Post Match Thoughts and 4 Videos for Improvement
- Topher Wiles
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
Great job last night! We had two great matches showing improvement against quality opponents.
Congrats the following ladies for posting wins: Lorelei, Sadie, Tegan, Olivia, Ainslee, Valerie, Avi, Amber, Alivia, & Mylee!
Our ladies may have lost 2-7, but here's what we know about Varsity scores last night compared to March 4th. Last night our varsity girls won 49 games. On March 4th, our ladies won 36 games. We won one more match and 13 more games (36% increase)!
Lorelei & Sadie just defeated the only undefeated doubles team in the district this year with that 8-6 win! That shows that every single opponent you play this season is beatable.
Ainslee won a tie-break by outsmarting a senior! She used a superior strategy while targeting a specific weakness that many opponents struggle with, moonballs over shoulder height to the backhand.
Avi & Amber came from behind (5-1down) to win 6-5 using steak grilling code names for doubles formation strategies. Seriously impressive!
Congrats to the following men for posting wins: Gabriel, John, Ethan, Solomon, James, & Ben!
Our guys practiced some extra strategy. Gabriel & Ethan played an entire match serving & volleying coming up with 5 smashes that bounced over the fence!
John Durfee was on point with serves and rallies. It was good to see his game settle in again!
John Durfee Ben Brogden were ruthlessly efficient with bagels! (8-0)
Gabriel and Ethan enjoyed breadsticks! (8-1)
Solomon & James had a very solid doubles win at 8-2 showcasing some aggressive play before James tried to end his season with a stairs calamity.
James avoided being senior assassinated (with a water gun) in the parking lot after the match last night. Special thanks to Coach B for helping defend him!
TWO Big Singles Ideas for Improvement
DEVELOPE A PLAN - Our guys and girls are usually still starting many matches too passive without a plan, and thereby struggling through the first 3-5 games. We have to play catch-up more than we want. Here's how to be better.
Develop your plan in warmups. What type of player am I hitting against? What game plan am I going to start with to combat that player? Remember this post about the different type of players: https://www.tophertennis.net/post/strategies-for-singles-doubles-success
Watch this 15 minute video for the Sherlock Holmes concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ODgURlGmY
Handle Short Balls Better - When you stress your opponent (i.e. you have them off balance, running backward, or lunging wide) step into the court to expect the short ball (at least move up to the baseline). Too often our players are missing opportunities by passively staying in our trenches and hitting just an average rallyball back, or we're having to lunge forward because they are hitting a short ball.
Here's a 2 minute video talking about attacking short balls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8f5E6aXyfM
One Big Doubles Idea for Improvement
PLAN YOUR MOVEMENT EVERY POINT - Every return and every serve point should have a plan that you have discussed or signed with your partner. EVERY point. That allows us to PINCH, POACH, or FAKE easier. How many poaches did I see last night? Big fat ZERO. Since we aren't planning as often as we should and are still passive/reactive at the net, we are leaving several point opportunities per match on the court. Want to get better? Watch this 15 minute college tennis breakdown and then go practice it.
Overall, here's 13 ways to be a better tennis player mentally and win more matches! (14 minute video)
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