Tennis Congress Blog | Tactical Tennis Insights & Event Updates

Your Recovery Position Starts With the Ball You Just Hit

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:59:17 GMT

The center mark is a reference, not a command. Your shot starts the recovery decision. Your opponent’s contact finishes it.

I often see a player hit a good crosscourt ball and then undo part of the work by running directly to the center mark.

The effort is honest.

The destination is not always correct.

Your recovery position should depend on three things:

Where your shot sends the opponent
How well they reach the ball
What shots remain realistic from their contact position

The center mark is painted on the court. It does not know any of that.

This article focuses on recovery during singles baseline rallies.

The Middle of What?

“Get back to the middle” is reasonable advice for a beginning player.

The better question is:

The middle of what?

Your real target is the middle of the opponent’s available shot angles.

Picture two lines beginning at the opponent’s contact point. One travels toward the widest shot they can play to your left. The other travels toward the widest shot they can play to your right.

Your recovery zone sits between those lines.

When the opponent contacts the ball near the center of the court, that zone may be close to the center mark.

When the opponent is pulled wide, the zone shifts.

A 2024 Hawk-Eye study examined 5,679 backcourt shots involving 23 top-100 players. The players positioned themselves near the line dividing their opponent’s possible shot angles, rather than automatically returning to the geometric center of the court.

The research does not give us one magic spot for every rally. It supports a more useful principle:

Recover in relation to the opponent, not the painted lines.

Shot Direction Starts the Decision

The ball you hit tells you where the next shot will begin.

A crosscourt ball and a down-the-line ball place your opponent in different locations. Those locations create different angles.

But direction is only the first clue.

Depth, pace, height and width determine whether your opponent reaches the ball comfortably or under pressure.

A deep ball is not automatically difficult. A slow, high ball may give the opponent plenty of time.

A shorter ball is not automatically easy. If it stays low and pulls the opponent forward or wide, the contact may still be uncomfortable.

Read the entire situation.

You hit a deep crosscourt ball

Suppose your crosscourt ball pushes the opponent wide and behind the baseline.

Recovery: Begin moving toward the center of the angles available from their contact point. Do not blindly return to the center mark or remain parked where you hit your shot.

If the opponent is rushed, stretched or moving backward, you may be able to hold a slightly more aggressive court position.

Why it works: A pressured opponent has fewer shots they can execute well. The crosscourt reply may be the higher-percentage choice, while changing direction down the line becomes more demanding.

If the opponent arrives balanced with comfortable contact height, both directions remain available.

You hit a short crosscourt ball

Now imagine the ball lands short and the opponent steps inside the baseline with time.

Recovery: Move quickly toward the center of their attacking angles. Be prepared to give yourself additional depth if their contact is comfortable.

Why it works: Earlier contact gives the opponent more ways to use the court.

They may:

Continue crosscourt with a sharper angle
Change direction down the line
Hit behind your movement
Drive through the open court

The shorter ball has reduced your reaction time. Your recovery must become more urgent, not merely more central.

You hit a deep down-the-line ball

A deep down-the-line ball can push the opponent toward the outside of the court.

Recovery: Move toward the center of the angles created by their new contact position. Be ready for the higher-margin crosscourt reply without completely surrendering the line.

Why it works: Changing direction down the line alters the geometry of the rally. It often leaves more court available on the diagonal.

The quality of your shot still matters.

If the opponent is deep and uncomfortable, you may have time to hold your ground. If they are balanced, your recovery must be quicker and more complete.

Do not recover based on the ambition of your shot. Recover based on what the shot actually accomplished.

You hit a short down-the-line ball

This is one of the more dangerous balls to leave short.

Recovery: Move urgently toward the center of the opponent’s attacking angles. If they are stepping well inside the baseline, give yourself enough space to react.

Why it works: The opponent may attack crosscourt, continue down the line or play behind your recovery.

You have given them time and changed the direction of the rally.

That is a generous combination. Unfortunately, you are being generous to the wrong person.

You hit a wide ball

“Wide” does not automatically mean the opponent has fewer angles.

A balanced player contacting the ball outside the singles sideline may create a very sharp crosscourt shot.

A stretched player reaching the same ball late may have far fewer shots they can control.

Recovery: Move toward the center of the realistic angles from their contact point. Then adjust according to their balance and movement.

Watch whether the opponent is:

Balanced or stretched
Moving forward, sideways or backward
Contacting high or low
Early or late to the ball

Their location creates the geometry.

Their contact quality tells you which parts of that geometry they can actually use.

The Better Recovery Sequence

Recovery should not begin after you have finished admiring your shot.

Use this sequence:

1. Hit

Recognize the direction, depth and quality of your ball.

2. Move

Begin moving toward the center of the opponent’s available angles while your ball travels.

3. Read

Watch how the opponent approaches the ball.

Are they balanced? Stretched? Moving backward? Stepping inside the court?

4. Adjust

Make a small change to your recovery based on the contact they are about to make.

5. Split

Time your split step with their forward swing and contact.

The sequence is:

Hit. Move. Read. Adjust. Split.

You are not guessing where the ball will go.

You are positioning yourself to respond to what the opponent can reasonably do.

Try the Recovery-Zone Drill

Place three markers near your normal baseline recovery area:

One near the center
One slightly left
One slightly right

These are reference zones, not permanent positions.

Level 1: Direction

Play controlled crosscourt and down-the-line patterns.

After each shot, move toward the marker that best covers the opponent’s available angles.

Level 2: Contact Quality

Continue the same pattern, but now read the opponent.

If they reach the ball comfortably, complete your recovery with urgency.

If they are stretched or moving backward, hold a more assertive position while remaining balanced.

Level 3: Live Points

Remove the required pattern and play the point.

Judge the recovery using three questions:

Did the player start moving immediately?
Did the position match the opponent’s contact point?
Was the player balanced when the opponent struck the ball?

The goal is not to reach a cone perfectly.

The goal is to connect the shot, the read and the next movement.

Your Match Challenge

Take these four principles into your next match:

Opponent contacting near the center:
Your recovery zone will usually sit close to the center.

Opponent wide but balanced:
Shift with their available angles and respect both directions.

Opponent wide and under pressure:
Hold a stronger court position, but remain balanced enough to react.

Opponent inside the baseline with time:
Recover urgently and protect the larger attacking picture.

You do not need to memorize a different coordinate for every ball.

Remember the sequence:

Hit. Move. Read. Adjust. Split.

Your shot begins the recovery decision.

Your opponent’s contact completes it.

That is how you stop returning to the middle out of habit and start recovering with a reason.

Should Adult Tennis Players Still Use a One-Handed Backhand?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:00:52 GMT

The one-hander is disappearing from the professional game. That doesn't automatically mean it is the wrong backhand for your game.

For the first time in 149 years, no man with a one-handed backhand reached a Grand Slam semifinal.

That streak ended at the 2026 US Open when Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The one-handed backhand has become increasingly rare in professional tennis, with only around 2–3% of competitors now using it.

So the obvious question for an adult player is:

Should I still be using one?

The answer isn't as simple as the professional numbers suggest.

If you're learning a backhand from scratch, or considering a major change, there are real reasons to consider the two-hander.

But if you've spent years developing a functional one-handed backhand, switching simply because the pros are using it less may not make much sense.

The better question is:

Which backhand gives you the best solutions for the way you actually play?

Why the Two-Hander Has Become So Popular

There is a reason the two-handed backhand has taken over modern tennis.

It generally gives players more stability and control, particularly when handling fast balls and returning serve. The shorter swing also makes it easier to manage situations where there is less time to prepare. The two-handed backhand is widely valued for its power, control, and effectiveness on service returns.

That matters even more in today's game.

Players hit harder.

Returns are faster.

Time is limited.

And adult players often have another challenge: they don't have unlimited hours to spend rebuilding a stroke.

For someone learning a backhand today, the two-hander can be a very practical choice.

But that doesn't make the one-hander obsolete.

What the One-Hander Still Does Well

The one-handed backhand has some useful tools that shouldn't be dismissed.

Reach is one.

A one-hander can extend farther outside the body, which can help when you're pulled wide.

Variety is another.

The stroke naturally connects with slice, approach shots, defensive lobs, drop shots and one-handed volleys.

Those options can become particularly useful for players who like changing pace, moving forward or using different trajectories.

And there is another advantage that is easy to overlook:

If the one-hander is already your natural stroke, you have years of experience behind it.

That matters.

A theoretically “better” stroke isn't automatically better for a player who has to spend months rebuilding their timing, preparation and confidence.

Research comparing the biomechanics of one- and two-handed backhands also shows that they use the body differently rather than simply being two versions of the same movement.

So this isn't really a question of which stroke is universally superior.

It's a question of what your game needs.

The Questions I Would Ask an Adult Player

If a player came to me asking whether they should switch, I wouldn't start with the pros.

I'd start with their match.

How is your backhand on the return?

This is a big one.

If fast serves consistently make you late or uncomfortable, the two-hander may give you a useful advantage because of its shorter, more stable swing.

What happens when the ball gets high?

