You Win Your Matches In Practice

thomas daniels

thomas daniels

Semi-Pro
Before we get into the information.

I just want to say that.

I'm not trying to sell anything here and I don't have to prove myself to anyone of your guys!!

As I said before.

I'm sharing my coaching philosophies with competitive tennis players that want to take their mental game to another level.

If you aren't feeling my tips, that cool too.

I could care less!!!

End of rant!!

Let's move on to the post.

Here is the big difference between "The World Class Tennis players" vs "The Average Ones".

The WCTP know that they win their matches in practice.

"They know that to play at a high level in matches, that they need to bring the same mental effort, focus, and purpose in practice, so they do it every day".

But most juniors think they can play one way in practice and another way in their matches.

And it never happens that way.

Because mastering how to play the mental game takes non-stop daily training.

(You must consciously practice daily on giving 100% mental effort in practice(On every rep, point or practice match) until you are doing it unconsciously in your matches).

When I played in high school, my coach would send home players all the time.

If he saw you weren't practicing with all-out passion, true purpose and intention, YOU were gone in a heartbeat!!!

What did this do for us as players?

It helped us, develop a "Champion's Mindset" through daily practice.

I actually loved playing matches and would look forward to playing them.

I always felt I had the mental edge over my opponents.

Okay, so answer this question.

What type of work ethic are you taking to practice with your everyday?

If you are not going there mentally all in......

You need to make some serious changes fast my friend!!!

Like I said.

Tha Champions all know that they actually WIN their matches in practice!!!
 
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If we are being honest, I think many of us would have to admit we find Thomas rather fascinating. It's like when I became obsessed recently with watching Donald Trump on Youtube. Well, this guy is the black Donald Trump. Note the misuse of basic words, phrases, punctuation, contradictions sometimes even in the same sentence, arrogance, defensiveness, refusal to listen, love of attention. Even their initials are the same. :eek:

Thomas is doing to TT, what Trump did to twitter. Despite the unprecedented negative attention, both still believe they are incredibly popular and we are just dying to hear their daily wisdom. :D
 
Topspin Shot said:
Tell that to Sampras or McEnroe.
Click to expand...

HA - Exactly. Was just going to post that. Two of the greatest players of all time - notorious for being horrible in practice matches (and being horrible at practice period and not even wanting to practice when it came to Mac) - and yet when was actual match time - they would get the job done BIG TIME.

I can't tell you the number of top ATP players I know who would play practice matches against Pete and beat him every time - then when they'd play him in an actual match and he'd destroy them.
 
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DNShade said:
HA - Exactly. Was just going to post that. Two of the greatest players of all time - notorious for being horrible in practice matches (and being horrible at practice period and not even wanting to practice when it came to Mac) - and yet when was actual match time - they would get the job done BIG TIME.

I can't tell you the number of top ATP players I know who would play practice matches against Pete and beat him every time - then when they'd play him in an actual match and he'd destroy them.
Click to expand...

But would you take that to the logical extreme and coach players to practice like Sampras and McEnroe or would you want them to practice intensely like most of the other greats? It may have worked for Sampras and McEnroe but what's most likely to work for any given player? "I'll take 'intensity' for 200, Alex."
 
S&V-not_dead_yet said:
But would you take that to the logical extreme and coach players to practice like Sampras and McEnroe or would you want them to practice intensely like most of the other greats? It may have worked for Sampras and McEnroe but what's most likely to work for any given player? "I'll take 'intensity' for 200, Alex."
Click to expand...

IMO, this is what's known as "surivivorship bias" where I cherry pick some samples and zero in on some idiosyncratic behavior and use that as a causative factor.

Two well-known examples are:

- Finding an old person [say, 100+], asking them about their diet, and learning they eat peppermint candy every day. Does that mean to achieve longevity the average person should eat peppermint candies daily? What about all of the people who DID but died young anyway? [This is not the same as studying large populations.]

- Identifying millionaires' habits and assuming those habits are what produce millionaires. But what about the much larger cohort that did follow those habits but did not become millionaires? [read *The Millionaire Next Door*]
 
Other secrets:

Everything happens for a reason.
Winners never quit.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Hard work pays off.
Age is just a number.

I should make a thread for each of these.
 
TD's OP is good advice though nothing novel. The funny thing is if someone else wrote the same post TD would be blasting them for using too many words to convey a simple point, as he has done plenty of times.

