The Science Behind Easy Power

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Easy Power: Unlocking Effortless Force

The Science: Power Without Effort

Advanced tennis isn’t about swinging harder — it’s about swinging smarter. That’s the essence of Easy Power, as illustrated in Ian Westermann’s YouTube video at Wimbledon 2025, when Marin Čilić faced rising star Jack Draper. Čilić didn’t try to outmuscle Draper. Instead, he managed his swing tempo — hovering around 80% of max speed — and emphasized timing, balance, and core engagement. His strokes were deep, heavy, and unforced, not because he swung harder, but because he swung with precision and complete body integration.

That’s Easy Power: efficient, composed, and devastatingly effective.

What Is Easy Power?

Easy Power is not about swinging softly — it’s about swinging in control. It’s a refined tempo that:

  • Engages your legs, hips, and core

  • Maintains balance and stability throughout the motion

  • Sequences your movement fluidly from the ground up

The ideal tempo? 80% of your full effort. This allows for faster recovery, cleaner contact, and more sustainable power.

From Control Comes Force

Performance coach Gavin MacMillan has long emphasized this core principle:

“True force production starts with controlled movement patterns — not brute strength.”

His training focuses on proprioception, balance, and joint sequencing. Athletes generate more speed and power after reducing tension and improving control. This aligns perfectly with Easy Power — smoother movements yield cleaner force.

Proprioception — a fancy word for your body’s ability to sense its position and movement in space — is what allows you to stay balanced, adjust mid-motion, and strike with precision without consciously thinking about it.

Balance: The Bedrock of Easy Power

Power leaks when balance is lost. To unlock Easy Power, you must start with a stable base. Every effective groundstroke begins from the ground up — through your legs, hips, and torso — and balance is what holds that kinetic chain together.

To build functional balance:

  • Prep & Transition Steps – Position you in a balanced, athletic posture before each swing

  • Cross-Over Steps – Develop lateral control and hip mobility for rotational force

  • Stable Contact Stance – Neutral or open, your stance must ground you to transfer energy efficiently

Balance isn’t just part of the swing — it’s the platform that makes power possible.

Getting into “The Zone”

One of the greatest advantages of Easy Power is its ability to put you in the Zone — that state of optimal performance where focus is sharp, effort feels light, and execution becomes automatic. As Tim Gallwey described in The Inner Game of Tennis, this is when the conscious mind steps aside and the body performs with natural rhythm and instinct.

Why the 80% tempo helps:

  • You’re less rushed — movement and timing feel unforced

  • You’re more rhythmic — swing flow improves consistency

  • You trust your training — your body takes over, without second-guessing.

The Hidden Bonus: No More Tennis Elbow

The most overlooked benefit of Easy Power?  Injury prevention.

Overhitting puts excessive strain on your arm, especially the elbow and wrist. Most cases of tennis elbow stem from poor body mechanics and muscling the ball.

By managing your swing and shifting the workload to your core and lower body, you minimize stress on vulnerable joints. Easy Power doesn’t just boost performance — it preserves your longevity on court.

Wrap

Easy Power is not less power — it’s smarter, safer, and more effective power.

By managing your swing tempo, grounding your balance, and engaging your core, you tap into your body’s natural strength — without overexertion or injury. You swing with intention. You move with flow. You compete with calm authority.

New Recovery Edge Backed by Sports Science

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New Recovery Edge Backed by Sports Science: Probiotics + Casein at Night

A compelling new study highlighted in the Sports Performance Bulletin—“The Protein–Probiotic Connection: A Match Made in Heaven?” by Andrew Hamilton—points to a potentially game-changing edge for recovery and performance.

Here’s what the latest research shows:

  • In a controlled trial with elite soccer players, 20g of micellar casein combined with a multi-strain probiotic taken before sleep led to significantly greater improvements in strength, power, and muscular endurance than either supplement on its own.

  • Casein provides a slow-release protein source overnight, fueling sustained muscle repair during sleep.

  • Probiotics enhance nutrient absorption and reduce systemic inflammation, further amplifying protein utilization and recovery outcomes.

These findings align with current performance nutrition trends that emphasize nighttime protein strategies and gut microbiome optimization for athletes in high-load training environments.

Why this matters for tennis players

This approach targets Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)—the deep muscle fatigue and stiffness that kicks in 12–72 hours after intense training or match play. DOMS is especially common after explosive movements, long rallies, or strength sessions. Reducing DOMS = better recovery, quicker turnaround, and higher consistency on court.

This research-backed strategy may offer a recovery edge for those pushing hard through tournaments, strength training cycles, or multi-session days.

If you’re competing regularly—matches, strength sessions, or back-to-back practices—this combo could offer a simple, evidence-based way to enhance recovery and readiness.