A high, heavy ball to the backhand can expose timing and spacing problems with a one-hander.

If you constantly find yourself backing up or taking the ball late, that's worth addressing.

But don't immediately assume the solution is changing the stroke.

Sometimes the real problem is positioning and preparation .

What happens when you're pulled wide?

This is where the one-hander can be useful.

Its reach can help you handle balls outside your normal strike zone, particularly when you have enough time to organize the swing.

Do you actually use your slice?

If your game includes frequent slices, approaches, low balls and changes of pace, the one-handed backhand may fit naturally into that style.

If you never come forward and prefer heavy baseline exchanges, the advantages may be different.

How much time are you willing to spend changing?

This might be the most important question for an adult player.

Changing from one backhand to another isn't just changing where your second hand goes.

It changes preparation, spacing, timing, balance, return mechanics and what you do under pressure.

That is a significant training project.

Don't Switch Because the Pros Did

This is the biggest takeaway from the current one-handed backhand conversation.

Professional tennis is telling us something important:

The two-handed backhand is extremely well suited to the speed and demands of the modern game.

Even Lorenzo Musetti, one of the leading one-handed backhand players, has acknowledged that the two-hander offers efficiency advantages in modern tennis, particularly with the speed of play.

At the same time, Denis Shapovalov has argued that a highly developed one-hander can create certain angles that are difficult to produce with two hands.

Both can be true.

The two-hander may be the more practical choice for many players learning today.

The one-hander can still be an excellent choice for a player who has developed it well and knows how to build a game around it.

A Better Test Than “Which One Is Better?”

If you're thinking about changing your backhand, don't compare two perfect versions of the strokes.

Compare your actual versions .

Over a few practice sessions, test both against:

First-serve returns
High heavy balls
Low balls
Wide balls
Down-the-line changes
Crosscourt rallies
Short balls
Balls when you're moving backward

Then ask:

Which one gives me more reliable options?

Not which one looks better.

Not which one the pros use.

Not which one feels better after ten comfortable balls from a coach.

Which one survives when the ball is fast, high, wide, awkward and important?

That's the backhand that matters.

The One-Hander Isn't Dead. But It Has to Earn Its Place.

The professional game has clearly moved toward the two-handed backhand.

That trend is real.

But adult tennis is not professional tennis.

You don't need to copy the tour.

You need a backhand that fits your body, your time, your strengths and the problems you actually face in matches.

If you're starting from scratch, the two-hander deserves serious consideration.

If you've spent years developing a one-hander that gives you control, variety and confidence, don't throw it away because the numbers changed.

Instead, ask a better question:

Is my backhand helping me solve the problems my game actually faces?

If the answer is yes, keep building it.

If the answer is no, then it's worth exploring why—and whether the problem is the stroke itself or how you're using it.

The best backhand isn't the one that is most popular.

It's the one you can trust when the ball gets difficult.

The First Four Shots: The Tactical Battle That Decides More Points Than You Think

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 17:33:01 GMT

Stop thinking about points as individual shots. Learn how the opening sequence creates your biggest opportunities.

The final shot is not always what decides a tennis point.

The winner.

The volley.

The ace.

A lot of the time, the point is decided much earlier.

Before the highlight moment.

It starts with the opening sequence:

Where did the serve go?

What kind of return came back?

Was the first ball an opportunity, or did it put you under pressure?

When I work with players on court, I often remind them that tennis is not just about reacting to the ball in front of them.

The point is being shaped from the very beginning.

The first four shots often decide who starts with control:

Serve.
Return.
First attacking or neutral ball.
The next response.

How to Read the First Four Shots

Think about the sequence from your perspective.

If you're serving:

Your serve → their return → your Serve +1 → their Return +1

If you're returning:

Their serve → your return → their Serve +1 → your Return +1

You're not trying to control all four shots. You're learning to recognize what your shot creates and what your opponent's response gives you next.

That is the real value of the framework.

Tennis Is Decision vs. Decision

One of the easiest mistakes to make in practice is working on shots without connecting them to the point.

You hit serves.

You hit forehands.

You hit backhands.

You finish with volleys.

But a match does not ask whether you can hit a forehand.

It asks whether you can create the right forehand in the right situation.

That is a different skill.

A serve is not just a serve.

A return is not just a return.

Every shot changes what can happen next.

When I demonstrate this on court, I will often have a player serve wide and then stop the point after the return. We look at the court position, the height of the ball and the space that has opened up. The serve has already created a decision before the next forehand is struck.

That is why a player can sometimes look as though they have more time. The time was created by the decision before the ball arrived.

Shot One: Make Your Serve Create the Next Ball

It is easy to judge a serve by speed.

Was it fast enough?

Did it land in?

Did it trouble the returner?

Those details matter, but the bigger issue is the type of return the serve creates.

A wide serve is not only about reaching the corner.

It is about opening the court.

A body serve is not only about forcing an uncomfortable contact.

It is about taking away space and reducing the returner's choices.

A serve to the backhand is not automatically valuable because every backhand is weak. It becomes valuable when it gives you a predictable ball for the next shot.

The serve creates the opportunity.

The next shot has to use it.

Try This:

During your next serving session, do not track only first-serve percentage.

After each serve, note:

What type of return did I create?
Did I get the first ball I expected?
Did the serve give me an advantage?
Was I ready to use that advantage?

A serve can be technically good and still fail tactically if the next ball catches you unprepared.

Shot Two: Your Return Has a Purpose

A common return goal is simply:

Get the ball back.

That is a useful starting point, especially against a big first serve. But the return should also have a purpose.

The return helps determine the kind of point that follows.

Against a strong first serve:

prioritize depth;
avoid giving away a free attack;
make the server play one more ball;
start the rally on balanced terms.

Against a weaker second serve:

step in;
take time away;
look for a deep, controlled target;
make the server feel pressure immediately.

The first serve and second serve are different situations. They should not receive the same return plan.

On court, I often ask a player to return two serves from the same position: one first serve and one second serve. The swing may look similar, but the intention changes. Against the first serve, the goal may be to neutralize. Against the second, the goal may be to take control.

Try This:

Before each return, choose your goal.

First serve: Use a safe aggressive target.

Second serve: Step in and take control without forcing the shot.

Then judge the return by the point it created—not simply by whether it was a winner.

A deep return that starts a neutral rally can be a very good return. A flashy return that leaves you out of position may not be.

Shot Three: The First Ball After the Return Changes the Point

This is where a lot of points begin to slip away.

The serve was good.

The return was manageable.

Then the first ball after the return is hit without a clear decision.

That ball often determines whether the point stays neutral or begins moving in your direction.

I like to divide this moment into three situations.

Neutral Ball

Both players are balanced.

Nobody is clearly in trouble.

Your job is to build.

Use reliable targets, good height and enough depth to keep the opponent from taking over.

Advantage Ball

The opponent is stretched, late or recovering.

Your job is to recognize the opportunity and attack with purpose.

That does not always mean hitting as hard as possible. It may mean changing direction, taking the ball early or moving the opponent again.

Defensive Ball

You are late, uncomfortable or pulled away from the court.

Your job is to restore the point.

Use:

height;
depth;
margin;
a target that gives you time to recover.

The mistake is not attacking.

The mistake is attacking before the ball gives you permission.

During a court demonstration, I may feed the same player three different balls from the same area.

One ball is neutral, one is short and one is low and difficult.
The correct response changes each time.

The swing is not the only thing being trained. The decision is the real lesson.

Shot Four: Continue the Advantage

The Return +1 is your first shot after the server plays their Serve +1.

This is where you decide whether to neutralize, defend, or turn the point back in your favor.

Here is a common example:

You return deep through the middle.

The server plays their Serve +1 to your backhand.

Now stop for a moment.

What kind of ball did you receive?

Are you:

balanced with comfortable contact?
being pushed back?
stretched toward the sideline?
receiving a shorter or weaker ball?

Your response should match the situation.

If you're under pressure, use height, depth and margin to get back into the point.

If the ball is neutral, build with a reliable target.

If the server gives you an opportunity, take space and attack.

The goal isn't to hit your Return +1 as hard as possible.

It's to recognize what the server's Serve +1 gives you—and make the right decision with it.

Stop Treating Every Point as Random

Good match play is built around patterns.

You begin to notice things such as:

“If I serve here, I often get this reply.”

“If I return here, I usually get this ball.”

“If I open the court, I need to be ready for the next space.”

“If I hit behind the opponent, I may get the shorter ball.”

Tennis should never become completely automatic.

The opponent can always change the picture.

But you can train yourself to recognize familiar situations sooner.

That is the value of working on the first four shots.

You are not trying to predict every point perfectly.

You are learning to see the likely options before the point becomes chaotic.

Research in tennis performance highlights the importance of serve, return and early-point performance in shaping match outcomes.

The practical lesson is simple: improving the beginning of the point can create more opportunities before a long rally even develops.

Your Next Match Challenge

For your next match, track the first four shots.

You do not need complicated statistics. After each game, review the opening sequence:

On serve:

Did my serve create the return I wanted?

On return:

Did I neutralize the serve or create pressure?

First ball:

Was I building, attacking or defending?

