Nick’s Notes: Bollettieri on building your own game—without copying the pros

WATCH: Remember the life and legacy of Nick Bollettieri, one of the sport's greatest coaches and pioneer of tennis academies, after opening Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978.

In memory of Nick Bollettieri, TENNIS.com proudly presents “Nick’s Notes,” an exclusive look at tips, tricks, and takes written by one of the greatest coaches of the modern era.

Today, a look at the pitfalls of copying the game’s best when building your game, and what you should emulate instead:

Not a day goes by, especially when I’m at tournaments, giving clinics, and even when I’m at IMG Academy’s Bollettieri Tennis Program, when I hear students, adults, or spectators say I want to:

· Serve

· Hit a forehand

· Hit a backhand

· Return serve

Just like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, etc.

WOW, are you kidding me?? Players are all different!!

The facts are that players’ groundstrokes are different. They all have different grips, different swing patterns, and different recovery steps. On their serves they all have different swing patterns, different grips, and different serve motions, including with their feet.

For example, Federer keeps his feet separated and his back foot stays back. Gael Monfils keeps both of his feet together. They have different starting positions in comparison to the baseline. Djokovic, Sharapova, Serena, and Kei Nishikori all play very close to the baseline. Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt, Stan Wawrinka, and Richard Gasguet all stay 3-4 feet behind the baseline.

The mentality of each player is different. They each have their own personality, strengths, weaknesses, and fears. They all react differently after each point. Sharapova, for example, has a ritual after each point where she focuses on and plans for the next point. Murray will do all sorts of things including holding a conversation with himself. Federer never changes his outward appearance (he’d be a great poker player).

What should you copy?

1. Where they return serve on first serves. Most will choose to return crosscourt going over the lowest part of the net and working with the greatest distance and largest area of the court.
2. How they take advantage when returning a defensive second serve or a short defensive groundstroke.
3. When they hit a drop shot, especially when their opponent stands several feet behind the baseline.
4. How quickly they recover when hitting any of their shots.
5. Their athletic foundation in everything they do.
6. Their footwork.
7. How they buy time when they are out of position.
8. Where do they hit their aggressive shots and how close do they hit to the lines.
9. How they go to the net after hitting an offensive shot several feet from the baseline.

And don’t forget:

1. How they slow things down when they are falling behind.
2. Most importantly, their early backswing, especially Serena and Djokovic. As soon as they see the ball coming to them and before the ball crosses the net they start their backswing!