Reference: “The Protein–Probiotic Connection: A Match Made in Heaven?” – Sports Performance Bulletin (2025)

Sinner’s Wimbledon Masterclass: Serve +1 Strategy

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Sinner’s Wimbledon Masterclass: Serve +1 Strategy

Jannik Sinner’s first Wimbledon title was a clinic in modern tactical execution.  Facing Carlos Alcaraz — a player known for variety, finesse, and improvisation — Sinner imposed a relentless baseline rhythm built around the Serve +1 strategy, bending the match to his terms with clinical precision.  But this wasn’t just a tactical win. The unusually hot English summer fundamentally reshaped the court conditions — transforming Wimbledon’s grass into something far more familiar to Sinner: a fast, hard-hitting surface.

Hard-Court Conditions on Grass

Wimbledon’s grass typically favors short points, touch volleys, and low slices.  But under the blistering July sun, the courts dried out and hardened, accelerating ball speed and flattening out bounce. This shift muted the effect of Alcaraz’s signature variety — especially his drop shots and low slices — while increasing the pace of play.

Result? A grass-court match that played like a hard-court.

Serve +1: Designed for Speed and Precision

Sinner capitalized with a textbook Serve +1 formula:

  • First-serve percentage jumped from 55% to 67%

  • Forehand aggression off the return became automatic

  • Court positioning stayed tight to the baseline, robbing Alcaraz of time

With Alcaraz unable to disrupt rhythm through touch or angles, the match became a banging contest.

The Turning Point

Despite a near-flawless first set, Sinner found himself a set down. Alcaraz’s ability to conjure magic from awkward positions — especially with slices and drop shots — initially left Sinner reacting.

Then came the shift.  Sinner’s first-serve efficiency surged, and he began hunting forehands immediately after serve, flipping the dynamic and taking control of rallies from the outset.

The numbers back it up.  As the match progressed, Sinner’s Serve +1 efficiency became even more pronounced. He increased his attack percentage from 25% in the first set to 38% in the second and 40% in the third, reflecting not just a rise in first serves landed, but also in how effectively he followed them up with aggressive forehands.

By the fourth set, he was winning 47% of baseline points, a figure that flipped the script on Alcaraz, who had previously dominated grass with variety and control.

Serve +1 in Action: Control the Tempo

At its core, Serve +1 is simple but deadly:

  • Start with a reliable first serve to stretch or jam the returner

  • Move into the court to position for a forehand

  • Choose your target — inside-out or inside-in — and commit

Sinner executed this pattern ruthlessly and relentlessly. He didn’t wait for rhythm — he created it, repeatedly striking clean forehands off shallow returns to dismantle Alcaraz’s patterns.

Out-Alcarazing

The true breakthrough wasn’t just on serve — it was how Sinner handled second serves:

  • He stayed aggressive, both serving and returning

  • He turned Alcaraz’s second serve into a launchpad for plus-one aggression

  • His second-serve win percentage climbed, outpacing Alcaraz’s by the final two sets

Each aggressive return disrupted Alcaraz’s ability to build points — a subtle, sustained form of pressure that paid dividends.

Hard Court on Grass

Why did this strategy work so well?

  • Alcaraz’s drop shots repeatedly misfired, partly due to Sinner’s court coverage and balance

  • With touch neutralized, baseline rallies defined the match

  • Sinner’s footwork and balance — honed for hard court — allowed him to explode into shots without overplaying

Sinner didn’t just adjust to the surface — he used it to full advantage.

Wrap

Serve +1 isn’t just a strategy — it’s a mindset.  Be first. Be decisive. Be in control.

Stringing Isn’t an Afterthought

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Stringing Isn’t an Afterthought—It’s How You Control the Ball

In competitive tennis, equipment choices are often focused on racket frames—weight, balance, and head size. Yet, one of the most significant contributors to performance is often overlooked: string selection and tension. For players who value precision, consistency, and adaptability, strings are not merely accessories—they are central to controlling how the ball behaves off the racket.

At Wimbledon 2025, the role of stringing was on full display. Over 6,400 rackets passed through the tournament’s stringing center, operated by Babolat. A team of 25 stringers worked continuously from early morning through the end of play, fulfilling player-specific stringing requests that often changed mid-match. Runners covered more than 17 kilometers per day to ensure timely delivery of restrung rackets to courts across the All England Club. This level of detail reflects how top players manage tension and string type as part of their tactical preparation.

Understanding Tension

String tension directly affects how the ball leaves the strings:

  • Higher tension (25+ kg / 55+ lbs) offers greater control and a lower launch angle, which can be advantageous in hot or fast conditions.

  • Lower tension (21–23 kg / 46–51 lbs) provides more power and a softer feel, often beneficial in cooler temperatures or on slower surfaces.

  • Some players go outside this range for specific effects. Adrian Mannarino, for example, has used tensions as low as 8.6 kg to create a trampoline-like response.

To manage changing conditions during a match or across a tournament, players often carry several rackets, each strung at slightly different tensions. Small adjustments—often as little as half a kilogram—can significantly affect ball control, especially at higher levels of play.