Fourth shot:

Did I continue the advantage?

After a few games, you will start seeing the match differently.

You will notice that some points were lost before the final error.

You will also notice that some points became easier because the serve, return and first ball were connected.

Tennis is not only about hitting better shots.

It is about creating better situations.

Many of those situations begin before the rally really starts.

The Point Starts Before the Point

It is tempting to spend all your time working on the last shot of the point.

The winner.

The finishing shot.

The highlight.

But better tennis often starts earlier.

The serve creates the return.

The return creates the opportunity.

The first ball creates pressure.

The next decision keeps the advantage.

When you learn to recognize and train those first four shots, the rest of the point becomes easier to understand—and much easier to play.

The 5 Skills That Move You Toward a Reliable 3.5 Game

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:52:00 GMT

The next level is not about hitting harder. It is about making better decisions with the shots you already have.

A lot of players think the jump to the next level happens when they add something new.

A bigger forehand.

A faster serve.

A more aggressive style.

A new technique that suddenly makes everything easier.

But for many players trying to move toward a reliable 3.5 game, the biggest improvement does not come from adding more weapons.

It comes from making the shots they already have more dependable.

A 3.5 player is not someone who hits every ball perfectly.

They are someone who can:

control direction;
create depth;
handle moderate pace;
recognize attackable opportunities;
recover with purpose;
make better decisions under pressure.

The difference is not the occasional highlight shot.
It is how many situations they can handle when the match becomes uncomfortable.

Skill 1: Control the Direction of the Rally

One of the biggest changes from developing player to 3.5 is understanding that every ball has a purpose.

Many players judge a successful shot by one question:

Did it go in?

Better players ask:

Where did it go, and what did it create?

A neutral ball in the middle of the court does not create the same situation as a deep crosscourt ball that pushes an opponent outside the court.

The direction of your shot starts creating the next decision.

Tactical Lesson: Build One Reliable Pattern

Instead of trying to hit every shot differently, build one pattern you trust.

Example:

Backhand crosscourt → opponent replies shorter → move inside → attack with forehand

Or:

Heavy forehand crosscourt → recover → wait for the shorter ball

The goal is not to win the first shot.

The goal is to create a predictable advantage.

Many 3.0 players are trying to end points.

Many 3.5 players are learning how to build them.

Try This:

Play points where you only attack after creating the same situation twice.

Example:

First two balls:

Crosscourt.

Third ball:

Attack only if the opponent gives you a shorter or weaker reply.

You are training patience and recognition not just aggression.

Skill 2: Know When to Defend, Build, and Attack

A major tactical jump happens when players stop seeing every ball as either:

“Hit a winner.”

or:

“Just keep it in.”

There is a third option:

Build.

Defensive Ball

Examples:

You are stretched wide.
You are moving backward.
Contact is uncomfortable.

Your job:

Create time.

Use:

More height.
More spin.
Bigger targets.
More margin.

Neutral Ball

Examples:

You are balanced.
You have comfortable contact.
Your opponent has not created an advantage.

Your job:

Build pressure.

Don't force.

Make them solve another ball.

Attackable Ball

Examples:

Short ball.
Floating ball.
Opponent recovering late.

Your job:

Move forward.

Take time away.

Change the point.

A common mistake among improving players is attacking because a ball is “short.”

But a short ball is only an opportunity if you can control the next situation.

The better question is:

Did the ball give me permission to attack?

Skill 3: Make Your Serve Create the Next Ball

Many developing players think about the serve as a way to start the point.

A 3.5 player should start thinking about the serve as the first tactical decision.

The question changes from:

“How do I hit a harder serve?”

to:

“What return am I trying to create?”

Example:

Wide Serve

Purpose:

Create space.

Expected response:

Crosscourt return.

Next decision:

Attack the open court.

Body Serve

Purpose:

Reduce the returner's options.

Expected response:

Blocked or shorter return.

Next decision:

Step forward and take control.

Second Serve

This is where many players give away opportunities.

A second serve should not simply be:

“Get it in.”

It should have:

reliable spin;
dependable height;
a target;
enough quality that the opponent cannot attack comfortably.

A simple practice idea:

Play service games where your goal is not aces.

Your goal:

Win the first four shots.

Serve.

Return.

First ball.

Next ball.

Many points are decided before the rally even develops.

Skill 4: Recover With a Purpose

Many players improve their strokes but remain stuck because they do not improve what happens after the shot.

They hit a good ball.

Then they watch.

Better players are already preparing for the next reply.

The common advice is:

“Recover to the middle.”

But that is incomplete.

The better question is:

Where is my opponent most likely to hit next?

Your recovery depends on:

where you hit;
where your opponent is;
what options they actually have.

Example:

You hit a strong crosscourt forehand and your opponent is stretched wide.

Their easiest reply is probably not a perfect down-the-line winner.

It is usually a higher percentage recovery ball.

Recover for the realistic reply.

Not the imaginary one.

Skill 5: Develop a Reliable

Match Identity

A lot of players trying to improve think they need more variety.

They add:

drop shots;
slices;
different spins;
risky patterns.

But variety without purpose creates confusion.

A better player knows:

What type of point do I want to create?

Maybe your identity is:

“I use my forehand to control the middle of the court.”

Or:

“I use my serve and first ball to take time away.”

Or:

“I stay patient until I get a short ball.”

Your game does not need every option.

It needs a few things you trust.

Tactical Test:

After a match, ask:

What did I want my opponent to feel uncomfortable doing?

If you don't know the answer, your game may need a clearer identity.

The 3.5 Player Checklist

Before your next level-up goal, ask:

Can I...

Control rally direction?

Not just keep the ball alive.

Recognize the difference between defensive, neutral, and attackable balls?

Not attack everything short.

Create a serve + first ball pattern?

Not simply start points.

Recover based on my opponent?

Not automatically move back to the center.

Trust a repeatable game plan?

Not change strategy every few points.

The Next Level Is Built Through Better Decisions

The jump toward a reliable 3.5 game is not about collecting more shots.

It is about making your existing shots more useful.

A better player is not simply the person with the biggest forehand or fastest serve.

It is the player who understands:

Which shot.

When.

Why.

And what comes next.

That is the difference between hitting tennis balls and actually building points.

Tournament Tennis: Build a Plan That Survives Nerves and Unknown Opponents

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:39:48 GMT

A useful tournament plan isn't designed for your perfect day. It still needs to work when the day becomes unpredictable.

Good travel plans don't assume everything will happen on schedule.

They tell you what to do when it doesn't.

Tournament tennis works the same way.

You may know the draw. You may know the surface.
You may have practiced well all week.

Then you arrive and the conditions are different.

Your opponent plays nothing like the people you practiced against.
Your timing isn't quite there. You're nervous in the first service game.
Maybe you find yourself down 1–4 before you've really settled into the match.

A good tournament plan doesn't eliminate those problems.

It gives you something to return to when they happen.

Start With Patterns You Trust

Before a tournament, you should know how you want to start your points .

Not the entire point.

Just the first few decisions.

For example:

Serve wide → expect the crosscourt reply → play the first ball into the open court.

Or:

Deep middle return → recover → establish the crosscourt exchange.

The pattern should come from your strengths.

The important part is that you've practiced it enough that you don't have to invent it at 30–30.

That becomes even more valuable when pressure rises.

Recent research on tennis players found that competitive state and time pressure can influence risk-taking decisions, with more experienced players showing more stable decision patterns.

You don't need a complicated tournament playbook.
You need a few decisions that are familiar enough to survive an unfamiliar opponent.

Have a Stabilizing Pattern

Your favorite pattern won't work perfectly all day.

So what happens when you're not feeling the ball?

Have something simpler to fall back on.

Maybe it's:

More height crosscourt
Deeper targets through the middle
A larger first-serve target
A return through the middle
More margin when you're stretched

Think of this as your stabilizing pattern .

Its job isn't to win the point immediately.

Its job is to help you regain rhythm, improve your position and make the opponent earn the next advantage.

That's an important distinction.

Your Plan B doesn't need to be a completely different style of tennis.

It can simply be less demanding tennis until you're ready to move forward again.

Scout for Decisions, Not Labels

You don't need to know everything about your opponent before the first point.

Watch what happens once the match begins.

Ask:

Where does the second serve tend to go?

Which rally pattern looks most comfortable?

What happens when they're moved forward?

What happens when they're pushed deep?

Which ball produces a shorter reply?

Avoid scouting with labels.

“Bad backhand” isn't particularly useful.

But:

“High ball to the backhand is producing a shorter reply.”

Now you have something you can use.

Your scouting should move toward:

Situation → Response → Next decision.

And keep updating it.

Your opponent may solve the problem you identified in the first set. That's fine.
Good scouting isn't about finding one weakness and attacking it forever.

It's about noticing what the match is telling you.

Your Warm-Up Is Not a Mini Practice Session

Tournament warm-ups can become counterproductive when players use them to fix everything they don't like.

Three forehands go long.

Suddenly you're rebuilding your swing.

Two serves miss.

Now you're changing your toss.

That's not what the warm-up is for.