Here's TD's post in a single sentence: Bust you rear in practices and compete for every point.
 
mcs1970 said:
TD's OP is good advice though nothing novel. The funny thing is if someone else wrote the same post TD would be blasting them for using too many words to convey a simple point, as he has done plenty of times.

Here's TD's post in a single sentence: Bust you rear in practices and compete for every point.
Click to expand...
He could also mean play relaxed... It's pretty vague.
 
mcs1970 said:
Here's TD's post in a single sentence: Bust you rear in practices and compete for every point.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much what every thread of his says in a nut shell. Don't see why he keeps posting the same thing a different way every other day. It's basically spam.
 
His advanced class video in Kobe Japan exemplifies his methods. Pancake serves and bad technique. But they sure try super hard. Every point harder than the last. But the score line doesn't change much. But it's ok. They all get trophies from TD.
 
giphy-facebook_s.jpg
 
Rubens said:
Other secrets:

Everything happens for a reason.
Winners never quit.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Hard work pays off.
Age is just a number.

I should make a thread for each of these.
Click to expand...
I find your obsessive insistence on both subjects and predicates distracting.
 
DNShade said:
HA - Exactly. Was just going to post that. Two of the greatest players of all time - notorious for being horrible in practice matches (and being horrible at practice period and not even wanting to practice when it came to Mac) - and yet when was actual match time - they would get the job done BIG TIME.

I can't tell you the number of top ATP players I know who would play practice matches against Pete and beat him every time - then when they'd play him in an actual match and he'd destroy them.
Click to expand...
But everybody isn't Pete!!! I have a friend coaching on tour and these guys bring it every day!! If you are great like those guys, you may be able to get away with it, but that's just 5%, my friend. Work ethic and on the flip side, I have seen tons of guys go from average to great through relentless practice, IE (Novak).
 
thomas daniels said:
But everybody isn't Pete!!! I have a friend coaching on tour and these guys bring it every day!! If you are great like those guys, you may be able to get away with it, but that's just 5%, my friend. Work ethic and on the flip side, I have seen tons of guys go from average to great through relentless practice, IE (Novak).
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the guy who suddenly through coaching about mental strength had record years?

Wow, I guess we should all follow you. Clearly we are all recreational Novaks and through mental coaching, we will be great.
 
thomas daniels said:
But everybody isn't Pete!!! I have a friend coaching on tour and these guys bring it every day!! If you are great like those guys, you may be able to get away with it, but that's just 5%, my friend. Work ethic and on the flip side, I have seen tons of guys go from average to great through relentless practice, IE (Novak).
Click to expand...

I wasn't advocating any one way to practice at all. It's all what works for the individual. That's where great coaching comes in. Figuring out how to get the most out of a player - and what works for one doesn't always work for another. The dramatic difference in how Fed approaches practice versus Rafa is a perfect example.

I was just pointing out that just how one plays practice matches or views practice time period is not necessarily indicative of their results.
 
DNShade said:
I wasn't advocating any one way to practice at all. It's all what works for the individual. That's where great coaching comes in. Figuring out how to get the most out of a player - and what works for one doesn't always work for another. The dramatic difference in how Fed approaches practice versus Rafa is a perfect example.

I was just pointing out that just how one plays practice matches or views practice time period is not necessarily indicative of their results.
Click to expand...
Okay, I got you, you are my favorite actor too!!LOL!
 

I'm the only one who would've had a fighting chance to stop him, by self-arresting him, dead in his tracks; because, fresh-&-easy, 'penguins,' come-&-go, doing as they please, commenting as they please. (Well, as, 'indignity,' means being in separate places, at the same time, and, well, then, therefore, the corollary, am I wrong, to that, is; instantly?) Proving, in a way that cannot be scripted, be efore, during, and the moments leading up to, just after the fact.(How many times? Think about it, how many times. It's not like some people don't already know...like? Many people know, enough people know...I did not cheat.)

I'm the only one who would've had a fighting chance to stop him, by self-arresting him, dead in his tracks; because, fresh-&-easy, 'penguins,' come-&-go, doing as they please, commenting as they please. Proving, in a way that cannot be scripted, be efore, during, and the moments leading up to, just after the fact.

