s a positive game point, I watch them begin their service toss. Then I slide three steps to my left and crush my forehand. It’s so fun!”
One of the keys to effective opponent profiling is paying attention to your adversary’s tendencies-their game’s recurring behaviors. Let’s look at the importance of recognizing their tendencies and how you can leverage the knowledge to gain a competitive edge.
2.1 Identifying Recurring Behaviors
Top opponents know their tennis identity. They have preset plans that provide repeatable success. Identifying reoccurring tendencies is essential in competitive tennis.
2.2 Anticipating with Situational Awareness
Analyze your opponent’s preferred offense, neutral and defensive choices. Recognizing situational tendencies lets you predict where the ball is going.
2.3 Assessing Movement Patterns
Observe your opponent’s efficiency in their court coverage. Use this information to exploit their movement limitations and create opportunities for yourself.
2.4 Shot Tolerance
Your opponent’s shot tolerance is their preferred length of point. Analyzing their risk-taking tendencies provides insight into their physical, mental, and emotional stability during matches. By understanding their shot tolerance, you can make opponents play points on your terms.
2.5 Exploiting Predictability
Recognizing and exploiting your opponent’s predictable tendencies hold great benefits. You can disrupt their comfort by taking advantage of their reliance on specific shots or strategies.
Uncovering the opponent’s predictability and adjusting your game plan is critical to success. As you refine your observational skills and apply these strategies, you will become adept at deciphering your opponent’s tendencies and win more tight matches.