Your job is to become ready to compete.

Get your body moving. Find your timing.
Feel the court. Establish your basic rally ball.
Hit a few serves and returns. Confirm the patterns you want to use.

Then stop.

Research involving high-performance tennis players found that dynamic warm-ups can improve physical qualities relevant to tennis, including change-of-direction performance, sprinting and jumping.

The practical lesson is simple:

Prepare the game you already have. Don't rebuild it ten minutes before the match.

Build a Reset Between Points

At some point, something will go wrong.

You will miss an easy ball.

You'll double fault.

You'll lose a game from 40–15.

The problem isn't that those things happen.

The problem is allowing one point to become the next three.

Give yourself a short reset.

What happened?

“Late on two returns.”

What's the next decision?

“Start slightly deeper. Bigger target.”

Then play.

A pre-performance routine doesn't have to be elaborate.

Research across sports, including tennis, has found that structured pre-performance routines can help performance, including under pressure.

The routine isn't there to make you feel perfectly calm.

It's there to keep your attention on something useful.

Prepare for the Second Match Before the First One Starts

If your goal is to reach the semifinals, your tournament plan cannot end with Match 1.

What happens after you win?

Tournament schedules can leave players with very different amounts of recovery time between matches.

Match duration can also vary dramatically, making it difficult to predict exactly how much you'll have to recover before playing again.

So keep your between-match routine simple.

Finish the match.

Cool down.

Replace fluids.

Eat something familiar.

Then move on.

Don't spend your entire break replaying the match you just finished.

You need the information.

You don't need to play that match again in your head.

Research on repeated tennis matches also suggests that adequate hydration and balanced meals can help players maintain physical performance across consecutive matches.

Build Your Tournament Card

Before your next event, write down five things:

Serve Pattern
How do I want to begin my service points?

Return Pattern
What's my reliable starting return?

Stabilizer
What do I use when my timing disappears?

Scouting Question
What am I looking for from my opponent?

Reset
What do I do after a bad point?

That's enough.

You don't need fifteen technical thoughts.

You don't need a strategy for every possible opponent.

You need a small number of decisions that remain useful when the tournament stops going according to plan.

Because tournament success isn't only about how high your best level can go.

It's about how much of your game remains available when the day gets uncomfortable.

Consistency Is a Decision Skill as Much as a Stroke Skill

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:10:15 GMT

Before you rebuild a stroke after a miss, make sure the stroke was given a reasonable job.

When something stops working under pressure, our first instinct is usually to fix the machinery.

Tennis players do the same thing.

A forehand misses long and suddenly you're thinking about your follow-through. A backhand finds the net and you're telling yourself to get lower. Two returns go wide and now you're shortening the swing.

Sometimes the technical correction is necessary.

But if the same strokes work reasonably well in practice and become unreliable in matches, there is another place worth looking:

The decision you made before the swing.

Not Every Error Is a Stroke Error

Consider two forehands.

On the first, you're balanced behind the baseline, receive a neutral ball, and hit crosscourt toward a large target.

On the second, you're moving backward, contact is high and uncomfortable, and you try to redirect the ball down the line near the sideline.

You could miss both shots with the exact same swing.

But they're not the same error.

The first may be an execution error : the decision made sense, but the stroke didn't deliver.

The second may be a decision error : the target demanded more precision than the situation justified.

That distinction matters.

Research on unforced errors has long pointed to the importance of depth, lateral targets, spin and shot direction in reducing errors.

One particularly useful takeaway is that changing the direction of the incoming ball can increase the difficulty of controlling the outgoing ball.

For an adult player, the practical question isn't:

“How do I stop missing?”

It's:

“Am I asking the shot to do something this situation actually allows?”

Margin Is a Tactical Decision

Players sometimes hear “play with more margin” and interpret it as:

Hit softer.

That's not what margin has to mean.

Margin can come from several places:

More clearance over the net.
More distance from the sideline.
A larger landing area.
More spin.
Choosing crosscourt instead of changing direction.
Accepting depth rather than trying to find the last foot of the court.

You can still swing confidently.

You're simply giving normal variation in your stroke somewhere to go.

That variation is real. Research on skilled tennis players shows that where a ball lands naturally varies even when players are aiming at a specific target.

The researchers argue that understanding this distribution matters when choosing targets and making tactical decisions.

In other words:

The target should account for the shot you can reliably produce—not the best shot you occasionally produce.

That is a very different way to think about consistency.

Let the Incoming Ball Set the Risk

A simple way to organize this is:

Defensive Ball → Recover the Point

You're stretched, late, pushed back or contacting from an uncomfortable position.

Your priority isn't creating offense.

It's buying enough time and space to recover.

Think:

Height. Depth. Bigger target. Recover.

Neutral Ball → Build the Point

You're balanced, but the ball hasn't given you a clear advantage.

This is where consistency becomes a tactical weapon.

Use repeatable targets. Make your opponent solve another ball. Maintain your court position.

You don't need to turn every neutral exchange into offense.

Offensive Ball → Reduce the Margin Intelligently

Now the ball is shorter.

You have better spacing.

You're inside or moving into the court.

The opponent may be out of position.

Now there is a reason to accept more risk.

The mistake isn't aiming aggressively.

The mistake is using an attacking target from a defensive situation.

This is one of the simplest ways to understand consistency:

Your target should change with the quality of the ball you receive.

Stop Creating a New Point Every Time

Consistency also improves when you don't have to invent every decision.

Suppose you establish a dependable pattern:

Deep crosscourt → recover → repeat crosscourt → attack the shorter reply.

That pattern isn't a rule.

If the opponent changes the situation, you change with it.

But the pattern gives you a reliable starting point.

Instead of deciding among five targets every time the ball crosses the net, you already understand your first intention.

And there is good reason to train this way. Research comparing tennis practice tasks with actual match play has found that common practice environments can differ significantly from the shots and movements players use in competition.

More representative practice gives players more opportunity to deal with the changing information and decisions that exist in real points.

So don't just practice hitting crosscourt.

Practice recognizing when crosscourt is the right choice .

Try the Two-Error Audit

During your next practice set, divide your misses into only two categories.

Execution Error

The ball, target and tactical decision made sense.

You simply didn't execute.

Example: Neutral forehand, big crosscourt target, missed long.

That's a stroke or execution problem worth examining.

Decision Error

The situation did not justify what you attempted.

Example: Deep ball while moving backward, attempted down-the-line change of direction, missed wide.

Before changing the backhand, look at the decision.

After the set, don't say:

“My forehand was terrible.”

Say:

“I made four execution errors on my forehand, but three other misses came when I attacked from poor positions.”

Now you have something you can actually practice.

The Goal Isn't Error-Free Tennis

That doesn't exist.

Aggressive tennis carries some risk.

Difficult situations produce misses.

Sometimes the opponent forces you into uncomfortable decisions.

The goal is to stop adding avoidable errors to the ones the match already creates.

Before rebuilding your stroke after the next miss, ask:

Was the swing the problem—or did I ask the swing to do too much?

That question can change the way you think about consistency.

Because sometimes becoming a more consistent player doesn't begin with hitting a better ball.

It begins with choosing a better job for the ball you have.

Behind the Breakthrough: Gabriela Knutson’s Rise and the Power of Community

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:15:53 GMT

How The Rise Project helps talented athletes remove barriers and pursue their next level in professional tennis.

Every Breakthrough Has a Story Behind It

In sports, we often see the final moment.

The match point.

The celebration.

The ranking jump.

The headline.

What we don't always see are the years leading up to that moment—the early mornings, the travel, the training blocks, the recovery sessions, and the decisions made when progress is not guaranteed.

Professional tennis is filled with talented players chasing the same goal.

The difference between reaching the next level often comes down to more than ability.

It comes down to having the right support around the player.

That is the idea behind The Rise Project , a program created through the Net Gains Foundation to support rising professional athletes with exceptional potential.

And that is why we are excited to welcome Gabriela Knutson as the newest ambassador of The Rise Project.

GABRIELA KNUTSON: BUILDING MOMENTUM ON TOUR

Gabriela's recent results show what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

At the Mubadala Citi Open qualifying event in Washington, D.C. , Gabriela earned one of the biggest wins of her professional career, defeating Shuai Zhang (World No. 57) , the tournament's No. 1 qualifying seed , in a three-set battle.

She carried that confidence into the Warsaw T-Mobile Polish Open (WTA 125) , where she reached the final.

During her run in Warsaw, Gabriela earned victories over:

Ella Seidel (World No. 105) , the tournament's No. 2 seed
Justina Mikulskyte
Elizara Yaneva

She finished the tournament as runner-up in the WTA 125 final after a competitive match against Carol Young Suh Lee .

These results represent more than individual wins.

They are evidence of a player continuing to build belief, gain experience against higher-ranked opponents, and move closer toward her goal of reaching the WTA Top 100 .

Talent Needs Opportunity

Professional tennis requires much more than showing up and competing.

Every tournament requires investment:

Travel.

Coaching.

Training.

Recovery.

Accommodation.

Tournament preparation.

For players outside the very top of the rankings, these expenses create real challenges.

