Abandon all Hope Playing the Big Points!
by: Dave Winship @ On The Line

The tennis scoring system dictates that certain points are more important than others. It's a player's attitude to these points that determines the outcome in so many matches, and this particularly applies to close matches.

When a big point arrives, recreational players are inclined to hope that they win it (or they hope that the opponent loses it!). Well, they say hope burns eternal, but it'll burn a hole in your ambitions if you are serious about competing.

Instead of just hoping, you've got to make something happen on the big points. You could resolve to attack and win the point. Or you could resolve to guts it out and stay in the point longer than your opponent. Either way, you've got to be positive and have a clear objective.

If you're unsure whether to be aggressive or tenacious, make up your mind before the point starts. You might have to change tack during the rally, but you must have an initial mindset. Perhaps if you're serving, you can resolve to get the ball in and keep applying pressure on your opponent. If you're receiving, perhaps you should resolve to get the ball back and give nothing away. I hope you succeed - no, change that! - MAKE SURE you succeed!

Regards.

Dave Winship