Getting the Most Out of Practice

from "World-Class Tennis Technique" by Paul Roetert & Jack Groppell

- Practice the way you want to play. Be just as aggressive, focused, and competitive as you are in match play.

- Set goals for yourself in each drill and practice. Professionals often set goals at the start of every practice. One example is to run hard for every ball just as you do in a match. No second bounces - ever!

- Once you feel you own a shot, overlearn it by executing it for about half as long as it took you to master it. For example, if it takes you 20 minutes to master a topspin serve, spend 10 additional minutes on it to set it as a habit.

- Most players overpractice rallying (forehands and backhands) and neglect serves and returns. Instead of starting each practice point with a drop hit, start with one person serving and the other returning. Then begin to rally.

- Break practice sessions into short, intense work sessions will full concentration for 15 or 20 minutes. You'll produce better quality than if you go half-speed for a full hour.

- Add variety. Variety is the key to making practice fun. Try learning a new shot, or a new pattern or sequence of shots, or practicing with different people, not the same partners day after day.

- Practice your strengths as well as your weaknesses...or they won't be your strengths for long. Hitting your favorite shot to end a practice builds your confidence and keeps you coming back for more.

- Try new skills early in practice, not when you are tired or bored.

- Reward yourself at the end of a practice by doing your favorite thing (playing a set, two ball, running doubles, whatever it is)