What do you focus on during match play

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Ramirez

New User
What should one focus on during matchplay? The ball? Your strokes? Strategy?

What do the pros keep in mind while hitting the ball during competitive matchplay?

I notice that when in slow motion, the pros are always looking at the ball and even the contact point, however, it is hard to keep focused on this yet play good angles and strategy.

So what should be kept in mind during matchplay? Should one purely focus on the ball?
 
For me, the most important thing is to remain focused. In terms of actual play, be decisive; in other words, determine which shot to play quickly and stick to it. That way, you only need to focus upon execution. Don’t forget, when you’re talking about professionals, technique is ingrained hence all they need to do is focus on the ball. Of course, they know immediately where they’re planning to hit it.
 
Between points I think about tactics and stategy. If I'm not playing well I think about mechanics as well.

During the point I mostly just watch the ball and try to implement whatever tactical, strategic, or mechanical improvements I came up with before the point started.
 
You need to be thinking about strategy. As a junior, I never did this. But now I do, with very positive results. Each opponent will have weaknesses, and you have to think about how to best take advantage of those weaknesses.

Ball contact is important, but that is one of those things that go under the category of 'Givens'. Ball contact, footwork, strokes, etc, should all be givens. But strategy will change from point to point, and from game to game.
 
Agree with CAM. As you progress as a player, the 'givens' simply fall in place. I honestly can't remember the last time I gave any thought to them*, they're just habits at this point (although I occasionally screw them up). Strategy should be your focus.

*Not counting the recent whupping where I was miffed at lacking the fitness to maintain proper footwork or stroke mechanics in every point.
 
Yeah, but WBF, you still did pretty damn well for someone who didn't do any training for that tournament. The guy that beat you is likely playing a LOT, whereas you aren't playing much, and you did zero physical training for that tourney. If you held your own against him stroke-wise, I would imagine that would have been a fun match if you were in shape.
 
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What level/how experienced are you Ramirez?

Watching the ball is always a given, because you are always playing the ball, not the person - in certain terms.

Keeping it in play for starters. If thats not a problem, then strategy. Simple strategy, hit to their weak side repeatedly until they give you an error. It develops from there.
 
Pros usually don't have to look inorder to know where the ball is going to land. They already know where the ball will land based on their contact point with the ball.

As for what you should do is a series of things since I'm not sure what level you're at.

1) Mechanics
2) Anticipation
3) The ball
4) Your opponent
5) The court

...in no particular order, and I'm sure there are a lot more things too.
 
When serving, I'm thinking of being loose. All kinds of bad things happen if my arm gets tight.

Lately, I am trying very very hard to use better footwork and get to the bounce of the ball. That's what I'm thinking about at the net and for groundstrokes.
 
CGMemphis said:
What level/how experienced are you Ramirez?

Watching the ball is always a given, because you are always playing the ball, not the person - in certain terms.

Keeping it in play for starters. If thats not a problem, then strategy. Simple strategy, hit to their weak side repeatedly until they give you an error. It develops from there.
Click to expand...

I have played for 10 years... about 3-4 times per week.

The most important thing I find is that you have to be more 'single minded' and keep very focused on the ball during actual matchplay. The rest (example footwork etc.) will have to come in naturally as you practise.

During practise you can focus on your stroke mechanics or the changes you would like to make to your strokes..... However during actual matchplay, if you focus on these issues rather than the ball itself, you will lose focus and the results would be unfavourable.
 
Key things to remember in match play...


1) Go for your shots

This is one of the biggest errors I see in most players. Coaches tell players to play percentage tennis, but the players become too timid and then just push the ball back rather then hitting their strokes. Remember to always go for your strokes, and never be afraid. As long as you have confidence in yourself and your strokes, you should be fine.

2) Stay agressive

Even if you are a defensive type of player, you should always be looking for ways to end the point. When you see the opening to end the point, go for it.

3) Recognize the tedencies of your opponent

Alot of players don't adjust to their opponent, especially if they just lost the first set. If you lose the first set, don't panic. Stay calm, and think of the things your opponent did to win that first set. Then think of ways to disrupt what your opponent did to win the first set.

4) If you are having a bad day....

