Tennis Blogs

Playing Tips © 2011 David W. Smith
Establishing the right foundation in anything we do, provides us with “solid footing” in moving forward in a productive and progressive manner. A poor foundation is just like building a house on a flawed foundation; whatever we put on that foundation will encounter problems and constant need for repair. And, like a inadequate house foundation, a poor foundation in tennis can result in a player NEVER reaching their potential.
Ever feel like you are always looking for a new way to hit a volleys, a serve, or a groundstroke? Do you find yourself having as many bad days playing tennis as good ones? Or worse, do you avoid certain strokes because you know they will expose your weakness within that stroke?
A poor foundation is like being in a maze. You follow one path that you hope will lead you out of the maze, only to find dead end after dead end, always having to go back and try and find a different way out. When a player has not developed what I call an “Advanced Foundation,” they essentially spend a lifetime trying to figure how to hit certain shots. They seek “band aids” and “quick fixes” that seldom address the real root of the problem, the ‘foundation.’ Such repairs usually reveal the flawed foundation just as described in our house analogy: Repairs never fix the problem. At best, they are only temporary until the flawed foundation causes other problems.
Yet in tennis, we have different degrees of competitive play…all of which are ultimately based on how flawed the foundation of each player is.
Ever notice really highly skilled players in action? We often hear others say things like, “Gee, I wish I could play like them.” And, “How did Cathy get so darn good so fast?” Or others might say, “I used to beat the pants of Kirk, but now I can hardly win a game off him.”
What is the real difference between those playing skilled tennis and those wishing they could play skilled tennis? You already know the answer from reading this blog!
What CAN YOU DO?
One of the reasons both my books, TENNIS MASTERY and COACHING MASTERY have become best sellers can be understood by the unique progressive nature that both books’ philosophies are built from. Unlike most books and many teaching professionals, my two books clearly establish and teach an “Advanced Foundation” that EVERY player can learn, practice and master. Once this foundation is indeed mastered, the door literally opens up for players to not only reach their potential, but to move well past whatever preconceived levels they thought they were capable of. I’ve seen thousands of my students move on to very highly skilled levels of play. With only a couple exceptions, all my students, and those who follow the teaching of my books, ended up surpassing their expectations.
Both books establish the steps to mastering the Advanced Foundation. It is no wonder that millions of people stagnate at levels far below their abilities. They developed a poor foundation that can easily be seen by observers, and usually witnessed by the players themselves.
If you have stayed at the same level for more than a year, then your foundation is most likely flawed. Players who develop an Advanced Foundation seldom stay at the same level very long. Most don’t even stay at the traditional 3.0 level for more than a month! And, most reach well past the 4.5 levels since their foundation does not limit their progress.
Obviously, there are many other factors that contribute to advanced play: Athleticism, desire, dedication, drive, discipline and others all are part of the improvement equation. However, without the right foundation, all these other attributes will NOT all a player to reach their potential…no matter how long they practice or play!