A player may have the ability to compete at the highest levels—but the opportunity to consistently put themselves in those situations requires resources and support.

That is where The Rise Project comes in.

The mission is simple:

Exceptional athletes can achieve extraordinary things when they are backed by an exceptional community.

The Rise Project helps remove some of the barriers that can prevent talented players from fully pursuing their potential.

Support can provide athletes with greater access to the resources that allow them to focus more completely on development and competition.

Because sometimes the difference between a great opportunity and a missed opportunity is simply having the support to be there when it arrives.

Join Gabriela’s Journey

One of the most exciting parts of following a professional athlete is seeing the process—not just the outcome.

Through The Rise Project, supporters can get a closer look at Gabriela's journey:

Behind-the-scenes updates from tournaments, training, travel, and life on tour.
Early access to Gabriela's introductory interview sharing her story and goals.
Continued updates throughout the season as she pursues her professional goals.

The upcoming US Open swing represents another important opportunity for Gabriela as she continues competing, earning ranking points, and building momentum toward her goal of reaching the WTA Top 100.

Support the Next Chapter

Every professional tennis journey looks different.

Some moments happen in front of thousands of fans.

Others happen quietly—during training sessions, long travel days, and the weeks spent preparing for another opportunity.

The Rise Project exists to support those moments.

It gives rising athletes the resources and community they need to continue chasing what is possible.

Gabriela has already shown the ability to compete with some of the best players in the world.

Now, the goal is to help provide the support system around her as she continues the climb.

Together, we can help turn promise into progress—and progress into achievement.

[Support Gabriela’s Journey]

Train, Recover, Escape: A Preview of the Palm Springs Desert Tennis Retreat

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:31:19 GMT

After Four Years, We’re Back in Palm Springs

Four years is a long time in tennis.

Your game changes. The situations that used to frustrate you become different ones. You understand more about how you play—and often become much clearer about what you actually need to improve.

After four years away, Tennis Congress is returning to Palm Springs.

From November 12–14, 2026 , we’ll be back at La Quinta Resort & Club for the Palm Springs Desert Tennis Retreat: three days designed to give serious adult players time to step away from their normal routine, focus on their game, and train with a clear purpose.

And if you're already planning to be in the desert for the WTA Finals at Indian Wells , the timing couldn't be much easier.

15 Hours Built Around Better Decisions

The Palm Springs retreat includes 15 hours of immersive on-court development .

Nine hours are spent in your primary pathway:

Doubles Decision-Making Lab
or
Singles Pattern Play

The remaining six hours are specialized technical and tactical workshops , giving players the opportunity to work more deeply on specific areas of their game.

The point isn't simply to fit more tennis into three days.

It's to make those hours useful.

In the Doubles Decision-Making Lab , players will work through the situations that actually determine how a team functions: positioning, communication, transition play, net movement, and recognizing when to hold, fake, pinch or commit to a poach.

The question isn't simply, Where should I stand?

It's:

What happened on the previous ball that tells me where I should be now?

Singles players will follow the same decision-based approach through Singles Pattern Play , with work around point construction, serve-plus-one patterns, rally tolerance, attacking opportunities, defensive decisions, and developing a clearer match identity.

Instead of treating every stroke as an isolated skill, players begin connecting shots into patterns they can actually use.

Train. Recover. Go Again.

Three days of tennis only works if the body and mind are still ready to learn on the final afternoon.

That is why guided recovery is part of the retreat.

Players will work on simple ways to prepare before training, reset between sessions, and manage the demands of multiple days on court.

Then there is the setting.

La Quinta gives the experience a rhythm that is difficult to recreate during a normal training week. Mountain views, pools, spa options, dining, golf, and the quieter pace of the desert create room to come off the court, recover, connect with other players, and return ready for the next session.

This is focused tennis training in California but the goal isn't to leave exhausted.

It's to leave understanding your game better.

Already Going to the WTA Finals?

The 2026 WTA Finals will take place November 8–15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden , bringing together the top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams for the season-ending championships.

If you're already planning to attend, La Quinta Resort & Club is approximately 10–12 minutes away , making the Palm Springs retreat an easy addition to your California tennis trip.

Spend part of the week watching the best players in the world compete—and part of it working on your own game.

There is also something valuable about watching professional tennis immediately after spending time thinking about positioning, patterns and decision-making yourself.

Instead of only watching the ball, you begin noticing more:

Why did the net player move there?

What did the serve create?

When did a neutral rally become an attacking opportunity?

What happened one shot before the winner?

WTA Finals tickets are separate from Tennis Congress registration , so you can build the tournament into your trip however it works best for you.

Come Back to Palm Springs With Us

After four years, we're excited to return to a place that naturally fits what Tennis Congress is about.

Time to focus.

Time to experiment.

Time to understand not only how to hit the ball, but what to do with it and what should happen next.

Palm Springs Desert Tennis Retreat

November 12–14, 2026

La Quinta Resort & Club, California

A total of 15 hours of immersive on-court development.

9 hours in your primary pathway + 6 hours of specialized technical and tactical workshops.

Come for three days of purposeful tennis development.

And if Indian Wells is already on your November calendar, make the trip about your own game too.

[Register for the Palm Springs Desert Tennis Retreat]

Train for Tennis, Not Just Fitness

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 20:45:34 GMT

How to Build Strength and Power That Actually Transfers to the Court

There is a difference between finishing a workout tired and finishing a workout better prepared for what you actually want to do.

You can spend an hour in the gym, sweat through your shirt, burn hundreds of calories and still leave without training many of the physical demands you face on a tennis court.

That is the question serious adult players should ask about their off-court training:

Will this help me move better when I play tennis?

Tennis asks you to accelerate, stop, change direction, load one leg, push off again, rotate, reach and recover—often within a few seconds. Research in tennis continues to identify change-of-direction ability as an important physical quality in the sport, while multi-directional training has been shown to improve change-of-direction and reactive movement in tennis players.

So training for tennis needs to look different from simply getting fit.

In a Tennis Congress strength and power session, strength and conditioning coach Dominic King shows what that difference can look like.

Build Strength—Then Teach Your Body to Use It Quickly

Dominic doesn't begin with the hardest exercise.

He begins by preparing the body.

The session starts with foam rolling through areas including the upper back, lats, glutes, quadriceps, adductors and calves. That moves into an activation and mobility circuit using glute bridges, spinal movement, alternating arm-and-leg extensions and side planks.

The idea is simple: prepare first, then load.

From there, the workout begins connecting strength to power.

A Romanian deadlift develops strength through the lower body. Then, after shoulder work, Dominic moves into a depth jump.

His cue is concise:

“Minimum contact, maximum height.”

Later, forward lunges are followed by jump lunges. Lateral lunges are followed by lateral bounds.

There is a pattern:

Build force → then produce it quickly.

That matters because tennis rarely gives you much time to access your strength.

You don't slowly push yourself toward a wide forehand.

You recognize the ball, load and move.

You don't gradually accelerate toward a short ball. You have to go.

This is also why Dominic intentionally keeps repetitions low during the explosive exercises.

When jump height, speed and control start disappearing because you're tired, you are no longer expressing the same quality.

If the goal is power, the objective isn't to see how many repetitions you can survive.

It's to make each repetition explosive.

Don't Forget the Direction Tennis Is Actually Played

One of the simplest points in the session may also be one of the most useful:

Train sideways.

A large amount of traditional gym work takes place forward and backward or straight up and down.

Tennis doesn't.

Dominic pairs lateral lunges with lateral bounds because a tennis player needs both sides of the equation.

You need to be able to load and control one side of your body.

Then you need to push away from it.

During the lateral bounds, Dominic describes the action as:

“Load and explode.”

Think about what happens when you're pulled wide.

You move toward the ball.

You organize your body over the outside leg.

You absorb force.

Then you have to push back toward the court.

That is why the landing matters just as much as the jump.

The ability to brake and redirect force is closely connected to change-of-direction performance, not just the ability to produce more force.

Dominic also uses single-arm rows, one-arm landmine presses, alternating lunges and one-leg-to-the-other lateral bounds.

The point isn't to make every tennis exercise look exactly like a forehand or serve.

It's to recognize that tennis regularly asks one side of the body to do something different from the other.

The workout reflects that.

Give the Shoulder a Place in the Workout

The shoulder work isn't saved for a five-minute afterthought.

Dominic places scapular push-ups, internal and external rotation work, rows and landmine presses between lower-body exercises.

That serves two purposes.

The legs get recovery time before another demanding strength or power exercise, while the shoulder gets regular attention throughout the session.

That is a useful model for adult tennis training.

Serving and other repeated overhead actions place substantial demands on the dominant shoulder, and research has documented differences in strength and range of motion in tennis players' hitting shoulders.

Shoulder strength and control therefore deserve a deliberate place in tennis conditioning rather than being ignored until something feels wrong.

The full session follows a logical progression:

Prepare the body.
Build strength.
Turn strength into power.
Train movement in multiple directions.
Give the shoulder consistent attention.

That is much more useful than collecting random “tennis exercises” from social media.