---Uhavtselfarrestthoseself-senselesssenses,befr, the emotion can be identified, and the action,-

Where, to begin...

Emory ro..., you should know that it's like taking candy from a baby, for, 'you, ' but not for me.

Kobe knows it.doc

I love it when people pump the throttle aroudn the thrind, 'you, ' want an AXE to grind? Across the return-grid way of life, making the same points over and over, more like rest stops, putting out this picture-perfect air of serenity, my air box is free from, because there's no error in infinity. Freaks. Which one? The one I see, as because I did not dig deep. Fact-of-life, 'penguins,' are free to not dig that deep. F!

And when I write 'normal,' it's obvious I'm the most talented writer in human history--100% of the time, for 20+ years...it'd be too easy to look it up, right now, but I have priorities.

Let's separate, what's annoying here. .
 
"Who, cares!" They are not blind, specializing in not be being narcissistic at all, 'mummy-bl(O0)gger.' Let's get this, Kii@!iteral, gala-ball, underl!way, everyone who is sensible-&-realistic.!..ttT!teeing-off with ping-pong sized golf balls; from under the limo-shade tree...as all else fall by the wayside; teeing-off with their ping-pong sized, golf balls, as all else falls by the wayside, underneath the limbo-trade tree; under the limbo-shade, sheen. Let's get this 1x, gala-ball, rolling, now that we're all in hell. Censorship of life-&-limb, it's never good; remember that, way back when?

Olly, ranger:;! say what?

Let's suummon, Dr. Ollinger in here, to mock; let's be honest, not because, 'you, ' care.

"Who, cares!" They are not blind, specializing in not be being narcissistic at all, 'mummy-bl(O0)gger.' Let's get this, Kii@!iteral, gala-ball, underl!way, everyone who is sensible-&-realistic.!..ttT!teeing-off with ping-pong sized golf balls; from under the limo-shade tree...as all else fall by the wayside; teeing-off with their ping-pong sized, golf balls, as all else falls by the wayside, underneath the limbo-trade tree; under the limbo-shade, sheen. Let's get this 1x; gala-ball, rolling, now that we're all in hell. Censorship of life-&-limb, it's never good; remember that, way back when? "Smart, ISTJs be like all!" Call it a hunch, but all I see are a pack of gang-signs, from 'Yo, Adrian,' it's global-warfare, tribalism, pulling out all the stops, can we get any more 'realism,' in here...even though, INTPS ('PoMo-`C!i'), and ENTPS ('Kiteboard, & this guy,'),

As all else falls, by the wayside, underneath the limbo-tre shade, underneath the limbo trade, sheen.!Ttis is what I do in my spare-tim!, "So, I HAVE THIS IDE.e.
 
!Tym said:
I'm the only one who would've had a fighting chance to stop him, by self-arresting him, dead in his tracks; because, fresh-&-easy, 'penguins,' come-&-go, doing as they please, commenting as they please. (Well, as, 'indignity,' means being in separate places, at the same time, and, well, then, therefore, the corollary, am I wrong, to that, is; instantly?) Proving, in a way that cannot be scripted, be efore, during, and the moments leading up to, just after the fact.(How many times? Think about it, how many times. It's not like some people don't already know...like? Many people know, enough people know...I did not cheat.)

I'm the only one who would've had a fighting chance to stop him, by self-arresting him, dead in his tracks; because, fresh-&-easy, 'penguins,' come-&-go, doing as they please, commenting as they please. Proving, in a way that cannot be scripted, be efore, during, and the moments leading up to, just after the fact.

---Uhavtselfarrestthoseself-senselesssenses,befr, the emotion can be identified, and the action,-

Where, to begin...

Emory ro..., you should know that it's like taking candy from a baby, for, 'you, ' but not for me.

Kobe knows it.doc

I love it when people pump the throttle aroudn the thrind, 'you, ' want an AXE to grind? Across the return-grid way of life, making the same points over and over, more like rest stops, putting out this picture-perfect air of serenity, my air box is free from, because there's no error in infinity. Freaks. Which one? The one I see, as because I did not dig deep. Fact-of-life, 'penguins,' are free to not dig that deep. F!

And when I write 'normal,' it's obvious I'm the most talented writer in human history--100% of the time, for 20+ years...it'd be too easy to look it up, right now, but I have priorities.

