Tip of the Week: Hitting a Shot Well is More Important than Fooling Your Opponent

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By Steve Annacone
We are always fighting human nature when playing a point in a tennis match. It is natural to try to disguise your shot so the opponent does not know what you are going to do. The problem is that even if you fool your opponent, if the shot is not hit well, you are likely to let them back into the...Read more

Tip of the Week: Playing Better on the Big Points

By Steve Annacone
As players get better, it becomes more and more difficult to figure out why one person wins the match and the other does not. The best players seem to win more of the points at the crucial times. It would be natural to assume they lift their game and rise to the occasion, therefore resulting in...Read more

Tip of the Week: Reasons to Hit Crosscourt

By Steve Annacone
Hitting the ball crosscourt is a great way to start the point, set up the point, and often to win the point. There are many reasons why crosscourt is the direction to go on most of your shots. First, the ball will usually cross the net somewhere towards the middle giving you a greater margin of...Read more

Tip of the Week: Hold On Loosely

By Steve Annacone
When I first started playing, I can remember getting advice pertaining to keeping a firm grip on the racquet. What I have learned over the years is that if you start with a firm grip in the ready position or prior to the backswing on your shots, you end up with a "death grip" on the racquet. This...Read more

Tip of the Week: Strengths and Weaknesses

By Steve Annacone
Coaches and players often put a lot of emphasis on scouting their next opponent. This can be helpful, but it can sometimes lead to over-thinking your strategy based on the opponent's strength and weakness. It is much better to focus on your own strengths and weaknesses, and design a game plan...Read more

Tip of the Week: Play Balls Towards the Center Strap

By Steve Annacone
It is a natural tendency to hit balls away from wherever your opponent is on the court. A great plan for the direction of your shot is to use the center strap as an intermediary target, especially at the beginning of the point. Many pro golfers use this idea when putting. They pick a spot between...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use the Time in Between Points to Help Win the Match

By Steve Annacone
Most players and many coaches focus entirely on what you should do technically, strategically, and mentally during the point. There are many things a player can do in between points that can make the difference in the match. First, assess what just happened on the last point. Focus on the process...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Beat Players Who Are Better Than You

By Steve Annacone
I am sure those of you who have played a lot of tennis matches have experienced losing to a lesser player, as well as winning against a better player. Tennis is like that--if you play enough matches you will have bad days and good days, and your results often reflect these different levels of play...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Shots Down the Middle For Better Timing

By Steve Annacone
Most players try to hit the ball away from their opponent. This is a great way to make them hit the ball on the run and draw some errors. However, playing the ball more down the center of the court at the beginning of the point will help you establish the consistency of your timing as well as...Read more

Tip of the Week: Attack Your Opponent's Strength to Get to Their Weakness

By Steve Annacone
When facing a player with an extremely strong forehand or backhand, our instincts are to try to direct all of our shots to the weaker side. The problem is that most of these players are very good at covering up their weaker side and eventually hit more balls with their weapon or stronger shot. By...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Different Speeds on Your Serve

By Steve Annacone
The server can hit the first serve in any direction, with varying amounts of spin, and at any speed they want, on any given serve. Too often, a player hits the first serve very hard and flat and either out wide or down the “T”. This tends to produce a low percentage of first serves made and forces...Read more

Tip of the Week: Serve Plus One and Return of Serve Plus One

By Steve Annacone
If you watch and listen to professional tennis on television you will often hear "serve plus one or return of serve plus one" mentioned. Today's best players focus on and try to execute a good serve or a good return of serve as well as a good first shot following the serve or return. Most of the...Read more
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