Hybrid Stringing: Balancing Control and Comfort

Many competitive players now use hybrid string setups to balance durability, spin, and feel. This typically involves polyester in the mains for control and spin, and natural gut or multifilament in the crosses for comfort and power.

This combination allows players to customize string bed response, making it easier to tailor performance to their playing style or the demands of a specific match. It also helps reduce the risk of arm discomfort associated with full polyester beds while maintaining the advantages of spin generation and durability.

Small Details, High Impact

At the professional level, even seemingly minor preferences—like knot positioning, stencil placement, or ink color—are considered part of the preparation. Players develop routines around how their rackets are strung and presented. While these choices may not directly impact string performance, they support consistency and confidence in match conditions.

Implications for Competitive Players

Competitive players—whether on the tournament circuit or in high-level league play—can benefit from adopting a more structured approach to stringing. Key recommendations include:

  • Track your setup: Record string type, tension, and match conditions. Note how the ball feels and performs under pressure.

  • Adjust tension with environment: Use tighter strings in warm or fast conditions and looser tensions in cooler, slower environments.

  • Experiment with hybrids: If you’re seeking more spin or more comfort, hybrid stringing can provide a practical balance.

  • Re-string consistently: Loss of tension over time can impact feel and performance. Build a restringing schedule based on hours played or number of sessions.

Wrap

Stringing is not a postscript to performance—it’s a central component of preparation. Understanding how tension and string composition influence ball behavior enables players to make informed decisions that directly affect match outcomes.

For those looking to improve consistency and control, especially under match pressure, thoughtful string management is not optional. It’s foundational.

Read more:  A Good String Job Can Manage Your Limitations

No Singular Pathway: Player Development Needs Rethinking

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No Singular Pathway: Player Development Needs Rethinking

This year’s Wimbledon singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showcased two of the game’s brightest players, each reaching the pinnacle through completely different development paths.

Their journeys illustrate an essential truth about tennis development: There is no singular pathway to the top.

Two Roads to Centre Court

Jannik Sinner – The Challenger Route

At just 13, Sinner left behind a promising skiing career to pursue tennis full-time with Riccardo Piatti. Unlike most juniors, he skipped the traditional pathway of ITF junior tournaments and moved straight into the Challenger circuit as a teenager. Facing experienced professional players early taught him resilience and forced him to adapt tactically under real match pressure. His game is built on efficient, linear hitting mechanics with exceptional balance and stability – foundations that allow him to take time away from opponents while maintaining control. In many ways, Sinner is very much an improved version of Djokovic, combining similar movement efficiency and defensive skills with even greater baseline firepower.

Carlos Alcaraz – The Integrated Junior-ATP Route

Carlos Alcaraz followed a more traditional yet equally demanding route. Under Juan Carlos Ferrero’s guidance, he dominated junior ITF events while gradually integrating Futures and Challenger tournaments into his schedule. His development prioritised explosive athleticism, heavy topspin aggression, and tactical versatility. Similarly, Alcaraz can be seen as an improved version of Ferrero, combining his mentor’s aggressive baseline style with superior volleys and a true all-court game. His style reflects the multidimensional demands of modern and future tennis, allowing him to defend like Nadal, attack like Federer, and seamlessly transition to net within the same point.

What Both Journeys Teach Us

Despite their different routes, Sinner and Alcaraz demonstrate the same core qualities required for success at the highest level:

  • Resilience under adversity: Both players have proven they can endure physical and mental challenges without losing focus or confidence.

  • Technical excellence built on balance and efficiency: Their strokes are not only powerful but mechanically sound and energy-efficient, enabling them to handle the intense demands of elite tennis.

  • A mindset centred on continuous improvement: Each player is deeply committed to analysing their game, refining their skills, and seeking even the smallest gains to keep evolving.

Comparing Today’s Game with Future Forecast

To coach players effectively for long-term success, it is crucial to understand how today’s game differs from what the sport will demand in the next decade.

Aspect Today’s Game Future Game
Physicality Fast, explosive, with high endurance Even greater multi-directional explosiveness, micro-recovery between points, and longer points at higher speeds
Strokes Aggressive topspin with linear hitting; backhand down-the-line as a key weapon Earlier contact to take time away, with seamless integration of slice, drop shots, and swing volleys
Serve Precision-based first serves, reliable kick second serves Hybrid serves with greater disguise and higher ace conversion without relying solely on speed
Return Compact, efficient swings for depth and placement Returns taken earlier, often from inside the baseline, with immediate transition to attack
Net Play Primarily a finishing tool after baseline dominance A routine tactical base, with players comfortable attacking behind aggressive returns and mid-court balls
Movement & Footwork Strong split steps, crossover recovery, balanced lateral and linear movement Faster deceleration-reacceleration, micro-adjustments under high speed, and low-gravity slides even on hard courts
Psychological Demands Resilience under pressure, confidence built through routines Stronger mental elasticity, the ability to reset focus mid-point, with cognitive training embedded in coaching
Training Methods High-intensity drills, periodised conditioning, match-specific simulations Integrated VO2 max development, neuromuscular efficiency, cognitive agility, and virtual-reality tactical training

Final Whisper

There is no single path to success in tennis.  Some players will thrive through national tournaments. Others will progress by challenging themselves against stronger, older players without focusing on rankings.