Before your next off-court workout, ask three questions:

Where am I building strength?

Where am I training myself to use that strength quickly?

Am I preparing for the directions and positions I actually encounter on court?

If the answers aren't clear, the workout may still improve your general fitness.

But it may not be doing as much for your tennis as it could.

WATCH THE FULL WORKOUT

In the full Tennis Congress session, Dominic King takes a player through the complete strength-and-power workout and explains the purpose, repetitions and coaching cues behind each exercise.

Pay particular attention to the sequence—not just the exercises.

That's where much of the value is.

TAKE THE WORKOUT TO THE GYM

We've also created a simple downloadable version of the session so you don't have to remember every exercise once you get to the gym.

[Download the Free Tennis Strength & Power Workout PDF]

The goal of tennis performance training isn't simply to work harder.

It's to make the work connect.

The next time you finish a gym session, don't judge it only by how tired you are.

Ask a better question:

Did this prepare me for the way I actually have to move on a tennis court?

That's the difference between working out and training for tennis.

Do Adult Tennis Players Really Need to Restring So Often?

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:48:13 GMT

What actually changes as strings age and how to know when restringing matters for your game.

There are plenty of things we replace because we're told we're supposed to.

Running shoes after a certain number of miles.

A filter after a certain number of months.

A toothbrush before it looks particularly different.

Tennis strings can fall into the same category.

You get your racquet back freshly strung, hit a few balls and think:

Am I actually supposed to notice something here?

For professional players, equipment consistency matters enormously.

But for an adult player squeezing tennis around work, family and everything else, it's fair to ask a simpler question:

Does restringing actually make enough of a difference to matter?

The answer is more interesting than a fixed schedule.

Your Strings Change — Even If You Don't Notice It

Tennis strings begin losing tension after they're installed, and repeated hitting continues to change the string bed over time.

Different materials also behave differently.

Polyester, multifilament, synthetic gut and natural gut don't lose tension, move or respond in exactly the same way.

So the physical change is real.

What is less certain is how accurately we feel it.

Research involving experienced recreational players has shown that players can have difficulty identifying surprisingly large differences in string tension simply by playing with the racquet.

That matters.

Because adult players are often told to judge strings with descriptions like:

“They've gone dead.”

“You've lost control.”

“The racquet doesn't have the same response.”

Those descriptions can be useful when you know your equipment extremely well.

But they can also become vague enough that you're looking for a feeling you're not sure you actually feel.

Instead of asking whether your strings feel old , ask something more useful:

Are they changing the ball you are producing?

That's a question you can actually test.

Try This Before Your Next Restring

The next time you're considering restringing, don't immediately cut the strings out.

Take the racquet onto the court first.

Spend 15 or 20 minutes testing three things you regularly need in matches.

1. Your second serve

Pick one target and hit 10 second serves.

Don't try to hit harder than normal.

Pay attention to your usual shape, height over the net and depth. Are you able to swing normally and still bring the ball down where you expect?

2. Your rally ball

Choose a crosscourt target several feet inside the baseline.

Hit 10–15 balls using your normal rally speed.

You're not testing whether you can hit the target once. You're looking for repeatability.

Does your normal swing consistently create your normal depth?

3. Your first four shots

Play points beginning with serve or return and continue through the next three balls.

This is where the equipment test becomes much more relevant to actual tennis.

Can you serve, recover and control the next ball?

Can you return and immediately play the next shot with the trajectory and depth you expect?

Now restring the racquet using the same string and the same requested tension .

Then repeat the test.

Don't change strings, tension and racquet at the same time.

If you change three variables, you won't know which one produced the difference.

You're looking for something very simple:

Does the fresh string bed allow me to produce my normal ball more consistently?

That is far more useful than deciding whether the racquet vaguely feels “better.”

Your Restringing Schedule Should Match Your Tennis

This is where universal restringing rules become difficult.

Imagine two adult players who both play three times per week.

One swings aggressively, creates substantial racquet-head speed and plays with polyester.

The other hits a flatter ball, swings more conservatively and uses a softer multifilament.

They may spend the same number of hours on court, but their strings aren't necessarily experiencing the same demands.

Their restringing needs don't have to be identical.

The same applies to the player.

Your needs may change depending on how you're training.

If you're doing more match play, working heavily on serves or training with greater intensity, you may start noticing changes sooner.

And sometimes the signal isn't a dramatic change in feel.

It may simply be that you're beginning to make small adjustments to produce a ball that used to come naturally.

You're swinging harder for depth.

You're guiding the second serve.

You're struggling to predict where a normally struck ball will land.

Those are more useful clues than the date on the calendar.

For serious adult players, equipment should support the tennis you're trying to play.

It shouldn't become another ritual performed simply because someone once gave you a restringing rule.

Fresh strings aren't magic.

Old strings aren't automatically useless.

The physical properties of a string bed change over time, but the important question is whether those changes have become meaningful for your game .

So before your next restring, don't ask:

“How long have these strings been in my racquet?”

Ask:

“Is this racquet still giving me the ball I expect when I make my normal swing?”

Test it.

Then restring.

Then test it again.

You might discover that fresh strings make a bigger difference than you thought.

Or you might discover that you don't need to restring nearly as often as someone else's schedule suggested.

Either way, you're making the decision based on your tennis rather than the calendar.

You Work for a Living. Your Tennis Can Still Get Better.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:24:34 GMT

How serious adult players can make limited practice time more purposeful, match-specific, and productive.

There is a particular frustration that comes with caring about something you only get to do after everything else is done.

Work takes its hours. Family takes its hours. Life fills the calendar.

Then the thing you really want to improve at gets whatever time is left.

Adult tennis players know that feeling well.

A member of our YouTube audience captured it perfectly:

“Most of us are destined to be 3.5's for life because we work for a living.”

The rating isn't really the interesting part of that comment.

The time is.

Whether you're trying to move from 3.0 to 3.5, from 4.0 to 4.5, or simply become a better version of the player you are today, the problem is similar: How do you keep improving when you don't have unlimited hours for tennis training?

The answer probably isn't finding another five hours in your week.

It's getting more from the hours you already have.

Stop Practicing Shots.
Start Practicing Situations.

Ask an adult player what they need to work on and you'll often hear something like:

“My backhand.”

“My volleys.”

“My second serve.”

Those answers aren't wrong. They're just incomplete.

After your next match, try asking a different question:

What situation kept costing me points?

Maybe your backhand only broke down when you were pushed behind the baseline.

Maybe your volleys were fine when you were balanced, but poor when you approached behind a weak ball.

Maybe your second serve was reliable until 30-30.

Maybe you kept receiving short balls but couldn't decide whether they were actually attackable.

That gives you something much more useful to bring into your next tennis class, lesson or practice session.

Instead of saying, “I need to work on my forehand,” you can say:

“When I get a short neutral ball, I'm not recognizing quickly enough whether to attack it or stay in the rally.”

Now you have something you can train.

This fits with what research on representative tennis practice has shown: practice becomes more useful when players still have to read what is happening, make a decision and then execute the shot, rather than simply repeating the same stroke from the same feed.

For adults with limited time, that distinction matters.

Give Your Practice a Decision and a Consequence

Here's something you can use during your next session.

Have your partner feed or rally balls that vary in depth.

Before you hit, your job is to recognize one of three situations:

Defend. Hold. Attack.

A deep or difficult ball? Defend and create time.

A neutral ball? Hold the rally and maintain your position.

A genuinely short ball? Attack and look to take court position away from your opponent.

Don't have your partner tell you which ball is coming.

The recognition is part of the exercise.

And here's the important part: don't score only whether the ball went in.

Score the decision .

If you attack a ball from a poor position and somehow hit a winner, that's not necessarily a good rep.

If you correctly recognize a neutral ball, choose an appropriate target and miss by two inches, the decision may still have been right.

That shift makes training for tennis much more closely connected to the decisions you actually face in a match.

You can also add a consequence.

For example, play a neutral rally where your goal is to keep five consecutive balls beyond the service line before attacking the first legitimate short ball.

Attack too early? Restart.

Leave a neutral ball short? Restart.

Suddenly the fifth ball feels different from the first.

That's tennis performance training—not because the drill is complicated, but because the player has to execute while something is at stake.

Spend More Time on the Moments That Decide Points

There's another easy place for busy adults to get more from practice.

Think about how much of a normal hitting session is spent rallying comfortably from the baseline.

Then think about how every actual point begins.

With a serve and a return.

So take 15 minutes of your next practice and try this:

Serve. Return. Play two more balls. Stop. Reset.

That's it.

The server isn't simply practicing serves.

They're practicing the serve plus the next decision.

The returner isn't simply blocking returns.

They're seeing what happens immediately after the return.

You can make the goal even more specific:

Serve wide, then play the next ball based on the return.

Return crosscourt, recover and play ball three.

Hit a second serve, then play the point with the same pressure you would feel in a match.

In 15 minutes, you can accumulate a meaningful number of repetitions of a situation that occurs constantly in competition.

That's the kind of tennis coaching for adults that makes sense when time matters.

You don't need every practice to address your entire game.

