Quantcast
nodot nodot
Tennis Anyone
April 1998 Article

Contact John Mills

Latest Tennis Anyone Article

Tennis Anyone Archives:
2003 - Present
1994 - 2002

Tennis Server
HOME PAGE

Do You Want To Be A Better Tennis Player?

Then Sign Up For A Free Subscription to the Tennis Server INTERACTIVE
E-mail Newsletter!

Tom Veneziano You will join 13,000 other subscribers in receiving news of updates to the Tennis Server along with monthly tennis tips from tennis pro Tom Veneziano.
 
Best of all, it is free!

Tennis Features Icon TENNIS FEATURES:

TENNIS ANYONE? - USPTA Pro John Mills' quick player tip.
 
TENNIS WARRIOR - Tom Veneziano's Tennis Warrior archive.
 
TURBO TENNIS - Ron Waite turbocharges your tennis game with tennis tips, strategic considerations, training and practice regimens, and mental mindsets and exercises.
 
WILD CARDS - Each month a guest column by a new writer.
 
BETWEEN THE LINES - Ray Bowers takes an analytical and sometimes controversial look at the ATP/WTA professional tour.
 
PRO TENNIS SHOWCASE - Tennis match reports and photography from around the world.
 
TENNIS SET - Jani Macari Pallis, Ph.D. looks at tennis science, engineering and technology.
 
MORTAL TENNIS - Greg Moran's tennis archive on how regular humans can play better tennis.
 
HARDSCRABBLE SCRAMBLE - USPTA pro Mike Whittington's player tip archive.
 
TENNIS EQUIPMENT TIPS.

Tennis Community Icon TENNIS COMMUNITY:


Tennis Book, DVD, and Video Index
 
Tennis Server Match Reports
 
Editor's Letter
 
Become a Tennis Server Sponsor

Explore The Tennis Net Icon EXPLORE THE TENNIS NET:

Tennis News and Live Tennis Scores
 
Tennis Links on the Web
 
nodot
Tennis Anyone


 

Green Dot
 
Tennis Warehouse Logo
 
Green Dot

 
nodot
Honestly Assess Your Game, Know Your Limits!

John Mills Photo
John Mills, USPTA

The foundation of sound tactical play is knowing one's limits. This can be accomplished by honestly assessing one's game. But understanding one's limits is only half the foundation. A player must be willing to play within those limits once they have been established.

However, good tactics don't mean one should play conservatively or timidly all the time. A player must learn to play up to one's limits as well. When there is an opportunity to play aggressively (go for it!) and hit with authority - do so. Just as it is tactically sound to play consistently, it also is sound to play forcefully when the opportunity presents itself.

Jim Courier and Andre Agassi are aggressive baseliners with relatively weak volleys, so their singles stretegy is based on a powerful groundstroke game. Their groundstrokes give them the widest range of options.

They have defined clearly the strengths of their games and use them while avoiding the weaker aspects.

There are strategic limits to various shots. For example:

  • A serve without spin hurts the margin of error, which leads to double faults, or a doomsday second serve.

  • Topspin shots are low percentage approach shots (unless they are clean winners), as are very poor percentage volleys, or no-percentage drop shots.

  • Slice groundstrokes are low percentage passing shots.

    A player's weaknesses must be worked on to widen their strategic options. The limits of one's stoke mechanics restrict the variety of strategic options, but adding new strokes to your repertoire can widen those options.

    For example:

    • Adding topspin to groundstrokes allows more effective passing shots and topspin lobs.

    • Underspin or slice adds safety to groundstrokes allowing the player to hit deeper and produces a more effective approach shot.

      Green DotGreen DotGreen Dot

      Tennis Anyone Archives:
      1994 - 2002 | 2003 - Present


      If you have not already signed up to receive our free e-mail newsletter Tennis Server INTERACTIVE, you can sign up here. You will receive notification each month of changes at the Tennis Server and news of new columns posted on our site.

      This column is copyrighted by John Mills, all rights reserved.

      John Mills' experience includes four years as head pro at the Windemere Racquet & Swim Club, where he was responsible for organization of all tennis activities at the club. John also played college tennis at the University of Houston and has spent 20 years teaching tennis at the Memorial Park Tennis Center, the Pasadena Racquet Club, and as the head pro at the Bay Area Racquet Club.


       

  • nodot
    nodot
    Google
    Web tennisserver.com
    nodot nodot
    The Tennis Server
    Ticket Exchange

    Your Source for tickets to professional tennis & golf events.
     
    SAI Team Tennis Tournament Tickets
     
    Dallas Open Tickets
     
    Delray Beach Open Tickets
     
    ATX Open Tickets
     
    BNP Paribas Open Tickets
     
    Miami Open Tickets
     
    Credit One Charleston Open Tickets
     
    US Men's Clay Court Championships Tickets
     
    Wimbledon Tickets
     
    Infosys Hall of Fame Open Tickets
     
    Atlanta Open Tickets
     
    Mubadala Citi Open Tennis Tournament Tickets
     
    National Bank Open Women's Tennis Canada Tickets
     
    National Bank Open Men's Tennis Canada Tickets
     
    Western & Southern Open Tickets
     
    Winston-Salem Open Tickets
     
    US Open Tennis Championship Tickets
     

     

    Popular Tennis books:
     
    Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis-Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison
     
    The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance by Jeff Greenwald
     
    The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
     
    Most Recent Articles:
     
    October 2022 Tennis Anyone: Patterns in Doubles by John Mills.
     
    September 2022 Tennis Anyone: Short Court by John Mills.
     

     

     

     

    "Tennis Server" is a registered trademark and "Tennis Server INTERACTIVE" is a trademark of Tennis Server. All original material and graphics on the Tennis Server are copyrighted 1994 - by Tennis Server and its sponsors and contributors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

    The Tennis Server receives a commission on all items sold through links to Amazon.com.

     

    Tennis Server
    Cliff Kurtzman
    Editor-in-chief
    791 Price Street #144
    Pismo Beach, CA 93449
    Phone: (281) 480-6300
    Online Contact Form
    How to support Tennis Server as a Sponsor/Advertiser
    Tennis Server Privacy Policy