But one mindset remains essential:  Coaching must prepare them for the game that doesn’t exist yet.

This year, Sinner’s Challenger journey and Alcaraz’s integrated junior-ATP pathway led them to the same destination – Centre Court at Wimbledon.

For your players, the destination might be different, but the principle remains the same: When your coaching builds skills for the future game, your won’t just be ready – you’ll be ahead of the game.

For the Average Player: Focus Where It Counts

If you’re an average player, read this with your own development in mind. Many of these skills don’t need to be perfected – applying the 80/20 principle means focusing on the few key areas that will give you the greatest results with the least wasted effort.

Knowledge is power. Understanding where to direct your focus can make a real difference in your progress – not just in your tennis, but also in the confidence and life skills you build along the way.

Money Can’t Buy Talent: The Tale of Bill Ackman and the Wizard of Tennis

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Money Can’t Buy Talent: The Tale of Bill Ackman and the Wizard of Tennis

Once upon a time, there was a powerful Wall Street titan named Bill Ackman.

He moved markets with a single decision. He shaped political debates with a single tweet. His life was defined by strategic wins, leveraged deals, and intellectual dominance.

But hidden beneath the tailored suits and market forecasts was a quiet dream: to conquer tennis.  “I’ve mastered finance,” he thought. “Surely I can master tennis too.”

So this week, he packed his gold-embroidered tennis kit and travelled to Newport, Rhode Island, to play in the prestigious Hall of Fame Open.

At his side stood Jack Sock, a true champion with Wimbledon titles behind his name. Jack earned his place with a wildcard granted for past glory.

As for Bill? His reputation bought him a ticket to play alongside Sock, his appearance met with polite applause and quiet curiosity.

But waiting for him there was the Wizard of Tennis.  This Wizard was ancient and silent. His robes were woven from grass blades and chalk dust. He did not care about billions under management, social media followers, or political influence.  The Wizard only cared about footwork. Balance. Timing. Reaction under pressure.

Bill stepped onto the court with confidence.  His first return dribbled onto his own side.  His second hit the net with a dull thud.  His serves turned into double faults and errors.

All his usual advantages failed him. Money didn’t help. Connections didn’t help. Strategy decks didn’t help.  Because tennis, like many crafts, has its own rules.

It rewards preparation, repetition, resilience, and humility under pressure.

When the match ended, Bill bowed his head and said, “I understand now. In business, I can buy what I want. But here, your magic must be earned.”

And so he returned to Wall Street, carrying with him a lesson far greater than any quarterly return: Talent can’t be bought.

In tennis, as in leadership, titles aren’t purchased. They are earned, point by point, through discipline, courage, and the quiet hours of practice when no one is watching.

Let this story remind you:  While reputation may open doors, it’s skill and consistency that keeps you in the game.

Breaking the Injury Cycle: Anisimova

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Breaking the Injury Cycle: Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova knows what it feels like to carry expectations. At just 17, she reached the French Open semifinal and was hailed as the next American star. But soon after, her world turned upside down when her father and coach died unexpectedly at 52. Her motivation faded, and injuries began to take over her career.

Last night, she reached her first Wimbledon final after beating world No.1 Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Behind this result is not just her talent but the work of her physio, Shadi Soleymani, who Anisimova credits with a key role in turning things around.

Who is Soleymani?

Soleymani grew up in Sweden, played college tennis in Canada and the US, and trained as a chiropractor with a focus on biomechanics. Before joining Anisimova, she worked with Zheng Qinwen who made a Grand Slam final and won Olympic gold.

Breaking the Cycle of Injury

When Soleymani started working with Anisimova, she noticed something crucial. Amanda was stuck in a loop many athletes know too well:

  • Ongoing pain stopped her from training properly

  • Rest led to loss of fitness and conditioning

  • Competing without preparation caused reinjury

Soleymani assessed her body thoroughly and found weaknesses down her left side, which takes most of the load from serving and backhands. There was scar tissue and muscle imbalance that no one had properly addressed.

“Most of the fitness work she was doing was just putting muscle on top of damaged tissue, covering up problems rather than fixing them,” Soleymani explained.

She used targeted massage and therapy to break down scar tissue, then introduced flexibility and strength work to build stability from within. This wasn’t about quick fixes. It was about giving Amanda a solid base so her body could handle the demands of professional tennis again.

Soon, Amanda went from only being able to practice 50 minutes before pain set in to training up to 3 hours pain-free. This gave her the confidence to trust her body again and train the way she needed to perform at her best.

