Players tend to make errors off the ground when they begin to slow down their swings. It’s as if they get scared—especially when the match gets tight—and put on the brakes to play it safe. But this causes you to lose both power and control. To ensure that you get the racquet through the ball with your natural swing speed, choose a safer landing spot for your shots, such as deep crosscourt or down the middle, where there’s more room for error. Then you can swing out with confidence.

Will Hoag, USPTA Master Pro, Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.