Simple Match Charts

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s newest book, The Match Chart Collection. Click Here to Order through Amazon

INTRODUCTION TO THE MATCH CHART COLLECTION

The Match Chart Collection is a series of ten different charts that have been designed for easy implementation and maximum information gathering potential. The charts quantify match performance by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a player’s performance under stress- match conditions. Although all parents/coaches want their players to “win”, the match should be considered an information gathering opportunity.

The charts “ user-friendly” format makes them attractive to the novice tennis parent as well as the advanced tennis coach. The goal is to encourage coaches, parents, family and/or friends to assist in the growth of the junior player. After charting a match, the charting notes should be shared with the player and the developmental team to organize future training sessions.

Additional Charting Advantages:

Past Match Chart Review: Players often play the same opponents over and over again at the higher levels.  Reviewing past charts against the same opponent may reveal the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

Charting Opponents: You may also want to consider charting opponents and /or top seeds for a comparison study.

Self-Charting:  Recognizing and applying the match statics (charting notes) during actual match play is a wonderful learned behavior that the top players have mastered. For example, it would prove meaningful if you knew the opponent’s forehand to backhand unforced error count heading into a tie-breaker.

FIRST STRIKE WINNING PERCENTAGE:

In-ground stroke warfare, it’s estimated that approximately 80% of the opponent’s winners come from their forehand and approximately 20% from their backhand. The First Strike is the very first shot your athlete hits- serve or return of serve. This chart will help identify the winning percentage of the location of your player’s serve and return of serve (First Strike) and aid in shot selection awareness.
FIRST STRIKE WINNING PERCENTAGE

In-ground stroke warfare, it’s estimated that approximately 80% of the opponent’s winners come from their forehand and approximately 20% from their backhand. The First Strike is the very first shot your athlete hits- serve or return of serve.

Identifying the winning percentage of the location of your player’s serve and return of serve (First Strike) is shot selection awareness.  (Examples: Your player serves to the opponent’s backhand and wins the point-tally one point into the backhand win column. Your player returns serve to the opponent’s forehand and loses the point-tally one point into the forehand loss column.)

CHART NOTES: After each set, tally the percentage of points won with first strikes to the opponent’s forehand versus backhand. Simply by starting each point to the opponents weaker side rewards athletes with a dominating court position and a substantial winning percentage.

Loss

Loss