More Than Just Physical Treatment

Soleymani’s support went far beyond injury treatment:

  • She noticed Amanda was drinking too much coffee and not enough water, which was affecting her sleep. Cutting out coffee after 6 pm improved her recovery.

  • While Amanda’s vegan diet was healthy, Soleymani encouraged her to add more dark vegetables and proteins like fish or chicken to maintain her energy for long practices.

  • She adjusted training loads around Amanda’s menstrual cycle to optimise strength and recovery.

Each morning, Soleymani assessed her and worked with her strength and tennis coaches to plan the day’s sessions based on what her body could handle.

The Evolving Role of Physios

Today, physios on tour do far more than treat injuries:

  • They help players move efficiently and reduce the risk of injury

  • They integrate with strength and tennis coaches to build effective, realistic training plans

  • They provide daily support in what is often an intense and isolating sport.

My Own Story

Physios and massage therapists are also a key part of my Tennis 4 Life program.  I make regular visits to see Dave and Nerrisa at Trident in Brookvale. They’ve been instrumental in keeping this old dog on court for the past 15 years.  Before that, when we lived in California and competed in the US Nationals – on hard courts, no less, which are really tough on the body – it was Ken and Wilma at the Palisades Tennis Club who kept me going.

Wrap: What This Means for You

You don’t need to be aiming for Wimbledon to benefit from a sports-trained physio or massage therapist.

Whether you’re competing in Badge, playing social doubles, or simply wanting to keep your body moving well into your later years, having someone skilled to treat niggles before they become injuries, improve your movement, and keep you pain-free is invaluable.

Regular treatment can help you:

  • Release tight muscles before they turn into injuries

  • Improve mobility and balance to move better on court

  • Recover faster after matches or training so you stay fresher

  • Identify small weaknesses before they develop into long-term problems

Too often, players are told that with rest, injuries like tennis elbow will heal themselves. But rest alone rarely fixes the underlying cause. Without proper treatment and guided rehab, pain often returns as soon as you pick up your racket again.

Investing in a good physio or massage therapist is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your tennis life.

Determination: The Real Centre Court Lesson

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Determination: The Real Centre Court Lesson

Two days ago, Mirra Andreeva lived her childhood dream.  She debuted on Centre Court, defeating Emma Navarro in front of her idol Roger Federer.

The next day, she was living it up – sunhat on, poster in hand, cheering for her coach Conchita Martinez at a legends match.

But on Wednesday, reality struck.

When Your Best Weapon Fails

In her match against Bencic, Andreeva’s world-class backhand – usually her weapon of choice – failed her at crucial moments.  She missed sitters, netted routine backhands, and dumped volleys long in tiebreaks that decided the match.

Bencic, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist from Switzerland who is playing her first season after giving birth to her first child, matched Andreeva shot for shot in a duel of hard, spinning power that turned in the final moments of both sets. It ended with Bencic charging into her first Wimbledon semifinal 7-6(3), 7-6(2), where she will play Świątek.

Yet Andreeva’s reflection wasn’t soaked in defeatism.

The Determination Mindset

“The first thing that I’m going to practice is, I don’t know, I’m going to play a thousand tiebreaks. Unless I win one, I’m not going to be happy.”

Faced with heartbreak, Andreeva chose the path of growth.

Lessons for Competitive Players

Key takeaways:

  • Losing close is data. It tells you exactly what to practice next.

  • Regret is fuel. Missing her backhand in tiebreaks didn’t break her – it gave her clarity on her training priorities.

  • Enjoy the grind. Even after heartbreak, she joked about the kilos of strawberries she ate that week. Perspective matters.

  • Determine your response. You choose whether disappointment drives you forward or leaves you stuck.

Whisperer Reflection

Next time you choke in a breaker or your signature shot fails under pressure, remember Andreeva.

Don’t fear tight matches.  Seek them out. Play a thousand tiebreaks until you master them.

That’s determination – not the confidence to never fail, but the refusal to let failure define you.

Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep evolving.

Spin, Height, and Control: The Keys to Mirra Andreeva’s Success

The 80% Rule – Temper Power with Percentage

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The 80% Rule – Temper Power with Percentage

Rune learned a powerful truth from Djokovic:

“Never go beyond 80% on rally shots.”

Why follow the 80% rule?

When you swing at 80% effort on rally shots:

  • Your strokes stay repeatable under pressure
    At 100%, technique often breaks down. At 80%, mechanics remain solid, even under stress.

  • You maintain better balance and timing
    Overswinging throws you off balance, delays recovery, and leaves you exposed for the next shot.

  • You reduce unforced errors
    Many errors come from trying to hit bigger than necessary, especially when rushed or tired.

The Psychology Behind 80%

Going for highlight-reel winners feels satisfying, but:

  • Matches are won by consistent, high-quality balls
    Players like Djokovic and Alcaraz build pressure by rarely missing, forcing opponents to crack.