Let's separate, what's annoying here. .
Click to expand...
!Tym said:
"Who, cares!" They are not blind, specializing in not be being narcissistic at all, 'mummy-bl(O0)gger.' Let's get this, Kii@!iteral, gala-ball, underl!way, everyone who is sensible-&-realistic.!..ttT!teeing-off with ping-pong sized golf balls; from under the limo-shade tree...as all else fall by the wayside; teeing-off with their ping-pong sized, golf balls, as all else falls by the wayside, underneath the limbo-trade tree; under the limbo-shade, sheen. Let's get this 1x, gala-ball, rolling, now that we're all in hell. Censorship of life-&-limb, it's never good; remember that, way back when?

Olly, ranger:;! say what?

Let's suummon, Dr. Ollinger in here, to mock; let's be honest, not because, 'you, ' care.

"Who, cares!" They are not blind, specializing in not be being narcissistic at all, 'mummy-bl(O0)gger.' Let's get this, Kii@!iteral, gala-ball, underl!way, everyone who is sensible-&-realistic.!..ttT!teeing-off with ping-pong sized golf balls; from under the limo-shade tree...as all else fall by the wayside; teeing-off with their ping-pong sized, golf balls, as all else falls by the wayside, underneath the limbo-trade tree; under the limbo-shade, sheen. Let's get this 1x; gala-ball, rolling, now that we're all in hell. Censorship of life-&-limb, it's never good; remember that, way back when? "Smart, ISTJs be like all!" Call it a hunch, but all I see are a pack of gang-signs, from 'Yo, Adrian,' it's global-warfare, tribalism, pulling out all the stops, can we get any more 'realism,' in here...even though, INTPS ('PoMo-`C!i'), and ENTPS ('Kiteboard, & this guy,'),

As all else falls, by the wayside, underneath the limbo-tre shade, underneath the limbo trade, sheen.!Ttis is what I do in my spare-tim!, "So, I HAVE THIS IDE.e.
Click to expand...
Did James Joyce just rise from the dead in time for Halloween and post a sequel to Finnegan's Wake? Or am I dreaming?
 
thomas daniels said:
Before we get into the information.

I just want to say that.

I'm not trying to sell anything here and I don't have to prove myself to anyone of your guys!!

As I said before.

I'm sharing my coaching philosophies with competitive tennis players that want to take their mental game to another level.

If you aren't feeling my tips, that cool too.

I could care less!!!

End of rant!!

Let's move on to the post.

Here is the big difference between "The World Class Tennis players" vs "The Average Ones".

The WCTP know that they win their matches in practice.

"They know that to play at a high level in matches, that they need to bring the same mental effort, focus, and purpose in practice, so they do it every day".

But most juniors think they can play one way in practice and another way in their matches.

And it never happens that way.

Because mastering how to play the mental game takes non-stop daily training.

(You must consciously practice daily on giving 100% mental effort in practice(On every rep, point or practice match) until you are doing it unconsciously in your matches).

When I played in high school, my coach would send home players all the time.

If he saw you weren't practicing with all-out passion, true purpose and intention, YOU were gone in a heartbeat!!!

What did this do for us as players?

It helped us, develop a "Champion's Mindset" through daily practice.

I actually loved playing matches and would look forward to playing them.

I always felt I had the mental edge over my opponents.

Okay, so answer this question.

What type of work ethic are you taking to practice with your everyday?

If you are not going there mentally all in......

You need to make some serious changes fast my friend!!!

Like I said.

Tha Champions all know that they actually WIN their matches in practice!!!
Click to expand...
I usually don't win my matches in practice. we play practice sets and I don't think about the score and winning is NOT my objective in practice. My focus is on placement and consistency. I count in sets of 5. my objective is to hit my target with consistency 4 out of 5 times. and this applies to all my shots whatever I am hitting. and game score and set score I don't think about.
 
Nostradamus said:
I usually don't win my matches in practice. we play practice sets and I don't think about the score and winning is NOT my objective in practice. My focus is on placement and consistency. I count in sets of 5. my objective is to hit my target with consistency 4 out of 5 times. and this applies to all my shots whatever I am hitting. and game score and set score I don't think about.
Click to expand...

Maybe TD meant it more figuratively, as in "the foundation for winning is established in your practice routines."

But we'll never know because TD doesn't have time to clarify his views or engage in "back and forth" [the kind that goes on as part of posting on a forum].

