Basic strategies for first tournament

P

pierce24adam

New User
Hi guys,

Despite my bad training session today (see my other thread posted today) I'm pushing on with my plans to enter my first tournament in about 3-4 weeks time.

The level shouldn't be too high and I would like to try and enter my match (which is only one of those first to 8 style sets) with a few basic strategies that an average player like myself could reasonably be expected to execute.

What are some good basic strategies to try and employ? These can be anything from tips, to shots, anything!

I am a leftie and I'm happy to volley or rally from the back.

Thanks in advance, look forward to receiving your advice guys :D
 
Definitely play the tournament - it's really a lot of fun if you have the right attitude. Approach it as a learning experience...don't worry about winning, focus on enjoying it and learning from the match(es) you have.

If you can, go watch another local tournament a week or two before, so you can get a sense for what it looks/feels like.

Play a couple of matches against people at or just above your level during the week or so before the tournament if you can, to practice consistency and dealing with "point-pressure."

As for match strategy, it's really very simple. At most recreational levels, the typical end to a point is an unforced error...if you keep the ball in play you'll have an excellent chance of winning many points/games/sets.

Play within yourself, don't let the tournament setting change the basics of your game. Concentrate on the basics... Start the point (e.g., get his serves back, don't double fault); stay in the point (unless there is a very clear winner opportunity hit at least a couple balls in each point before you try to get too aggressive); keep your brain involved - try something new if you go down in the first four games 4-0...change your tactics and see what happens.

But most of all, have fun. Recently my older son lost in a tournament and when we were talking after the match he said that he was bummed he lost, but had a great time overall and was already looking forward to the next tournament. :) That's a win in my book.
 
That is fantastic advice, I'm going to write it down in my notebook and take it to the tourney with me - really good stuff, cheers :o

Any more suggestions?
 
Redflea's wrap was excellent, especially going to an earlier tournament. If you can't make an earlier tournament, and you don't have the opening time-slot, get there early to watch other matches. Hang out, blend in, get the feel (and watch some great tennis too!)

My random bits of advice:

a. Pack the night before. Check your gear, get a restring that week if you're due, but don't change too much. Don't go new socks / shoes / clothes even. Don't wear anything you haven't worn before, don't even play with brand new strings (if you do need the restring, hit with it in the days before to let it settle and let you adjust). The only thing you should (optionally) go with as 'new' is an overgrip!

b. Pack too much :). Take an extra bottle of this drink & that drink. Take a towel, take spare whatevers. Never hurts to over-prepare.

c. Get there early. Even if you're the very first match, be there an hour or even more beforehand.

d. IF there's a spare court, go hit with a mate first maybe 30-60 minutes before the match for half-an-hour. If there's not, and this isn't an option, maybe at least hit against a wall, in the carpark, or at minimum go for a run. Don't rush the hitup on the court, & don't let the opponent rush you.

e. Assuming you're in the right grade, remember your opponent may be as new & as nervous (or more) than you!

f. Strategy? Wait for the hitup, and see how your opponent plays. You'll learn a bit there. Then just choose your favourite strategy based on what you see, and work from there. I'm a pick-on-a-weakness person, and I'll do it to the point of dropping dead form boredom. If they have a weak backhand, they'll see backhands all day. If they don't like slice, I'll slice all day long. If I think they're a 'grooved-young-player', who is used to playing hard hitters, I'll junk-ball all day long. If they don't come in to the net in the hit-up, I'll drag them in there and see what they're like!

You know your abilities, you need to pick the best normal strategies for you, as RedFlea suggested, you don't want to make it to unusual!

g. Be overly polite & overly fair. Always give the close calls, always go for a neutral score if you've both forgotten it (shouldn't happen, still does). Fairness encourages fairness

h. Have fun. Learn lots. Love it, and enter another :). Good luck!
 
Also remember that a tournament is not the time to work on your strokes, but to see what you've got and how it compares to other people.

Also, because this is your first tournament it may take a little time for you to settle in. A key thing is breathing, force yourself to take deap breaths and it should calm you a little.

As always, have fun!
 
redflea made a very educational post....my advice would be just to keep the ball in play and just play smart, play with no pressure, and you'll do just fine
 
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

even if the guy you're playing is a lot better then you, go out on the court feeling like you can play well. FEEL that you are going to give this guy a fight, and then just play. Don't be afraid, cause that's how you lose points.
 
If nothings working, Chip and Charge. I love to S&V when my serve is ON. Well maybe its serve and fist pump, but still.
 
Go buy Brad's book Winning Ugly!

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageCHAMP-WINUGLY.html

Here are some of my tips, some of which I share with Brad...

Don't do anything different before your match than you do during the rest of the year when you're just going out with your friends. Don't try anything special like downing a bunch of energy bars or drinks. No meals within 2 hours of your match. Do what you're used to.

Pay close attention to your opponent while warming up. Does he run around backhands? Does he have trouble with high bouncing forehands? Does he have trouble with short slices? Can he volley? Can he hit overheads? When nothing special comes to mind, attack your opponents weakness with your strength.