  • Your opponent feels mental strain when you never give away free points
    This drains their confidence and tempts them into riskier decisions.

Practical Application

  • Hit rally balls at a controlled 80% effort
    Train yourself to value repeatability over power in rallies.

  • Reserve your 90–100% swings for clear finishing opportunities
    Accelerate fully only when the ball sits up and your on balance in your strike zone with court space open.

  • Focus on depth, shape, and footwork precision rather than raw power
    Heavy topspin with depth at 80% often does more damage than a flatter 100% missile with low margin.

Wrap

Temper your power with percentage.
Reliability beats recklessness – especially when the match is on the line.

Nadal’s Footprints at Wimbledon

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Nadal’s Footprints at Wimbledon

Rich noticed something fascinating at Wimbledon this week.  The court showed deep wear out wide on the ad side baseline – a clear sign of players running around their backhand to dictate with their forehand.

This is what we teach as the “Nadal Variation.”

What is the Nadal Variation?

The Nadal Variation refers to running around the backhand to hit heavy forehands from the ad side to achieve multiple tactical advantages:

  • Shift the contact point laterally
    Stepping wide into the backhand corner opens up sharper inside-out forehand angles, effectively targeting the opponent’s backhand side.

  • Create an inside-in threat
    From that same wide position, players can also redirect down the line (inside-in) to the opponent’s forehand, forcing them to defend both directions and stretching their court coverage.

  • Manage the court coverage trade-off
    While this move leaves the deuce side exposed, the aggressive geometry of the inside-out forehand often pins opponents back, preventing them from exploiting the open court.

Wear Patterns Tell the Story

Repeated use of this tactic creates visible erosion arcs out wide on the ad side baseline – silent evidence of how strategy shapes the surface itself.

Whisperer Reflection

Nadal’s influence isn’t just felt in titles won. His legacy is visible in the geometry of the game itself.

Next time you watch Wimbledon, look closely at those subtle wear marks. They aren’t just scuffs – they are the footprints of a strategic legacy, showing how the Nadal Variation has redefined baseline play for a generation.

Serve or Receive? Strategic Considerations

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Serve or Receive? Strategic Considerations

Isaac asked:

“Win the toss – do you like to serve first or receive? I chose to serve but my partner overruled me and said we are receiving, then threw the balls to the opposition.”

Your Options When You Win the Toss

When you win the toss, you have four choices:

  1. Serve – Sets the tone, builds rhythm, and applies immediate scoreboard pressure if you’re confident in your serve.

  2. Receive – Ideal if your opponents start slow or your team is strong on returns, giving you an early break opportunity.

  3. Choose Ends – Useful for managing sun, wind, or court conditions right from the start.

  4. Defer to Your Opponent – Allows you to react tactically to their choice while managing environmental factors to your advantage.

Factors to Consider

When deciding whether to serve or receive, consider these key factors to ensure your choice supports your strategy and confidence from the outset:

  • Your strengths and confidence levels
    Serving first builds proactive momentum.

  • Opponent tendencies
    Receiving can exploit early match nerves.

  • Weather, sun, and wind
    Choosing ends or deferring can optimise playing conditions.

In Badge Matches – Second Rounds

In second rounds of Badge, you often have a clearer understanding of your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses based on previous encounters. This makes your toss decision more informed and strategic:

  • You know who has a weaker serve under pressure.

  • You know who struggles to return heavy serves.

  • You’ve experienced how weather or court conditions affect play.

Use this knowledge to make a calm and confident decision that aligns with your team strategy.

Doubles Team Communication

In your situation, you chose to serve, but your partner switched to receive without discussion.

The secret to good doubles is, you guessed it: a strong partnership on court. Doubles is won by two players moving, thinking, and deciding as one.

It’s even better when both players have a rudimentary understanding of where to stand before each point begins. Doubles offers a huge advantage in that one player gets to start in a winning position before the point even starts – whether that’s at the net pressuring the returner or setting up for an intercept.

Importantly, putting doubles teams together based solely on UTR scores is not a good strategy. Doubles is always, first and foremost, about chemistry and building experienced teams. Two players with strong individual ratings but no tactical cohesion will rarely outperform an experienced, communicative pair who trust each other’s positioning, movement, and decision-making.

To avoid confusion and maintain unity, take 30 seconds before the toss to align with your partner. This builds trust, reinforces your tactical plan, and sets the tone for a focused match.

Discuss:

  • Preferred serving order – Who feels ready to serve first.

  • Match conditions – Sun, wind, court speed, and shadows.

  • Opponent tendencies – Who is vulnerable on serve or return.

  • Team mindset – How you want to start tactically and psychologically.

Wrap

Starting united ensures confidence, clarity, and optimal strategy from the very first point.