In fact, trying to fix everything at once is often the fastest way to leave the court without improving anything in particular.

Pick one problem.

Create the situation.

Make the decision.

Add a consequence.

Then play it forward.

You may never have the training schedule you would have chosen at 16.

That's part of being an adult.

But limited court time and limited improvement are not the same thing.

The next time you finish a match, don't make a list of ten things you need to fix.

Find one situation that kept showing up .

Bring that situation into your next practice and give yourself repeated chances to solve it.

Twenty useful repetitions of a problem you actually face can be far more valuable than another hour of hitting without knowing what you're trying to improve.

You work for a living.

Your tennis can still keep developing.

Why Doubles Is Worth Watching—and Worth Protecting

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:49:49 GMT

How holding, faking, poaching, and hovering reveal the strategy that makes doubles one of tennis’s most valuable formats.

The current conversation around professional doubles is about more than draw sizes, prize money, or television coverage.

It is also a conversation about what makes this format of tennis so unique—and why it continues to matter.

Recent reports suggest the ATP is considering significant changes to professional doubles, including smaller tournament draws and a reduced share of prize money.

While these proposals are still being discussed, they have sparked an important debate throughout the tennis world.

Whether those changes happen or not, they raise a larger question:

What makes doubles so valuable in the first place?

For me, the answer has never been about prize money or television ratings.

It is about the game itself.

At Tennis Congress, we spend a great deal of time teaching doubles because it is the version of tennis that many adult players will enjoy throughout their lives. It brings together different personalities, playing styles, strengths, and experiences in a way that singles simply cannot.

More importantly, doubles asks players to solve problems together.

That is what has always fascinated me about it.

More Than Four Players on a Court

If you have never studied a high-level doubles match closely, it can be easy to assume that doubles is simply a faster version of singles.

It is not.

Every point is a series of decisions.

Players are not only reacting to the ball. They are reading each other, studying positioning, recognizing patterns, and communicating—often without saying a word.

The best doubles teams are not always the teams with the biggest serves or the hardest groundstrokes.

More often, they are the teams that make better decisions together.

They recognize patterns sooner.

They communicate more clearly.

They understand how their movements affect both their partner and their opponents.

Those small decisions, repeated point after point, often have a greater impact on the match than any single spectacular shot.

That is one reason doubles deserves more attention. The excitement is not only found in the final volley. It is found in everything that happens before it.

The Four Core Decisions at the Net

Nowhere is that decision-making more visible than in the role of the net player.

From the outside, the net player’s movement can appear instinctive or even random.

In reality, every step should have a purpose.

Most situations come down to four core decisions:

Hold. Fake. Poach. Hover.

Understanding these choices is often what separates a reactive doubles player from one who begins to control the point.

Hold

Sometimes the smartest decision is not moving at all.

Holding your position protects the line, keeps your team balanced, and shows confidence in the partner playing behind you.

The temptation is to move simply because movement feels active.

Players may feel that they need to cross, pinch, or show constant motion to influence the point.

Experienced doubles players understand that patience can be just as effective as action.

A well-timed hold can take away the opponent’s safest target. It can also prevent the net player from opening too much space before the quality and direction of the ball are clear.

Holding is not passive.

It is a deliberate decision to protect the right part of the court.

Fake

A good fake is not necessarily about touching the ball.

It is about influencing the person hitting it.

One convincing step toward the middle can create hesitation, change the returner’s target, or tempt an opponent into attempting a lower-percentage shot.

That is one of the unique qualities of doubles:

You can influence the outcome of a point without ever making contact with the ball.

The key is making the fake believable.

The movement should resemble the beginning of a real poach. If it is too early, too dramatic, or too predictable, the returner may recognize it and respond comfortably.

A strong fake creates uncertainty.

For just a moment, the returner has to wonder:

Are they crossing?

Is the middle still available?

Should I change direction?

That moment of doubt can be enough to change the point.

Poach

Poaching is probably the movement most people associate with doubles.

It is aggressive, visible, and often ends with a decisive volley.

But successful poaching is not built on speed alone.

It is built on anticipation.

A strong serve may force a late return.

A predictable return pattern may create an opportunity.

A clear signal between partners may allow the net player to move with confidence.

When those pieces come together, the poach is not a gamble.

It is the right decision at the right time.

The best poachers do not wait until the ball has already crossed the net to begin moving.

They recognize clues early and commit to the play.

That commitment matters.

A hesitant poach can leave both partners covering the same area—or neither player covering the open court.

A decisive poach allows the team to move as one unit.

Hover

Hovering exists somewhere between holding and fully committing to a poach.

The net player begins moving toward the middle and becomes more involved in the point, but remains flexible enough to react.

Sometimes this includes pinching toward the center to reduce the space available to the opponent.

The player is not necessarily crossing to take the next ball, but is placing themselves close enough to become a threat.

Hovering narrows the opponent’s options.

It can make the middle feel smaller, discourage a floating crosscourt return, and position the net player to attack a weak ball.

Sometimes that subtle movement is all it takes to make an opponent second-guess their shot selection.

The best doubles players understand that pressure is not created only by hitting the ball.

Sometimes it is created by simply being in the right place.

See These Decisions in Action

Reading about doubles positioning is one thing.

Seeing these decisions unfold on the court is another.

In this lesson, Coach Carla introduces a simple three-step framework designed to help net players make better decisions before the ball crosses the net.

Rather than reacting at the last possible moment, players learn how to recognize patterns, anticipate what their opponents are likely to do, and select the right position for the situation.

That may mean holding the line, showing a fake, committing to a poach, pinching toward the middle, or hovering in a position that creates pressure.

As you watch, do not focus only on how quickly the players move.

Pay attention to why they move.

That is where smarter doubles begins.

Watch the Youtube Video Here:

Why These Decisions Matter

One of the most rewarding moments as a coach is watching players begin to recognize these patterns for themselves.

At first, they only see the volley.

Then they begin to notice the movement that happened before the volley.

Eventually, they understand why that movement occurred.

That is when doubles becomes a completely different game.

You are no longer watching four players exchanging shots.

You are watching two teams constantly creating and solving problems together.

Should I pressure the middle?

Should I protect the line?

Is this the right moment to poach?

Can I make the returner uncomfortable without touching the ball?

Should I move now, or wait for more information?

Those questions are being answered during every point, often in only a few seconds.

That is the intelligence of doubles.

It is fast, but it is not thoughtless.

It is social, but it is not casual.

It rewards athletic ability, but it also rewards awareness, patience, trust, and communication.

Looking Beyond the Headlines

Whether professional doubles changes in the coming years remains to be seen.

The business side of tennis will always involve difficult decisions.

Tournament organizers must consider scheduling, court availability, fan interest, television coverage, and financial realities.

But I hope one thing never changes:

I hope more players discover just how enjoyable—and intellectually rewarding—doubles can be.

For many of us, doubles is where lifelong friendships are built.

It is where communication matters as much as technique and where strategy can matter just as much as execution.

It is also where many adult players spend the majority of their competitive tennis lives.

That is why doubles deserves greater appreciation.

Not simply because it has always been part of professional tennis, but because it offers something that no other part of the sport can completely replace.

A Better Way to Watch and Play

The next time you watch a doubles match, whether it is at your local club or on the professional tour, try looking beyond the ball.

Watch the net player.

Notice when they hold.

When they fake.

When they poach.

When they hover.

Pay attention to how their movement changes the returner’s options.

Look at how their partner responds.

Ask yourself why they made that particular choice.

You may find that the most interesting part of the point is not the winning volley.

It is the decision that happened before it.

The more you begin to notice those moments, the more you will appreciate what makes doubles such a unique and rewarding game.

And the more clearly we understand what makes doubles special, the stronger the case becomes for protecting its place in tennis.

Download the Complete 18-Scenario Net Position Guide

The complete PDF breaks down all 18 scenarios from Carla McKenzie’s lesson, including the court side, whether the opponent is using the sword or shield, the direction of movement, and the net position that best matches the likely reply.

Download Here

Save it to your phone, review two or three situations before your next match, and start making your first move before the ball is struck.

This article is based on Carla McKenzie’s Tennis Congress presentation on anticipation and positioning in a one-up, one-back doubles formation.

Wimbledon Experience 2026: More Than Watching Wimbledon

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:51:28 GMT

Our first international Tennis Congress brought ten passionate players together for a week of learning, world-class coaching, and a fresh perspective on the game.

There are moments that mark a new chapter for an organization.

For Tennis Congress, this was one of them.

This summer, we hosted our first-ever Tennis Congress event outside the United States , bringing together ten passionate adult players in London for an unforgettable week of coaching, learning, and experiencing one of the greatest events in our sport.

It was a milestone we're incredibly proud of—not because we traveled farther than ever before, but because it proved something we've believed from the very beginning:

Great coaching and a love for the game bring people together, no matter where they're from.

Ten Players. Five Coaches.

One Shared Goal.

One of the things that makes Tennis Congress different is the size of our events.

With just ten players , everyone had the opportunity to spend meaningful time with our coaching team, ask questions, receive individual feedback, and learn alongside others who shared the same commitment to improving.

