Tip of the Day: Simplify your target practice  

Players need to be able to control the ball effectively to be competitive on the tennis court. They spend hours practicing this by aiming at different zones, using cones as a visual aid, and playing targeted games to improve.

Often, players find themselves questioning their targets and analyzing the technical components of their swing when the errors pile up. The first adjusts itself in size while the latter eats away at the mental third of the game.

Evaluating technique is essential for long-term growth, but for shot placement, there is a much simpler solution: the racquet.

A fundamental piece of playing tennis is understanding the equipment at hand, literally. For example, one of the earliest terms a player will hear is “feeling the ball,” which directly translates to where the ball contacts the strings of the racquet.

Having feel is important for every aspect of the game, but an insider’s tip for better aim is to recognize that wherever the racquet points is where the ball goes.

Think about it. When the ball is hit late, it comes off the strings with the trajectory of an inside-out shot. Struck too early, and the ball follows an extreme cross-court path. Why? Because that’s where the direction the racquet is pointing.

Read more: Train your mind by mastering the 20-second routine

At a beginner’s level, paying attention to where the racquet is pointing is an easy way to develop feel and find comfort with the game. For intermediate players and above, sticking to the basics becomes a calming key to problem solving the sport.

At the end of the day, it’s easier on the mind to focus on where one racquet is pointing than straining the mind over every technical component. That’s a lot of stress on the mental third of the game when it’s better off focusing on point play and mindfulness.