| Part III | | | | most wins. |
| | | | |
| Some Pro Personal Bests (PB's) you can test | | | | The set-up is what will also vary these |
| yourself against. | | | | numbers. For me, it can be an opportunity |
| | | | when someone is out positioned. Whilst the |
| First Serves - 65% of first serves in. | | | | shot making is still solid there is an |
| Naturally pro's serve at a much greater speed | | | | opening in the court and I am looking for my |
| than the club player. But you will find that | | | | players to have the skills to convert these |
| when you serve at 65% of first serves in at | | | | opportunities into points. |
| your relative level you will stand a good | | | | |
| chance of holding serve comfortably for the | | | | In other situations it is less subtle and |
| most part (all other things being equal). | | | | more obvious. An opponent may drop a ball |
| | | | shot and present an easy opportunity to put a |
| Serve speed - Male Pro's now serve very fast. | | | | ground stroke away to maybe it's an easy |
| Reaction times are now measured in split | | | | volley or smash. |
| seconds. Male first serve speed are typically | | | | |
| between 180-200km/h and anywhere up to 220 km | | | | So you can see that the 60% - 90% will vary |
| h with the odd freak serve reaching into the | | | | but with experience, tracking and recording |
| 240km/h. Second serves can range from 130's | | | | and awareness of these numbers you soon get |
| all the way up to 180 or 190 km/h. | | | | the feel for what's acceptable and what |
| | | | should be improved on. |
| Winners: Unforced Errors Ratio - 2 Winners: 1 | | | | |
| Error- This is where consistency really comes | | | | Return of Serve Consistency - 80% of returns |
| in. You must keep enough quality balls in | | | | back into play at a neutral to aggressive |
| play to create opportunities to convert | | | | level on 2nd serves. Less than 20% of second |
| winners. This is one of the toughest numbers | | | | serves should be sent back as error or as |
| to achieve and it can vary greatly from match | | | | defensive shots that give the server an |
| to match. It is an ideal to strive for. Pro's | | | | opportunity. The higher the level you play |
| will hit this level with regularity. | | | | the harder it is to maintain this level. |
| | | | |
| As your skill levels improve you will start | | | | Rally Speed - My research shows to be |
| to see more winners for every error you make. | | | | competitive at the higher pro levels you want |
| This is natural. When starting out, all | | | | the following speeds over a ten ball rally. |
| players make more errors and struggle to hit | | | | Male 11-13.5 seconds per 10 balls. Female |
| a winner. This gradually changes as you | | | | 12-14.5 seconds per 10 balls. To be accurate |
| become more skilful. The closer you are t | | | | the ball must travel the full length of the |
| Pro level, the more often you will see this | | | | court for the full 10 balls. |
| 2:1 ratio appear as a minimum. Sometimes you | | | | |
| will have matches that even exceed this. | | | | Use these numbers to gauge and improve your |
| That's when you can call yourself a pro. | | | | game. Remember that you cannot hit a target |
| | | | that you cannot see. You can improve which |
| Double Faults per Set - 1 per Set. Do I need | | | | ever area of your game you like by simply |
| to say any more? | | | | keeping count and putting pen to paper. These |
| | | | exercises take less than 20 minutes a session |
| Conversion of Opportunity - this is when you | | | | but they will add to your game in a big way. |
| have a player in trouble and an opportunity | | | | |
| to take control of the point presents itself. | | | | "What gets measured gets achieved." |
| Pro's will win these points in 60% - 90% of | | | | |
| these situations. Keep in mind that this can | | | | Scott Groves is the author of Psycho Tennis, |
| vary depending on the circumstance. I often | | | | 23 Mental Laws of Tennis, The Power of |
| keep statistics on this in more cases than | | | | Subconscious Goal Setting, and more. Also a |
| error, winners etc because I have found that | | | | former ITF Pro and has been coaching for 14 |
| the player who is converting opportunity the | | | | years. |