This year's coaching team included:

Gary Innes

Bill Riddle

Dominic King

Sophia King

Emma Wells

Feisal Hassan

Each coach brought a unique perspective, but they all shared the same philosophy: help players understand the game,

not just play it.

Throughout the week, we explored movement, positioning, anticipation, communication, and decision-making—the details that often make the biggest difference once a match begins.

The Perfect Classroom

Every morning started at Wimbledon Park.

The courts came alive with warm-ups, conversations, and plenty of curiosity. We worked through tactical situations, doubles formations, net movement, transitions, and the small adjustments that help players compete with greater confidence.

Then, after lunch, we headed to Roehampton to watch the Wimbledon Qualifying Championships.

That combination made the experience special.

Instead of simply watching professional tennis, our players were able to connect what they had practiced that morning with what they were seeing on court.

A movement pattern suddenly made sense.

A doubles formation became easier to recognize.

An angle that looked impossible suddenly had a purpose.

Watching tennis became another coaching session.

Seeing the Game Differently

One idea came up again and again throughout the week.

The best players don't just watch the ball.

They read the player.

They notice body position.

They anticipate movement.

They recognize patterns before the shot is struck.

Once you begin looking for those details, it's difficult to watch tennis the same way again.

That's exactly what happened in London.

A Lesson Worth Taking Home

One of our players, Rob Thomas, shared a thought after one of the sessions that perfectly captured the week's biggest takeaway:

"What a difference it makes, instead of watching the ball that you just hit, focusing on the other player for cues on what will be coming back! You don't just watch, but begin to move to the right position on the court, making it more likely that your next shot will be a good one. Thanks to the great coaching, which taught us what specific cues to look for from our opponents!"

Comments like that remind us why we do what we do.

Sometimes the biggest improvement doesn't come from changing your stroke.

It comes from changing what you pay attention to.

More Than a Week of Tennis

Of course, there was plenty of tennis.

There were long days on court, warm London afternoons, lots of walking between Wimbledon Park and Roehampton, and more conversations than I can count.

But there was something else that made the week memorable.

Players from different backgrounds came together with a shared willingness to learn.

Ideas were exchanged.

Friendships were formed.

Coaches learned from players just as players learned from coaches.

That's always been one of my favorite parts of Tennis Congress.

The coaching brings us together.

The people are what make us want to come back.

Looking Ahead

As we wrapped up our final day in London, there was already one question being asked:

"When are we coming back?"

The good news is...

We will be back.

We're already looking forward to returning to London for another Wimbledon Experience, and we can't wait to welcome both familiar faces and first-time participants.

If you've ever dreamed of combining world-class coaching with one of the most iconic weeks in tennis, I hope you'll join us.

Until then, thank you to everyone who made our first international Tennis Congress such a memorable experience.

We'll see you on the court.

Welcome to the Tennis Congress Blog

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:36:52 GMT

Where tactical insights, player stories, and unforgettable tennis experiences come together.

Gary's Note

One of the best parts of every Tennis Congress event happens after we've left the court.

Players gather over lunch, continue conversations from the morning session, ask questions, share stories from their own matches, and often discover that someone else has experienced the exact same challenge they're working through.

Those conversations have always been one of my favorite parts of Tennis Congress.

This blog is simply another place for those conversations to continue.

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by.

If you love tennis as much as we do, you're in the right place.

Over the years, Tennis Congress has brought together players from around the world who all have something in common: a genuine passion for improving their game and a curiosity to keep learning, no matter their age or level.

That's what makes this community so special.

Some people come looking for better doubles strategy. Others want to become more confident competitors or experience training with world-class coaches. They arrive from different places and with different goals, but they all share the same mindset—a love of tennis and a desire to become a little better than they were yesterday.

This blog is an extension of that community.

Why Start a Blog?

People often ask if they can revisit something they learned during a Tennis Congress event.

Maybe it was a tactical concept discussed on court.

Maybe it was a conversation over lunch.

Or perhaps it was something we noticed while watching professional players compete that completely changed how we looked at the game.

Those ideas don't have to stay at our events.

This blog gives us a place to continue those conversations and share them with players everywhere.

What Is Tennis Congress?

Tennis Congress was created by serious adult players, for serious adult players.

Our mission has always been simple: to give passionate adults access to the kind of world-class coaching and learning environment that's often reserved for elite juniors and professional players.

But Tennis Congress has never been just about improving your forehand or serve.

It's about learning how to think better, compete smarter, and enjoy the process of getting better.

It's about challenging yourself alongside people who share the same passion.

And it's about building friendships that often last well beyond the final day of an event.

Today, Tennis Congress has grown into a global community of players, coaches, and experts who believe that learning never stops.

I'm proud to be part of that community.

What You'll Find Here

This won't be a place for endless lists of tennis tips.

Instead, we'll share the stories behind the coaching.

You'll find event recaps, tactical insights, behind-the-scenes moments, player experiences, coach perspectives, and lessons we've picked up from spending thousands of hours on courts around the world.

We'll also explore ideas that can help you become a smarter player, whether you enjoy singles, doubles, league tennis, or simply competing with friends on the weekend.

If an article helps you see the game a little differently before your next match, then we've done our job.

More Than Tennis

Tennis has shaped my life in ways I never expected.

It gave me opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.

It introduced me to lifelong friends, allowed me to travel the world, and ultimately led me to a career that I genuinely love.

That's why I believe tennis is about more than competition.

It builds communities.

It teaches resilience.

It encourages lifelong learning.

And it has a remarkable way of bringing people together, no matter where they're from.

Those are the kinds of stories you'll find here.

Looking Ahead

We're excited to share this new chapter with you.

In the coming months, we'll take you behind the scenes at Tennis Congress events, explore tactical ideas from our coaching team, share stories from our players, and introduce you to the people who make this community so special.

Our next post looks back at a milestone we'll never forget—our first-ever international Tennis Congress during Wimbledon qualifying week in London.

I hope you'll join us for the journey.

Tennis Congress Blog | Tactical Tennis Insights & Event Updates

Your Recovery Position Starts With the Ball You Just Hit

The center mark is a reference, not a command. Your shot starts the recovery decision. Your opponent’s contact finishes it.

The Middle of What?

Shot Direction Starts the Decision

You hit a short crosscourt ball

You hit a deep down-the-line ball

You hit a short down-the-line ball

You hit a wide ball

The Better Recovery Sequence

1. Hit

2. Move

3. Read

4. Adjust

5. Split

Try the Recovery-Zone Drill

Level 1: Direction

Level 2: Contact Quality

Level 3: Live Points

Your Match Challenge

Should Adult Tennis Players Still Use a One-Handed Backhand?

The one-hander is disappearing from the professional game. That doesn't automatically mean it is the wrong backhand for your game.

Why the Two-Hander Has Become So Popular

What the One-Hander Still Does Well

The Questions I Would Ask an Adult Player

Don't Switch Because the Pros Did

A Better Test Than “Which One Is Better?”

The One-Hander Isn't Dead. But It Has to Earn Its Place.

The First Four Shots: The Tactical Battle That Decides More Points Than You Think

Stop thinking about points as individual shots. Learn how the opening sequence creates your biggest opportunities.

How to Read the First Four Shots

Tennis Is Decision vs. Decision

Shot One: Make Your Serve Create the Next Ball

Try This:

Shot Two: Your Return Has a Purpose

Try This:

Shot Three: The First Ball After the Return Changes the Point

Neutral Ball

Advantage Ball

Defensive Ball

﻿ Shot Four: Continue the Advantage

Stop Treating Every Point as Random

Your Next Match Challenge

The Point Starts Before the Point

The 5 Skills That Move You Toward a Reliable 3.5 Game

The next level is not about hitting harder. It is about making better decisions with the shots you already have.

Skill 1: Control the Direction of the Rally

Tactical Lesson: Build One Reliable Pattern

Try This:

Skill 2: Know When to Defend, Build, and Attack

Defensive Ball

Neutral Ball

Attackable Ball

Skill 3: Make Your Serve Create the Next Ball

Example:

Wide Serve

Body Serve

Second Serve

Skill 4: Recover With a Purpose

Skill 5: Develop a Reliable

Match Identity

Tactical Test:

The 3.5 Player Checklist

Can I...

Control rally direction?

Recognize the difference between defensive, neutral, and attackable balls?

Create a serve + first ball pattern?

Recover based on my opponent?

Trust a repeatable game plan?

The Next Level Is Built Through Better Decisions

Tournament Tennis: Build a Plan That Survives Nerves and Unknown Opponents

A useful tournament plan isn't designed for your perfect day. It still needs to work when the day becomes unpredictable.

Start With Patterns You Trust

Have a Stabilizing Pattern

Scout for Decisions, Not Labels

Your Warm-Up Is Not a Mini Practice Session

Build a Reset Between Points

Prepare for the Second Match Before the First One Starts

Build Your Tournament Card

Consistency Is a Decision Skill as Much as a Stroke Skill

Shot Four: Continue the Advantage

Stop Practicing Shots.
Start Practicing Situations.

One Shared Goal.