When warming up don't run around backhands or avoid shots you're not comfortable with.

While warming up, hit balls long before you hit them short. You'll get tight during the match.

If given the choice, let your opponent serve first. Never serve first.

Make no errors in the first 2 games. Play conservatively. Keep the ball deep, don't go for any crazy winners. No errors. This is one of the best tips I have ever heard. Try to break serve in the first game with your consistancy and by keeping the pressure on, don't let your opponent get away with things early on. Neither of you will be fully warmed up, especially the server at the beginning.

I think knowing your own weaknesses is important. Know what your opponent may pick on.

Do not try and get too much out of your weakness, say a backhand. If one of your shots breaks down, lower your expectations. Just get the ball back, keep the ball deep. Do not go for winners or try and make up for shots you've missed. Play within yourself. Do not play your opponents game. If he sends back an awkward slice, do not try and out-slice him. Play YOUR game.

Tips on strategy greatly depend on your opponent, so I'll leave that alone.
 
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Wow, I am sitting here just amazed at all the fantastic responses! :D

Every single post gave me something valuable to take with me, and I'm so grateful to everyone for sharing.

I'm new to these forums and already feel like I've learnt tons in 2 days.

:)
 
OrangeOne said:
<snip>g. Be overly polite & overly fair. Always give the close calls, always go for a neutral score if you've both forgotten it (shouldn't happen, still does). Fairness encourages fairness
Click to expand...

Just wanted to note that this comment is easy to gloss over, but it is one of the best comments in this thread. Fair line calls, replays when you're not sure about something, and just general friendliness and good sportsmanship all contribute to really creating an enjoyable experience, win or lose. (And as we know, all of us except Fed lose many more tournaments than we win.)
 
tennismike33 said:
And at your high school they call this coaching??????
Click to expand...

Redflea said:
I think his coach must be from the Minimalist school of coaching...
Click to expand...

Simple but true. Too many players, try to end the point when they don't need to, or try to hit WAY too hard. I have seen and coached keeping the ball in play and hitting one more ball than your opponent, work many times. You should try it sometime tennismike33, instead of trying to go for a winner off of my winner. ;)
 
migjam said:
Simple but true. Too many players, try to end the point when they don't need to, or try to hit WAY too hard. I have seen and coached keeping the ball in play and hitting one more ball than your opponent, work many times. You should try it sometime tennismike33, instead of trying to go for a winner off of my winner. ;)
Click to expand...


I actually should take your advice, I am so humbled to even be on the same court with you. Tomorrow morning I will take your advice and feed the ball to you, time after time after time after time after time after time, then I will be tired and throw my hands up and surrender to you!!
 
Now that I have had a good time with my friend I will add some serious notes.

I agree with the packing, as my bag contains everything that I will need during a match. Extra this and that, to include socks, shirts, and shorts. At times here in the Northwest the humidity in and around the tennis centers gets high and a change of clothing between the 2-3 sets if you go that long will help refresh you. Sweatbands and hats is always a plus.

To loosen up if I am unable to get a hit in before a match I will find a wall and hit foam style objects off the wall to help get ready. This really helps if you are a S&V player. Gears your eyes to watch the contact.

The bigger bags allow you to bring plenty of equipment, take a look a Brad Gilberts book on packing his bag.

Tournaments are a different way of playing. Being able to raise your game to a higher level and compete against another person is why I enjoy tennis. Stay focused on what you do well, even if your best shot works into that person's better shot, stay with it, keep hitting it.

Being able to make small adjustments and be in tune with what your opponent is not doing, an example of this was a match last year at the AO.
The player who was playing agains Sharapova kept her stationary in the middle of the court, as she is very athletic. If you have a player that hits welll on the run, make them stand still and hit the same shot time after time, they WILL get bored of it and you increase your chances of winning.
 
Go with the attitude that you are just going to have fun.

Have the attitude that, no matter what happens, it is a learning experience and a first step.

With less that 3 weeks to go, ther is no time to work on new skills. Spend your time practicing your strengths. Practicing and drilling will help you more than playing games to in preparation for the tournament. After the tournament you will have an idea of what to work on for the next one.

Don't think too much about the other players. Play the ball, not the personality. Opponents change. It is always the same old ball.

Good percentage tennis works against everyone, regardless of their style. Keep the ball deep, move your opponent around, mix up your shots, change your pace. If you get them out of position- go for the open court. If you get a short ball- angle it or hit it deep and come to net. If the opponent is way back behind the baseline- dropshot. If he comes to net-- passing shot or topspin lob. Throw in some low slice to the backhand and see how he responds. You can come in behind the slice (if you like to volley) or wait for an easy ball that he pops up.

Get a good nights sleep. Nervous, can't sleep? Try reading Shakespeare's "The Tempest". It works for me zzzzzzz.

Let us know how it goes.

