Tennis Tip by Kendall Chitamber

I'd like to address an idea that is a sore subject at every club across the country; the concept of playing only with players that are at a higher level than you (or for parents, having your kids play only with players at a higher level than your child.)

There is no question that playing with players of a higher degree of proficiency can be wonderfully beneficial. It allows us to play without reservation; to go into the practice session with utter abandon and play at a level higher than we might have believed we possess. It also gives us a chance to take a look at what stronger players are doing, how they are able to produce their shot making and movement, and it gives us ideas on how we can add these things to our own game.

For myself, I did indeed have many opportunities to play with players of a higher caliber than I possessed, and definitely benefited from those experiences. However, there was another side of that coin that became painfully apparent. I wasn't learning to win. Being constantly beaten, I was learning how to lose. So I changed the makeup of my practice partners when I realized that the only way to learn how to win was by winning itself. That meant playing against weaker players! Now of course this is something that all players must learn to do, that is learning to deal with losing. But they must learn to lose well.

If we look at the great matches of tennis history, we may see close three or five set matches with one winner. However, totaling the number of points we find that the match may have been decided by the difference of a few points. Thus in winning, we must be able to handle the fact that we may lose almost as many points as we win. If we aren't able to handle losing those points, we will never have the mental and emotional composure necessary to see the match through to the end. This is one reason in adult league and junior tennis we see many matches with very close first sets, but then a blow out in the second. It's just so tough to handle losing that close first set that the match slips away before we realize it. But getting back to the main idea of this piece, it is my belief (and many coaches that I have spoken to) that while playing with players of a higher level has its merits (some of which I mention above); we shouldn't do it all the time. In fact, this dynamic should only be pursued about 25% of the time.

The majority of our practice time should be spent with players at or about a similar level to our own. In fact 50% of our practices should be spent this way, so that we learn the most important thing in the game, competitive skills. One only need look at the world's #2 player on the men's tour to see this idea embodied in Raphael Nadal. At some point, he obviously learned to channel his energy in a never-say-die competitive attitude that has catapulted his game to the top in the world. While his strokes may not be the most conventional, his competitive skills are of the highest level. If we apply this idea to our own games, there is much that we can learn. That leaves 25% of our practice time unused. However, in filling it, we should do that which seems completely counter-intuitive.

We must seek out players that are not as strong as us, and play them. Now, there are three main reasons for this that I have found:

1. This certainly gives back to the game. In playing with players weaker than ourselves, we complete the circle and help to grow the game.

2. In practicing with players weaker than ourselves we learn consummate control over the ball. If we can't put the ball exactly where they can get it back, we may not get to hit another shot. So we learn to put the ball - on a dime - if you will.

3. Finally, when we play matches against weaker players, we learn to deal with the pressure of winning matches that we are "supposed" to win. And in being ahead in the score, we try things that we might not try in more competitive matches (i.e. hitting that backhand short angle or drop volley.)

How many times has that happened, where you lost a match against a weaker opponent that you were "supposed" to be able to handle easily? But in doing this we learn the most important feeling to possess on a tennis court: confidence. Confidence is made on wins, and playing weaker opponents is the surest way to get those wins.

In summary, try to find some level of variety in your own playing schedule to allow for these ideas. The menu I recommend, and one which we try to follow in our junior program is: 25% above your level, 25% below your level, and 50% at your level. I hope that this month's tip has been of interest. Feel free to email me or speak to me at the club concerning this concept. Hope to see you on court! : Best wishes, Kendall Chitambar

Tennis Tip by Duke Paluch