Go for your shots still, do not just push the ball back. However that's not to say pull a Fernando Gonzalez and just go all out. Still hit your shots, but put a little more margin of error on your shots. Instead of hitting down the line, keep going crosscourt or towards the middle of the court, while still hitting the ball.


These tips will help you become a better player, as I've seen countless of times players who start losing just push the ball back. It works up to a degree, but when you face an opponent who is smart, he won't fall for pushing tactics. He'll run you in circles before the match is over.

It's a given that once you enter a match, you are not thinking about mechanics. That is for practice.
 
i think of technique and keeping relaxed all the time. every time i feel frustration creeping in, i take a few extra seconds to compose myself for the next point. this is important for me otherwise my game can fall apart.
 
When I'm serving I think:
Don't doublefault.
Don't doublefault.
Don't doublefault.

When I'm returning I think:
Please hit it long.
Please hit it long.
Please hit it long.
 
Returning-

1. Where am I hitting my return

2. Focus on the ball.

3. After that it's all on-the-fly reaction to what the other player does

Serving-

1. Where am I serving to

2. Good form on serve

3. Fast reaction to the return...

That's about it...
 
Ramirez said:
What should one focus on during matchplay? The ball? Your strokes? Strategy?

What do the pros keep in mind while hitting the ball during competitive matchplay?

I notice that when in slow motion, the pros are always looking at the ball and even the contact point, however, it is hard to keep focused on this yet play good angles and strategy.

So what should be kept in mind during matchplay? Should one purely focus on the ball?
Click to expand...

Kicking ***!!!
 
Ramirez said:
What should one focus on during matchplay? The ball? Your strokes? Strategy?

What do the pros keep in mind while hitting the ball during competitive matchplay?

I notice that when in slow motion, the pros are always looking at the ball and even the contact point, however, it is hard to keep focused on this yet play good angles and strategy.

So what should be kept in mind during matchplay? Should one purely focus on the ball?
Click to expand...
yeah...what this guy asked.

I'm so screwed. I don't know what to focus on to be optimal.
 
How about taking it one shot at a time? I mean if you don’t screw up each individual shot, the overall result should be good, right? For every individual shot there’s usually a best option. Need to find that quickly.
 
Awesome @Curious

JUST take one shot at a time..... For every individual shot, quickly find a best option.

I like it. Simple to remember.

(Perform one same stroke formula for each specific shot, no matter how boring, ie don't be cute or inventive and making stupid shots. Feel indifferent, stoic, neither excited nor frustrated to maintain mental clarity. )
 
user92626 said:
Awesome @Curious

JUST take one shot at a time..... For every individual shot, quickly find a best option.

I like it. Simple to remember.

(Perform one same stroke formula for each specific shot, no matter how boring, ie don't be cute or inventive and making stupid shots. Feel indifferent, stoic, neither excited nor frustrated to maintain mental clarity. )
Click to expand...
Yep, nicely put. All we need to do is have a one shot strategy! And add them up. Filming your match is the best way to see if you did well. Understand why you didn’t and progress from there.
 
Well, first of all you should absolutely NOT focus on your stroke mechanics. The best way to do that, in my experience, is to focus on your footwork. Obviously, you need to decide on the target for your shots, but that doesn't actually require "focus" if you've got a game plan.
 
Against a similar strong player my biggest problems are serve and return, so i focus firstly create as many ralies as i can.
A DECENT SEC SERVE would help a LOT... i am working on that...
 
What's important for me is to keep myself in the aggressive state of mind. Which keeps my footwork going and keeps me from pushing.
Therefore it keeps me from making stupid mistakes and beating myself.
Once you start thinking about technique I think it's game over.
 
LuckyR said:
Well, first of all you should absolutely NOT focus on your stroke mechanics. The best way to do that, in my experience, is to focus on your footwork. Obviously, you need to decide on the target for your shots, but that doesn't actually require "focus" if you've got a game plan.
Click to expand...
Except for one, max two things during the actual shot, as per Inner game of tennis?
 
Curious said:
@user92626
One more simplification. Coach Stokke says ‘hit big to big targets’.
Deliberately avoid lines, especially at our level it’s just silly not to do that.