Good luck,

B
 
pierce24adam said:
Hi guys,

Despite my bad training session today (see my other thread posted today) I'm pushing on with my plans to enter my first tournament in about 3-4 weeks time.

The level shouldn't be too high and I would like to try and enter my match (which is only one of those first to 8 style sets) with a few basic strategies that an average player like myself could reasonably be expected to execute.

What are some good basic strategies to try and employ? These can be anything from tips, to shots, anything!

I am a leftie and I'm happy to volley or rally from the back.

Thanks in advance, look forward to receiving your advice guys :D
Click to expand...

If you're playing a pro set (8 games) then don't worry about extra clothes, etc. You're not going on a trip and you won't be out there very long. Take a couple of racquets, a bottle of water and a towel. Put'em in a bag if it makes you feel better. Over preperation tends to make players nervous.

Prepare for a beat-down. Seriously, if this is your first tournament then you may well get a bad draw. Avoid a mental meltdown.

MOVE YOUR FEET! When players get nervous their feet get heavy and you can't play tennis with heavy feet.

Forget about Brad Gilbert. Brad's book is fine if you're experienced and have the game to take advantage of other's weaknesses. Play your game, if you can. Don't muddle up your mind with strategies you can't execute. If player A plays HIS game better than player B plays HIS game then player A will win.

Everybody says "just have fun". Getting beat 8-0 is not fun and no amount of pseudo-psychology can change that. Identify your weaknesses and take it to the practice court.

Good luck.
 
migjam said:
Hit one more ball than your opponent
Click to expand...

We played this morning and MIGJAM(what does that really mean???) hit the greatest shot of all time, a running, blocking forehand up the line for a passing shot on the dead run.

Great shot, great morning, what a pleasure it is that you allow me to be on the same court with you!!!!!!
 
tennismike33 said:
We played this morning and MIGJAM(what does that really mean???) hit the greatest shot of all time, a running, blocking forehand up the line for a passing shot on the dead run.

Great shot, great morning, what a pleasure it is that you allow me to be on the same court with you!!!!!!
Click to expand...

VAMOS, Mike !!!
 
When playing any competitive event, you must ask yourself 'what is your goal?'

This will define much of how you will play your tournament. All of the advice offered in this thread has been very, very good. However, from a coach who has trained many top-ranked players, I will share with you my experience and what has helped develop many of these top-level players.

If your goal is to become a top-ranked performer, playing any tournament where you resort to more simple form just to 'get the ball back', you will not be improving the more effective form that will help you become a better player in the long run. (Form that is usually more comfortable because it is more familiar than perhaps form that you might be working on. For example, instead of hitting a full topspin backhand or forehand you resort to pushing the ball over with a flat, bunt-like stroke. etc.)

However, if your goal is to win that match, then using anything that helps you win that match is deemed a worthy effort. (Yet, still not helping you in the overall development of a more effective game.) I know when I was a junior I lost my first 4 tournaments in the first round. However, I passed up everyone of those opponents within 6 to 8 months because I was using form that was more effective...and through my use of it in tournaments, I was getting better with it in each event.

As for all my students, including my 8 year-old daughter, we focus on hitting proper form in all competitive environments. Of course, we don't swing for the fences and try to hit shots that limit our balance. In fact, in using the form that we are teaching, players who do so within speeds that they can stay balanced and controlled, usually do better than if they did indeed resort to the typical pushing, hacking, slapping, tapping, and HOPING that is often seen among first time players.

So, if you know what your goal is, keep that in mind.

Here is a story I tell all my students: If you are using the form you know will make you a better player and lose every match for six months, how would you feel? Not great, obviously. However, if in the next six months, you not only win all your matches, but you win at far higher levels than you had ever played, would it be worth losing in thse first few months? In most cases, everyone will say yes. Consider too, that you have a lifetime of tennis ahead of you: is it worth losing a number of times early on to come closer to mastering--and reaching--higher levels of skill that you will be able to use for that remaining lifetime? Think about that!

Unless you are going to die next month, I vote playing to improve, not playing necessarily to win. (Although, playing to win USING good form is the best scenario!)
 
Lots of good advice here, but too much to hold in your head for now. Just go out and play as if you were playing a buddy, but really trying hard to win. If you try to remember all this other advice, you'll build this up in your mind to be more than it really is, and you'll put too much pressure on yourself. Have fun, hit the ball, do your best.
 
Keep that notebook handy! Yahoo, there's plenty of good stuff in here, but you don't need to recall every shred of it in your match. I sometimes get a brain freeze of a different sort when I'm in a match and the best way for me to keep my cool and focus is to bring a very brief list of priorities with me to check on the changeovers. Things like: eye on the ball, take a breath (before I serve), always crosscourt... If I try to analyze too much at once, I get scatterbrained, but my list takes away a lot of pressure because no matter what, I already know what to do.

You can also jot down some things right after your match in terms of what went right and what needs work. Good to do when things are fresh in your head.

Good etiquette is the final word, my friend. Always set the example and you are always welcome in my sandbox. Have a blast!
 
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