https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/categories/improvement/Recent content in Improvement on Online Tennis SchoolHugo -- gohugo.ioFri, 20 Mar 2015 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/building-future-champions/Fri, 20 Mar 2015 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/building-future-champions/Building future champions requires a strong partnership and hard teamwork between player, coach, and parents. The secret is not a magic drill. It is commitment, hard work, and a simple structure you actually follow. Five major categories 1. Technical skills Strokes that hold up under pace and fatigue. Ongoing refinement, not a one-time “fix.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/overview-of-modern-tennis/Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:54:49 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/overview-of-modern-tennis/An overview of the modern game for players and parents: what changed, what that demands, and which cultural habits fight against high-level development. How the game changed Racquets evolved; serve and return speed rose. Modern technique and equipment help top players maximize accuracy and spin. Semi-western and western grips, wide stances, and upper-body rotation into the ball are common tools for power with control.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/developing-a-top-level-player/Wed, 27 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/developing-a-top-level-player/This article gives players and parents an overview of psychological barriers to watch for, and what to look for in a coaching relationship that lasts. Parents and players who look only for technical expertise often believe technically superior shots make a great competitor. Executing under pressure involves far more than swing shape.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/overview-of-developing-a-tennis-player/Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/overview-of-developing-a-tennis-player/This article is for players and parents: the pathway, the psychological traps, and what an enduring coaching relationship actually looks like. The pathway Strong coach-player bonds leave a trail: Toni Nadal and Rafa; Steffi Graf and her father; Venus, Serena, and their father; the Bryan brothers and Wayne Bryan. These were not always “celebrity coaches.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/leadership/Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/leadership/Too many players want six superstars at their practice session. They call and ask who is going to be there - and if the right people are not going, they skip the day, or they show up and goof around. That habit quietly caps your ceiling. Build the room you want to train in Instead of flying in superstars, lead by example and build up those around you.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/perspective-on-tournaments/Thu, 17 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/perspective-on-tournaments/I hear these comments too often: “I want to take it slow before my tournament tomorrow.” “This is a really important tournament.” Similar phrases everywhere. I want a different story to shake out the fallacy. The Microsoft interview metaphor On my way to a high-paying job at Microsoft, I clear many hurdles.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/high-performance-practice/Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/high-performance-practice/A quick note about high-performance practice. There is no such thing as a perfect practice - and the better you get, the harder it is to find equivalent practice partners. What to do? One answer is to fly Federer in at great expense. The other is to know how to play a game within a game.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/detailing-your-practice/Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/detailing-your-practice/I like to think about practice sessions in categories. Random hitting is fine for a warm-up. Real improvement needs a named job for the next block of time. Consistency Set aside 30 minutes or more where the goal is simply not to miss. Choose lower-risk shapes, more net clearance, and ready these skills:https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/self-improvement/Sun, 08 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/self-improvement/A great competitor once told me that “competition merely justifies your process." Simple but true. Just like any test: if you have prepared well - relentlessly, consistently, covering the major touch points - you will do well. As a coach, I admire students who are willing to work hard to improve.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/to-all-tennis-parents/Thu, 29 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/to-all-tennis-parents/Private lessons are valuable. They are also easy to waste if the only work happens in the 45-60 minutes with the coach. How to maximize results from private lessons Help your child build a loop around every lesson: Take notes (or voice-note right after) - one technical cue, one tactical intention Book a practice court the same week and drop-feed at least once or twice Work the lesson shots alone - shadow swings, basket if available, wall, ball machine Find a YouTube role model for the shot and watch with a purpose (unit turn, contact, finish) Mirror work for technique - slow, correct, repeatable The 3× rule: for every hour of lesson time, aim for roughly three hours of self-directed reps on the same theme that week.