Learn to win by doing what you do best more often.
HAVE AN ATTITUDE
News flash: It’s not practical to try to be Serena Williams. While Williams does everything well, most pros don’t, so how are you going to accomplish that lofty goal? Just like most pros, you can win with less. Know your strengths and tell yourself that you won’t play a match without using those strengths as often as possible. You have to say, “My strength is good enough and I’m going to rely on it.”
PERFECT WHAT YOU KNOW
It's OK to work on weaknesses in practice. But don’t ignore what you do well. If you’re good at something, try to get even better at it. Make that serve, forehand, backhand or volley the best it can be. Drill it to perfection. If you neglect it, it will still be good, but not great.
TAILOR YOUR GAME
It’s not as easy as it seems to emphasize your best stroke in a match. You need to think about how to set up shots so that you get your preferred stroke on the next ball. Your footwork patterns also might need to change. Whatever it takes, you must commit to this style of play until it’s instinctive, and that takes a lot of practice. Look at John Isner. He has two strengths, his serve and his forehand. Isner moves left as soon as he hits the ball. He’s looking for every opportunity for a big forehand.
ACCEPT A SLUMP
When you decide to stress your strengths, don’t expect immediate results. It’s one thing to have a weapon. It’s another to know how to use it. You’ll learn, as long as you keep at it and give yourself time. Remember, you’re looking for a style that will suit you in the long term.
GET IN SHAPE
To rely primarily on one weapon, you need to be in great shape. You’ll have to run more often to avoid a weaker stroke, and you’ll need more muscle to take more aggressive swings with your best shot more often. Fitness builds confidence, and to play tennis with one weapon, you need all the confidence you can get.
Nick Bollettieri has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.
Originally published in the July/August 2010 issue of TENNIS.