Tip of the Day: Upgrade your game by adopting the 'serve + 1' mentality

"Serve + 1" needs to be in every player’s vocabulary, routine and strategy. It’s simple yet effective, and more importantly, maintains the server’s position as the aggressor.

But at its core, "serve + 1" is all about three Ps: prepare, predict and plan.

The server prepares where they plan to serve and what kind of serve they want to hit, predicts what return may be heading back their way, and plans where they want to execute their first ball in congruence with their predictions.

Most players stop at the first 'P,' but there's more to stream: What good is having an effective serve when the next ball off the racquet neutralizes the point?

The deeper into a match, the easier it becomes to predict the opponent’s return placement. Also consider your strengths. If you prefer attacking with the forehand, where should you serve to result a return placement on the forehand side?

The best way to master the "serve + 1" is through practice. It doesn’t matter if you’re serving out of a basket or opposite another player: Before you serve, think about why you’re aiming down the tee and what you’re expecting in return.

By doing that, the routine of focusing on the "serve + 1" will be well-ingrained come match day. Not only will there be an established strategy going into the point, but there’s also no room to think about the previous points and off-court irrelevancies, or lose concentration.

Read more: Release, recover and refocus the 20-second routine

The further in advance a point can be visualized, the more confidently the point can be played. As the one who controls when and how the point begins, the server owes it to themselves to account for as much as possible ahead of time.

Take advantage, and remain the aggressor.