It’s a new year and a new tennis season. I think players get excited about new things. A new forehand. A new backhand. A new racket. New strings. New shoes. New clothing. What’s new in your tennis game for 2020?
This upcoming season, try to learn a new shot, whatever you think you are missing in your game. Go see the pros play live. Take a lesson with a teaching professional. Watch a video online. Do whatever you can manage to fit something new into schedule. Practice your new shot to add a new dimension to your game.
Get a new pair of shoes. You’ll be amazed at how comfortable a new pair feels. We tennis players tend to look at wear on the outside of our shoes, but the support on the inside is just as important. Or get a new outfit. My girls said they play better when they’re wearing a new clothing. The sun is low on the horizon this time of year, so a new hat or visor may be in order.
Get your racket restrung. The rule of thumb is that you restring your racket as many times in a year as you play in a week. Some of you who hit with a lot of spin may need to string more often. Experiment with different strings and tensions. Keep in mind softer strings are better for those who suffer tennis elbow or want to prevent it. I recommend Wilson NXT for the vast majority of my clients.
Get a new outlook. Be more aggressive with your shots. Hit closer to the lines. Hit deeper. Hit it harder. Add spin. These additions are fun and make the game more interesting. They also make you better at the same time. Changing an attitude can be a major step toward improvement.
I love to teach, but I think players should take lessons from other pros, too. Get new perspectives. Sometimes a pro will say something in a way you haven’t heard it before that really clicks.
I do love that pros teach different things and in different ways. Does Roger play the same as Rafa? No way! But I think they teach each other new things all the time, and that is how they’ve continued to improve.
It’s a new season, so get out there and try something new!
Visit Seaside Tennis on Facebook.
Improve your tennis game with tips from Tracy. Visit seasidefl.com and search “Seaside Tennis.”
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