For every single shot let’s have only these targets while playing a match. What do you think?


https://imgur.com/a/6AdHgcS
Click to expand...
Not if you are fat, lazy and/or a poor mover though, or a power player such as Rublev ( starting around 4.0, I would say)?
 
WNB93 said:
What's important for me is to keep myself in the aggressive state of mind. Which keeps my footwork going and keeps me from pushing.
Therefore it keeps me from making stupid mistakes and beating myself.
Once you start thinking about technique I think it's game over.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but what if you are too error prone and/or a great mover? Or playing against a lower opponent? I that case you may want to play consistently no? And make it random only against higher rated players?
 
toth said:
Against a similar strong player my biggest problems are serve and return, so i focus firstly create as many ralies as i can.
A DECENT SEC SERVE would help a LOT... i am working on that...
Click to expand...
Or a ROS? To kill his second serve?
As for your second, why not use the first twice instead?
 
Fintft said:
Or a ROS? To kill his second serve?
As for your second, why not use the first twice instead?
Click to expand...
i more or less attak the weak sec serves
i dont want to hit two f serve becouse of it will be slow or a lots of doubles error
 
I try to stay very present and not think ahead or think about what’s already happened. I try not to get too high if I’m playing well or too low if I’m not. I focus on the point and tell myself that I have to keep winning points until it’s over. Marathon not a sprint mentality.
 
(i think in all online video is explained the role of the first and the sec serve
i am better than about 3 not to have a useful sec serve
i am working to have it)
 
toth said:
i would like to hit a real first serve, this is the point
for that i need a safe not attakable sec serve
Click to expand...
But if I use my first serve twice, the first one counts as an warmup...
Doesn't Zverev do that now?

Kyrigos in the past(against Roger)?
 
toth said:
i would like to hit a real first serve, this is the point
for that i need a safe not attakable sec serve
Click to expand...

When I hit two second serves, I miss a lot and pile up the DFs.

When I hit two first serves I tend to get more free points and more breathing room in my service games, and it doesn't hurt my arm any more than hitting two seconds. Sometimes even less
 
For singles matches, my focus would be:

Before the match - strategy/game plan especially if known opponent and based on surface, time of year/day, conditions. Visualize some point patterns that play to my strengths.
Between games - quick thoughts about what is working, what is not working, what point patterns are happening, what opponent’s strengths/weaknesses/preferences are, what tactics to adjust, adjusting to conditions (wind/glare/humidity/temperature/surface/condition of ball)
Between points - what serve (target/spin) to hit, where to stand on return and maybe where to return if FH/BH, what opponent is doing, quick thought about what happened in last few points and if any adjustment needed. Sometimes might think of whether any technique or footwork adjustment need to be made to adjust to conditions, opponent’s tactics or unforced errors I’m making. Do some visualization and silent mantras if behind during service games. Adjust breathing and leg activity (like jumping) to control stimulation level to optimal range.
During point - focus on shot selection decision (target, pace/spin, trajectory) of next shot with focus on getting point pattern in my favor and then execute without thinking.

For doubles, I would also focus on communicating with my partner and showing support/positivity between games and points. General attitude during matches will be to keep my intensity/focus high and try to be at my best from first point to last - usually this means keeping emotions in check and staying rational so that I’m able to think and adjust to my opponent/conditions quickly throughout the match.

During practice, I might think of checkpoints during shots and more about technique, but during matches I feel it is better to focus on just execution during the shot.
 
Specifics depend on match per match off course. Things might change on how my opponent plays. Strengths and weaknesses and all that.

A thing that stays constant at all times, is that I try to really focus on margins. A nice height over the net and when looking for angles, to still keep in mind that safe margin from the side- and baseline. So that if I "miss" my target, I still get the ball in. The idea is that before I actually make an error, I have to really miss-miss my shot. All just about unforced error reduction.

I don't mind at all to lose the point if my opponent outplays me or whatever. But throwing points away by making stupid mistakes, I find really infuriating.

Which is not to say I won't ever take risks or whatever. I do, but there's a time and place for everything. When you get that neutral ball, it's okay to just give a neutral ball back, albeit with some safe angle and depth.
 
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