You Can Improve. Believe It.
If you're like most of the readers of Essential Tennis I know that you're extremely passionate about the game of tennis. It isn't a game that you play just for fun, just to get exercise, or just to socialize with friends. Certainly those aspects may enhance and improve your tennis playing experience as well but they probably aren't the primary motivator. You play because you love it, because you can't get enough of it, because the very first time you walked off of a tennis court after playing you said to yourself: "Wow, I cannot wait to do that again!".
Just like anybody else who discovers a deep interest for a certain subject or activity you want to understand it and be able to perform it the best of your ability. After all, the better you can play the more satisfying and enjoyable it will be, right? I know exactly what this drive for improvement feels like. I've been working hard at my own game for 17 years now and definitely haven't had enough yet, there are still many things that I'd love to keep improving and become more competent at.
As you follow this path you may get discouraged or have doubts. "But Ian, I just started playing and I'm 45 years old". "I don't have the money for hours and hours of private instruction". "I've been trying to learn topspin for 5 years and I just don't get it". I hear these types of concerns and excuses all the time both on the court and in electronic correspondence from web site visitors.
Let me encourage you, believe me you can improve your tennis game. I've seen marked improvement in people of all ages, sizes, and ability levels. Over that last year I've been extremely excited to see people improve their game without even taken a lesson, just by listening to the podcast and posting on the forums at Essential Tennis. How can this be achieved, even by somebody who may have a few special obstacles in their way? If you put into use and focus on the three things below I can all but guarantee that you will improve your tennis game.
1. Effort Level
Nothing inspires me more than a student who just busts themselves over and over again hustling after balls. This could be the #1 difference maker in your game if you're not already pushing yourself physically to your limits day after day. Make a commitment to yourself that you will give everything you have on both the practice court and during competition. This will pay dividends in the long run big time both physically and mentally. Just for one hour of practice try springing as fast as you can towards every single ball until either you get to it or until it finally bounces twice. Do this on shots that you don't think you could possibly get to, do it for balls that go out, run full speed for every single ball. Most likely after an hour of this you'll be physically exhausted, after doing it many times your conditioning and speed will be improved a great deal. By the way, it doesn't matter if you get to the ball or not, simply promise yourself that you will run every time.
2. Focus and Concentration
When you walk out onto the practice court make sure that you have goals and objectives for every single thing that you work on. Not only should you have these planned out ahead of time, but once you start a certain drill or rally don't ever stop until you actually achieve it. No more stopping and getting water because it's getting too hard only to get off the bench and play games to 10 instead of your drill. No more trying for 5 minutes to rally 10 in a row cross court and moving on to something different because you got mentally tired. Keep your focus, stay on task, build your mental muscle.
3. Solid, Fundamental Information
Anything that sounds gimmicky on the internet, or sounds too good to be true is probably not worth investing time, effort, or money in. Good tennis instructional information should make sense, it should be logical, it should be backed up by specific examples seen in high level players. Ever have a web site tell you that you can have a forehand like Roger Federer for $9.99? Move on. Are you a 2.5 player and being told that you need a windshield wiper forehand or kick serve? Take one step at a time, you have to master the fundamentals first. Everybody on the internet thinks that they're an expert about whatever they're talking about. Don't get me wrong, there's lots and lots of great information about improving your tennis game. However, be aware that there's also a lot of poor information as well, and information that can even hurt your game or body if followed. I'm not trying to say that this web site is the only place with good tennis instruction information, not at all. Just beware of what type of instruction you buy into on the internet, check it against reality first and always keep in mind whatever level player you are.
Follow these three important guidelines and you can continue to make steady gains in your tennis game. Keep working hard both mentally and physically and continue to feed yourself good instructional information. You really can improve your tennis game!
