Long-Term Tennis Tactics

Do you ever notice how many businesses havewhile you become comfortable with them.
long-term 3 or 5 year plans? They do this to figure outPete Sampras changed his backhand from two
where they want to be in the future, so they canhanded to one handed for the purpose of better
figure out the actions that need to be taken now topreparing him to win at Wimbledon. The change was
get them there.done relatively late for a fairly accomplished junior, but
What is your long-term tennis plan? What are yourhe stuck with his plan. I'm sure there were some times
tennis tactics for an upcoming match? Many tenniswhen it would have been easier for him to hit
player's idea of a strategy is to do whatever it takestwo-handed backhands and win matches that he was
to beat their next opponent. They might accomplishlosing, but to his credit his believed in his long-term
their plan, but how does this go towards their long-termabilities.
strategy?So, before you start thinking about strategy and
For instance, your one-year plan might be to move uptactics, think about what your long-term tennis
a level within your tennis league. You might realize thatobjectives are (1 year or more), and write them down.
you need to come up to net more and that yourFrom there, you can think of shorter term strategies
approach shot needs to have more depth to compete(drills, practice, match strategies) to get you to your
at that level. If you believe in your plan and your tennisobjectives. With this knowledge, match day tennis
tactics, you will be less likely to deviate from themtactics can come about.
when you lose points, games, set, and even matches