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