Serving: Practice Make Perfect...!

Jill Moss Understands the Importance of Practicing Her Serve

The Serve is the most complex tennis shot there is, yet it is the one shot a person can practice on by themselves. Every other tennis shot pretty much requires interaction with another human being but a partner isn't required for serving practice.

If you interview any good player, nearly all of them will admit they put in lots of practice time working on their serves. One good tip for an aspiring player working on their serve is to strive for consistency first, not power.

To many players want a very hard, fast serve right away, but if that fast serve hardly ever goes in what good is it...?

The best approach is to get the ball in play first, then start making adjustments to increase power a little at a time. I recommend that a player practice their serve from very close to the net initially, and gradually move back towards the baseline until they are in a proper serving position. This technique works for all skill levels. Even top players have found this method helpful while adjusting and making various corrections to their swing, toss, and timing.

I also recommend the use of target practice while working on your serve. Targets sharpen one's focus. And of course, it doesn't hurt to seek professional help occasionally. A good coach should be able to take a look at your serve and give you a critique and homework in a matter of minutes. Pros and Coaches certified by the United States Tennis Professional Association (USPTA) are recommended.


The player in the photo above is Jill Moss of Columbia Lakes Country Club. Jill has a good serve because she takes time to practice it. This photo of Jill was taken last October at John Newcombe's Tennis Ranch when Jill participated on the HPTA Gran Prix Team from Houston.

Keys To Winning: Focus and Concentration

Wesley Stonestreet Delivers a Knockout Forehand

During the course of a tennis match distractions often abound. There is usually the pressure of having people you care about watch you play. There are usually other matches going on around you. Not to mention that your opponent is probably trying to do their best to keep you from winning. And let's face it, some days a person's attention span is just longer, stronger, and better than other days.

As a coach, I emphasize 'how to compete well' over winning. I believe that winning will take care of itself if other key elements are in place. One of the keys to competing well is maintaining focus and concentration. Focus is a person's awareness of what is going on around them and what they are going to do about what is going on. Clear Focus involves having a game plan. Since many players do not start out with a game plan then they have more difficulty focusing and adjusting.

Concentration is a person's mental ability to cope with the given situation. Emotional well being plays a big factor in one's ability to maintain focus and concentration, as well. When a player is focusing and concentrating they present a powerful image.

My best advice to maintaining focus and concentration is to constantly review the match in your mind. Take more time in between points and games going through a checklist of what is working and not working. Try not to look around too much. If your eyes wander then your mind will wander, too. If things aren't going well slow it down. Taking your time will avoid allowing your opponent to build up too much momentum. Keep the self talk positive. And lastly, don't be afraid to change up a losing game plan.

Maintaining focus and concentration is easier said than done. Everyone on the planet can stand to work on it except maybe Roger Federer. I hope these tips help your game.

Until next time I'm wishing you Happy Tennis...!

See you on the courts. -Coach Sam

The photo above was taken during the doubles final of the HPTA Junior Gran Prix Doubles Tournament at Lee LeClear Tennis Center. The player in the photo is Wesley Stonestreet of Columbia Lakes Country Club. Wesley is currently the point leader in the boys 16 and under division of the HPTA Gran Prix Circuit.

Coach Sam is the Director of Tennis at Columbia Lakes Country Club and Resort Hotel in West Columbia, Texas. He is also the Executive Director of the Houston Professional Tennis Association. He is a USPTA certified professional and has been playing and coaching tennis for over 20 years.

For more information about Coach Sam go to his website: http://chadwelltennis.com

Tennis Strategy from Coach Sam's Perspective

Go For It On Big Points!

Every point during a tennis match is important. Certain points carry more 'weight' than others, though. They are known as BIG points. Deuce and Advantage points are BIG points. And 3-all in No Ad scoring is not just BIG, it's HUGE! Certainly, all the points of a tiebreaker are BIG...

It's best to play these particular points assertively and aggressively. Try to have a definite game plan like serve and volley, return low and poach, etc... Control your own destiny by 'Going For It'. Plan a winning shot combination. (One that involves hitting a winner for the last shot.)

Don't play defense and wait for the other player to lose unless they've been missing a lot of shots and their game has or is already falling apart. And even in that case you still want to finish off a wounded opponent as quickly and cleanly as possible.

It's a great feeling to GO FOR IT and close out a game, set, and match.

If you successfully employ my tactic of going for it on big points I'll look to see you in the winner's circle. -Coach Sam

The photo above is of former Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic taken at the Stanford Cup Legends tournament at River Oaks Country club recently. Coach Sam organized a group of local adults and juniors to attend the event. The photo above was taken by Scot Tevin, a good friend and tennis student of Coach Sam's who just happens to also be a professional photographer.