Wimbledon Exposes One-Dimensional Players

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Wimbledon Grass Exposes One-Dimensional Players

Wimbledon 2025 has delivered a brutal reminder: grass exposes incomplete games.

To succeed at the highest level, players need a toolbox of skills and tactical options that allows them to adjust to different playing surfaces and conditions. Grass courts demand versatility, while clay requires patience and endurance, and hard courts reward aggressive baseline play. Without the ability to adapt their game style, grips, footwork patterns, and shot selection, even top-ranked players find themselves exposed under pressure.

Seeds Fall Early – Why?

As the third round began, only 27 seeds remained out of 64. This isn’t random chaos. It’s the grass surface demanding adaptability, balance, and versatility.

Grass shortens rallies, making the first strike decisive. Players relying purely on big western groundstrokes find:

  • Their timing disrupted

  • Their balance exposed

  • Their footwork inefficiency punished

Top seeds like Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Alexander Zverev fell early despite strong seasons. Their losses reveal a clear pattern: single-dimensional styles struggle on grass.

Why the Big Western Forehand Struggles on Grass

The modern western or extreme semi-western grip forehand is designed to produce heavy topspin. It’s lethal on hard and clay courts where higher bounces allow players to swing aggressively up and through the ball.  But grass?

  • Keeps the ball low

  • Makes it hard for extreme grips to get under the ball effectively

  • Forces rushed swings or awkward adjustments due to compromised contact points

This is compounded by grass’s fast, skidding nature, which negates the time needed to wind up these forehands. Gauff’s loss is a prime example – her forehand grip couldn’t adjust to Yastremska’s low, fast aggression.

The All-Round Game Wins Wimbledon

Wimbledon is historically dominated by all-court players. Why?

  • They adjust grips seamlessly for low or high balls

  • They transition forward effectively, finishing points at the net

  • Their split-step timing and balance remain stable on slick surfaces

  • Their games are built on variety, not predictability – slices, volleys, flat drives, spins, and touch shots

Emma Raducanu’s upset win exemplified this. She took the ball early, stayed low, and redirected pace with precision. Grass rewards footwork quality and early contact more than baseline spin dominance.

Similarity with Manly Lawn

Wimbledon and Manly Lawn share a key characteristic: both surfaces play fast and stay low.

While Wimbledon’s natural grass is meticulously cut to create a skidding, slick bounce, Manly’s mod grass replicates this with its tight synthetic weave and low pile.

On both courts, the ball skids through quickly, demanding early preparation, strong balance, and compact strokes. Players who thrive on these surfaces are those who adapt with clean footwork, early contact, and versatile shot selection, as pure topspin games often get neutralised by the low bounce and rapid pace.

Takeaway for Competitive Players

If you aspire to be a complete player competing on all surfaces:

  • Develop an adaptable game with a wide variety of speeds and spins, much like Mirra Andreeva, to handle the changing bounce and pace of different courts

  • Refine your footwork, prep steps, and rhythm to maintain balance and timing under pressure

  • Prioritise early preparation to enable stable and efficient stroke execution

  • Enhance your net skills and volleying techniques, as finishing points early reduces exposure to awkward low balls and builds confidence moving forward

Djokovic: On Mentorship

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Djokovic: On Mentorship

Novak Djokovic recently gave an interview reflecting on the importance of mentorship. He spoke about how deeply he values passing on his knowledge to younger players.

His philosophy is simple yet powerful:

“What’s the value of knowledge if you don’t transfer it to the next generation?”

From Holger Rune learning that power isn’t everything, to Hamad Medjedovic being reminded to “believe in yourself more than your shots,” Djokovic’s quiet guidance runs through today’s ATP and WTA tours.

Mentorship Lessons from Djokovic

Build Before You Bang

He teaches first steps before first serves.

Footwork drills like prep steps, split steps, and multi-directional movement remain at the heart of his coaching. Balance and movement create the foundation for every match-winning shot.

Temper Power with Percentage

Rune learned that “never going beyond 80%” on routine shots builds reliability under pressure.

Often, consistent, high-quality balls win more points than occasional highlight-reel winners.

Mentor with Detachment

Like Djokovic, many teaching pros quietly understand the value of discipline and routine.

Your habits – daily stretching, mindful hydration, thoughtful lesson notes – create small moments of excellence that flow into your students’ games. Over time, these routines become part of the quiet wisdom you pass on, often without even realising it.

Share Without Fear

You know that sharing your knowledge never diminishes your worth.

Giving away your best insights keeps your mind sharp, your teaching evolving, and your love for the game alive – even as your students grow into players who may one day achieve things you only dreamed of.

Beyond the Lesson

Students absorb every drill, every tactic, and every small correction. Over time, they build games that go beyond what their mentors once played.

But for a teaching pro, there is no clash. There is only quiet pride, knowing your knowledge lives on in stronger, wiser, and more confident players.

Because in the end:  To teach is to remain timeless.