This is the way I've chosen to interpret what he wrote. I still think he has good thoughts to offer; he's just tone-deaf on that old "presentation" thing.
 
thomas daniels said:
Before we get into the information.

I just want to say that.

I'm not trying to sell anything here and I don't have to prove myself to anyone of your guys!!

As I said before.

I'm sharing my coaching philosophies with competitive tennis players that want to take their mental game to another level.

If you aren't feeling my tips, that cool too.

I could care less!!!

End of rant!!

Let's move on to the post.

Here is the big difference between "The World Class Tennis players" vs "The Average Ones".

The WCTP know that they win their matches in practice.

"They know that to play at a high level in matches, that they need to bring the same mental effort, focus, and purpose in practice, so they do it every day".

But most juniors think they can play one way in practice and another way in their matches.

And it never happens that way.

Because mastering how to play the mental game takes non-stop daily training.

(You must consciously practice daily on giving 100% mental effort in practice(On every rep, point or practice match) until you are doing it unconsciously in your matches).

When I played in high school, my coach would send home players all the time.

If he saw you weren't practicing with all-out passion, true purpose and intention, YOU were gone in a heartbeat!!!

What did this do for us as players?

It helped us, develop a "Champion's Mindset" through daily practice.

I actually loved playing matches and would look forward to playing them.

I always felt I had the mental edge over my opponents.

Okay, so answer this question.

What type of work ethic are you taking to practice with your everyday?

If you are not going there mentally all in......

You need to make some serious changes fast my friend!!!

Like I said.

Tha Champions all know that they actually WIN their matches in practice!!!
Click to expand...
I think one of the things I'm having a hard time with is who is your target audience? Is it entry level juniors? Is it competitive juniors? Is it entry level adults?
My son will play hard during practice matches. But he doesn't engage his 2nd gear unless something is on line.
Then there are those that play very well during practice matches. But fold under the pressure of a sanctioned tournament. Or high school try-outs. Basically when there IS something on the line. But I'm not sure there are a lot of competitive juniors on this forum.

In my son's high school, anyone that didn't look like they truly wanted to be there were 1st and 2nd round cuts. Well, except for the #1 player. I think he's made it his mission in life to expend as little energy as possible and still win. He gets away with it because he's still our number 1 player. Mostly because he's been playing USTA tournaments since he was 6.

As for adults, I would think that the majority of the folks on this forum are recreational players; some with tournament experience. But these folks are not improving leaps and bounds. Most folks who play tournaments regularly are hanging out in the Adult League forum. So for the rest, almost all matches are "practice" matches. So why wouldn't you try your best? And what does try your best look like?
 
Limpinhitter said:
There is some truth to it. Although, in my view, the best practice is actual match play experience. The more the better.
Click to expand...
The issue with TD is he has not actually coached a national level junior player. And yet he comes on here targeting competitive juniors. His threads are plagiarized from other coaches and rehashed. He claims he has the best system ever developed but doesn't divulge what that is or even pieces of it when questioned. He simply throws a temper tantrum and leaves nasty name calling posts.

The truth is the best players have played a ton of matches. And they practiced a ton. For those tons of matches.
 
Traffic said:
I think one of the things I'm having a hard time with is who is your target audience? Is it entry level juniors? Is it competitive juniors? Is it entry level adults?
My son will play hard during practice matches. But he doesn't engage his 2nd gear unless something is on line.
Then there are those that play very well during practice matches. But fold under the pressure of a sanctioned tournament. Or high school try-outs. Basically when there IS something on the line. But I'm not sure there are a lot of competitive juniors on this forum.

In my son's high school, anyone that didn't look like they truly wanted to be there were 1st and 2nd round cuts. Well, except for the #1 player. I think he's made it his mission in life to expend as little energy as possible and still win. He gets away with it because he's still our number 1 player. Mostly because he's been playing USTA tournaments since he was 6.

As for adults, I would think that the majority of the folks on this forum are recreational players; some with tournament experience. But these folks are not improving leaps and bounds. Most folks who play tournaments regularly are hanging out in the Adult League forum. So for the rest, almost all matches are "practice" matches. So why wouldn't you try your best? And what does try your best look like?
Click to expand...
This post can help any competitive tennis player. The problem with this site is there are too many energy vampires on it, hope the tip helps your son.
 
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