Tip of the Day: The 20-second routine

There are a finite number of controllable elements in a tennis match, which is why tennis players are built on routine. Every second not playing points should be maximized for the mental third of the game.

Players have 20 seconds in between points to center themselves and prepare for the next point. Not only do players walk over to their towel and play with their strings, but their mind is actively working for their game as opposed to being a passerby during the match.

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One way to build this 20-second routine is to remember the "three Rs":

1. Release
2. Recover
3. Refocus

The first part is the most important, but the hardest to pull off.

Letting go of the previous point is easy during the first few games, perhaps, but as the match progresses and the stakes get higher, forgetting points becomes more difficult and more imperative. Fist pumps and racquet smashing could be a part of the release for some players.

Only after releasing the past can one recover in the present. This means breathing deeply and evenly so that the body can relax and the mind can find clarity. Only with a clear mind can the third part support the strategy moving into the next point.

Refocusing is all about thinking ahead. For beginners, it means deciding on a return or serve placement. For intermediate players, they’ll add the type of serve and return, and maybe even think about what the potential first shot after might be.

For more advanced players, this means all the above, plus thinking about what kind of serve or return is coming based on player patterns, strengths and strategy, visualizing these possibilities, and preparing to execute two or three shots in advance.

Keep in mind that not releasing the previous point results in unresolved tension in the mind and body, and that any preparation in the third part is merely a state of awareness for what could come and shouldn’t be written in stone depending on how the next point actually plays out.

All in all, developing a 20-second routine is necessary to maintain a stronghold in the match. Whether this means playing with strings or walking over to the towel, or adjusting the shorts (we see you, Rafa), a player with a routine is a step above the rest.