New Year’s Resolutions for Tennis Players

by Greg Moran

January is traditionally a time for resolutions so here are five New  Year’s resolutions for tennis players of all levels that we hope will  help both your outer and inner games.

Learn a new technique

Pick something that you presently can’t do, or don’t do particularly  well, and commit to mastering it over the next twelve months. Maybe it’s  that Continental grip at the net your pro has been after you for three  years to learn. Or, it could be developing an effective drop shot.  Perhaps it’s getting fitter so that you can reach more shots. Learning a  new shot or technique will not only make you a better player but it  will also inject some excitement into your tennis. It’s a great feeling  to work hard on a new technique and then use it to win a match.

Serve at least one bucket of balls each week

The vast majority of recreational players have weak serves. Many rely  on the old “boom” and “plop” approach when they step up to the line to  serve. They tee off on the first serve and when they miss it (which they  usually do) the simply “plop” the second one in the court. While this strategy may work with the “once a week” crowd, a strong  player will eat you alive. Serve a bucket of balls each week. Forget  about power and work on your placement and spin serves. If you can  develop an effective serve, your game will immediately jump a level.

Invite a weaker player to play with you

The tennis snobs of the world will refuse to be seen on the court  with a player they deem to be below them on the club’s totem pole.  Resolve not to be a snob and, from time to time, invite a weaker player  to hit with you. When you’re on the court with them work on your control. Have you  ever noticed that when you hit with a pro, you can seemingly keep the  ball in play all day long? That’s because the pro, with his or her great  control, can place the ball right where you like it. When you’re on the  court with a weaker play, practice hitting the ball right to them so  that they can hit it back or hit it to their stronger side so they can  hit a strong shot back. Contrary to the opinion of the tennis snobs, you can benefit each and  every time you step onto the court regardless of who’s on the other  side of the net. The greatest benefit, though, will be in knowing that  you made someone else feel good about it. Do you remember how it made  you feel the first time a stronger player asked you to hit with them? I  do.

Bring a new player into the game

Sadly, we have become a fat and out of shape society.  The national  obesity statistics are staggering. Everyone has that friend or relative  that is a couch potato and who’s only exercise is moving from the couch  to the refrigerator. Commit yourself to getting a tennis racket in their  hands and introduce them to the game that has given you so much. You  just might save their life.

Commit to having fun!

Yes, I know, we all want to win but, in the overall scheme of things,  it really doesn’t matter whether you win or lose a tennis match. John  McEnroe is not waiting in the lobby to interview you after your big  league or USTA win and you still have to take out the garbage when you  get home. Don’t get too wrapped up in what the scoreboard says. Enjoy the many  things that tennis has to offer that have nothing to do with the score  of the match. Enjoy the exercise, the camaraderie, the competition and  the process of learning to become better. If you can learn to appreciate  these things, you’ll be a winner every time you walk off the court.

Have a great year and play lots of tennis!