Frank Giampaolo's Maximizing Tennis Potential

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s, The Match Chart Collection. Click Here To Order 

INTRODUCTION TO THE MATCH CHART COLLECTION

The Match Chart Collection is a series of 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 friends to assist in the growth of the athlete. After charting a match, the charting notes should be shared by the coach 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 Possible Future Opponents: You may also want to consider charting opponents and top seeds for a comparison study.

Self-Charting:  Recognizing and applying the match statics (charting notes) during actual match play is a valuable, 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.

Specific Match Chart Purpose:

BETWEEN POINT RITUALS CHART:

This chart will identify the player’s ability to stay focused and execute their critical between point rituals. Players who do not keep their brain focused on the task at hand have to defeat two opponents-the opposition and their wandering mind.

FIRST STRIKE WINNING PERCENTAGE:

In groundstroke warfare, it’s estimated that approximately 80% of the opponent’s winners come from their forehand and about 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.

CAUSE OF ERROR CHART:

Tennis is a game of errors.  The first most critical step in error reduction is to spot the actual cause of the error. This chart will require you to identify the cause of the error. Note: Not all errors are caused by improper form!

COURT POSITIONING MATCH CHART:

This chart will differentiate whether playing “reactive” tennis from behind the baseline earns the best winning percentages or whether playing “proactive” tennis from inside the court increases winning percentages.  The court position you prefer to play may not be the position that wins you the most points.

DEPTH OF GROUND STROKE CHART:

This chart will quantify the depth of the groundstroke, which determines the ease of return for the opponent.  A ball landing short in the service box (attack zone) is often a sitting duck to be crushed by the opponent.  A ball landing deeper in the court (defend zone) often keeps the opponent on their heels in a defensive position.

ERROR PLACEMENT CHART:

This chart will expose where your player makes most of their errors.  One of the keys to error containment is understanding error placement. Winning matches require spotting and fixing re-occurring errors.

LENGTH OF POINT CHART:

The length of your point is dictated by your playing style. This chart will expose your player’s shot tolerance level.  Knowing shot tolerance levels will help you organize your playing strategy.  For example: If the opponent can’t hit more than 3 consecutive balls in, your player doesn’t need intricate strategies; they simply need to hit 3-4 balls deep and let the opponent self-destruct. On the other hand, if the opponent has a shot tolerance of 20 balls, your player needs to run patterns to maneuver the steady player into a vulnerable position.

MEGA POINT CHART:

Mega points are the game-winning points. This chart is especially important in competitive tennis because it highlights the game-winning points. Tipping a close match in your favor requires spotting a big point before it’s actually played, paying attention to match details, and running the smartest patterns.

SERVING PERCENTAGE CHART:

This chart discriminates between the important varying factors required to hold serve, such as, serve consistency, serve location and first and second serve win-loss percentages. Ask your player to focus on the factors, as mentioned above, and let go of the serve speed. FYI: On the WTA tour, second serve win-loss percentages are the most telling factor in deciding the outcome of the match.

SHOT SELECTION CHART:

The mental game is the X’s and O’s of strategy. At the heart of tennis-strategy is understanding offense, neutral, and defense shot selections. The most common cause of unforced errors in competitive tennis is improper shot selection. Often, the location of the incoming ball dictates a player’s high percentage shot selection option.  For example: Going for a risky offensive shot off a defensive ball is a recipe for disaster. This chart will reveal playing patterns from statistically appropriate shot selection to inappropriate or reckless shot selection.

UNFORCED ERROR VERSUS WINNER CHART:

This chart documents winners and unforced errors from individual strokes. Tallying which stroke commits unforced errors and produces a high volume of winners will assist coaches in customizing a game plan aimed at exposing strengths and hiding (or fixing) weaknesses.

EMOTIONAL CLIMATE CHART:

This chart effectively identifies the emotional climate of the athlete throughout competition. Recognizing how often the athlete unknowingly shifts from their optimistic mindset to a pessimistic mindset is typically the precursor to a significant drop in one’s performance level.

PROPER MARGINS CHART:

This chart identifies the amount of unnecessary risk your athlete takes while in a competitive match situation. Safe margins call for aiming three feet inside the lines and three feet above the net- allowing a bit of “wiggle room.” If the athlete’s shots are a few feet off their mark, their still keeping balls in play. Shot selection is the most common cause of forced and unforced errors in the advanced game. Encourage your athletes to hit “big” with plenty of spin but within a safe margin.