The Art of Returning Big Serves

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The Art of Returning Big Serves

Yesterday, Mpetshi Perricard fired the fastest serve in Wimbledon history – 153 mph (246 km/h) – and Taylor Fritz simply blocked it back deep.

On the women’s side, imagine Leylah Fernandez facing Aryna Sabalenka, who looks like she’s serving out of a tree. The ball explodes off Sabalenka’s racket from a towering contact point, giving Fernandez fractions of a second to prepare.

At our local Badge level, you’ll often face players with serves that feel uncomfortably big. Just ask Howie, Pam, or Coach Tim.  Back in my playing days, the record – with a wood racket – was 140 mph, and most of us could still get enough returns back to break serve from time to time.

Sure, the game is faster now with modern racket and string technology, but the principles remain the same.

Out of Your Comfort Zone

When facing big serves:

  • You’re slow to react

  • You struggle to move to the ball

  • Your eyes can’t adjust quickly enough to the extra pace

The result? You start guessing, and panic sets in.

How Do Better Returners Handle This?

Because the serve is so fast, the best returners don’t overreact.  Fritz simply moved his body out of the way and put his racket on the ball, absorbing the pace and giving it right back.

But to do this effectively, you need to read the ball, not just react. That has nothing to do with your racket – it’s all about anticipation. And yes, it can be taught.

Lorenzo Musetti, after facing Novak Djokovic, said:

“It seems like he knows minutes before where you are going to serve.”

This isn’t just talent – it’s reading ball tosses, body cues, patterns, and executing split-second decisions.

Keys to Returning Big Serves

  • No inertia
    Start moving with the ball toss to prime explosive first-step movement.

  • Reduce swing length
    Use block returns with soft hands, meeting the ball out in front without swinging.

  • Stay balanced
    Small, rapid prep steps keep your body aligned and ready to pivot or extend at the last moment.

  • Train anticipation
    Watch toss cues, shoulders, and racket face to pre-commit subtly.

  • Rehearse under pressure
    Simulate serve speeds in practice with coaches or partners to acclimate your visual and reaction speed.

Learning Progression

The first variation of developing these skills is learning how to poach in doubles.

That’s what you’ll often see us teaching on most Sundays – poaching at the net, before progressing to learn how to read volleys and serves.

Wrap

Returning the fastest serves isn’t about having faster hands.  It’s about anticipating before impact, staying balanced, and using the server’s power against them.

Because in tennis, as Wimbledon 2025 showed, the ball may travel at 153 mph…but the game is won by the speed of your mind.

Alcaraz: The Science Behind Turning Defense Into Attack

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Alcaraz: How the Crossover Step Flips Points

What really sets Carlos Alcaraz apart from his peers isn’t just his explosive power or creative shot-making. It’s his balance, and in particular, his mastery of the crossover step when defending in his backhand corner.

Why It Matters

A few times each match, Alcaraz finds himself deep in his backhand corner, defending against an opponent’s aggressive approach shot. In these moments, here’s what he does:

He turns his shoulders to the left, extends his right arm, and curves his racquet down and around the outside of the ball, slicing it crosscourt. But it’s not just the slice that makes this effective – it’s how he gets to the ball.

Source: Getty Images

Balance: The Secret Weapon

Most players use what’s known as “crabbing” to reach wide balls. They shuffle sideways, keeping their chest facing the court. While this feels safe, it comes with serious drawbacks:

  • It reduces speed, limiting how quickly they reach the ball.

  • It prevents proper weight transfer, weakening power production.

  • It disrupts balance, making it harder to recover or transition forward.

In contrast, Alcaraz uses a crossover step. He rotates his hips and steps his outside leg across his body line. This small technical difference has massive strategic impact:

  • He moves faster to the ball.

  • He maintains rotational force through the shot.

  • He recovers balance immediately, allowing him to explode forward into the next shot.

How It Flips Points

His defensive slice floats low from his opponent’s right to left. As it travels, Alcaraz regains his balance using the crossover step and charges forward.

In a split second, the point flips. His opponent, who was in full control, now faces a low, skidding ball with Alcaraz rushing in. Against most players, an average volley would win the point. Against Alcaraz, only an extraordinary volley keeps them alive.

Why It’s Devastating on Grass

On grass courts, this dynamic is amplified:

  • The ball stays lower, skidding through.

  • Movement requires exceptional balance and precise footwork.

As Alcaraz describes it:

“The movement is really tough, but when you get it, it’s kind of like you’re flying.”

Key Takeaways

The crossover step beats crabbing for:

  • Speed to the ball

  • Maintaining balance under lateral stress

  • Effective recovery for aggressive transitions

Alcaraz’s footwork isn’t just technical mastery – it’s a strategic weapon that transforms defense into attack within seconds.

Wrap

Next time you watch Alcaraz, focus on his crossover steps when he’s pushed wide. Notice how this single footwork choice sets up his devastating forward transitions.

It’s footwork that wins matches.