How to Change a Stroke

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How to Change a Stroke

Changing a stroke is one of the toughest challenges in any precision sport. It’s not just about technique—it’s a complete shift in mechanics, mindset, and identity. The process is slow, frustrating, and often risky. Muscle memory resists, performance may dip, and the temptation to revert is strong. But when done right, the payoff can be game-changing.

Scottie Scheffler’s story is a blueprint. In 2023, the world No. 1 golfer couldn’t close tournaments despite being the best tee-to-green player on tour. His putting—once a fatal flaw—became a strength after he brought in Phil Kenyon, simplified his technique, switched to a mallet putter, and changed to a claw grip. By 2025, Scheffler was not just winning majors—he was dominating them.

Tennis has seen similar reinventions:

  • Roger Federer retooled his backhand in 2017 to counter Nadal’s topspin, leading to a career resurgence.

  • Rafael Nadal revamped his serve and return positioning under Carlos Moyá, extending his prime well into his 30s.

  • Carlos Alcaraz smoothed out his service motion before the 2025 season, improving pace and consistency.

  • Jannik Sinner adjusted his stance and preparation, unlocking more power and accuracy—key to his rise to world No. 1.

These stories all share the same process:

1. Diagnose the real issue — don’t guess or copy.
Use video and expert input to identify the actual flaw. Many players waste time changing what looks wrong rather than what affects outcomes.

2. Bring in expert help — adaptability and insight matter.
Work with coaches who tailor solutions to your game—not just general cookie-cutter mechanics. Their outside perspective helps you avoid chasing false fixes.

3. Simplify the change — focus on balance, timing, and feel.
Start with core fundamentals. Clean contact, balance, and fluid rhythm are the building blocks of every great stroke.

4. Modify equipment if needed — small tweaks, big returns.
A new racquet setup or grip adjustment can support better mechanics and feel. Like Scheffler’s switch to a mallet, or Federer moving to a 110 racket, equipment should match your new motion.

5. Rebuild identity and belief — use rituals and reinforcement.
You’re not just changing form—you’re changing how you see yourself. Use routines, cues, and positive self-talk to reinforce confidence in your new game.

6. Train under pressure — test it when it matters most.
Practice is just the beginning. To own the change, simulate match stress and play through it. That’s where new patterns get forged into reliable habits.

Wrap

Changing a stroke isn’t for the faint of heart. It demands clarity, commitment, and patience. But as Scheffler, Federer, and Sinner have shown, the reward isn’t just improvement—it’s transformation. Diagnose wisely. Train deliberately. Trust the process. That’s how players evolve—and how you can too.

Coach Tim Asks: Are You Badge Smart?

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Are You Badge Smart?

Coach Tim asks: “Are you playing Badge Smart—or just playing Badge?”

That question stuck. Because in Badge, the scoreboard doesn’t just reflect talent. It reflects decisions.

The matches are long, tensions get high—and the difference between winning and losing? It often comes down to choices, not strokes.

It’s not about being the most talented player. It’s about being the smartest competitor.

Let’s break down the habits of players who play Badge Smart, not just Badge hard.

Don’t Try to Out-Bang a Banger

You’re up against a power hitter. You try to go toe-to-toe, matching pace for pace. But that’s their comfort zone—not yours.

Whisperer Tip: Change the rhythm. Roll it, slice it, hit a short ball, throw them a moonball. Disrupt their timing and force them to create pace on their own terms.

Avoid Shot Pattern Tunnel Vision

You’re in a groove with your favorite shot… until your opponent grooves right along with you. Predictability kills in Badge.

Whisperer Tip: Vary placement, height, spin, and tempo. Use short/long combos, wrong-foot shots, and off-pace junk to stay one step ahead.  If your partner hasn’t been crossing, ask them to. Give your opponents a new problem to solve.

Stop Feeding Their Sweet Spot on Serve

You keep hitting serves they love to return—and you wonder why you’re under pressure from ball one.

Whisperer Tip: Scout early. Serve to the weaker wing. Mix in body serves and change directions. Throw in a slow, spinny serve and see how they handle it. Serve to disrupt—not just to start the point.

Be Willing to Shift Gears

You’re down a set and still playing the same patterns. Your ego wants to prove they should work—but that’s not how matches are won.

Whisperer Tip: Badge Smart players adapt. Change your tactics. Try switching to tandem or Aussie formation. Make your opponent beat a different version of you in set two.

Only Come to Net With Purpose

You’re rushing the net, but not off anything that earns it. And now you’re a target instead of a threat.

Whisperer Tip: Time your approaches off a short ball, a deep return, or a serve +1 pattern. Or use different  doubles formations to create space.

Play to Your Partner’s Strengths

Even strong players can make a weak team if their styles clash. Mixing a baseline grinder with an eager net-crasher often leads to chaos—not chemistry.

Take Netto and Wilco—two seasoned players in a higher Badge division. They’re not winning on youth or explosiveness. What do they do? They play in sync. Classic serve-and-volley. Deep first volley. Net pressure. They move like a unit, not two soloists chasing different tunes.

But give Netto or Wilco a younger partner glued to the baseline, grinding out rallies with heavy topspin groundstrokes? The chemistry collapses. They lose their rhythm, their court positioning, their identity as a team.

Whisperer Tip: Find common ground with your partner. If they poach, you cover. If they hang back, you create space. Don’t force your style onto the team—build a game plan that suits both of you. In Badge, chemistry beats raw talent every time.

Bottom Line: Badge Smart Wins Matches

Being Badge Smart means thinking ahead—not reacting late.

It’s about strategic awareness, not ego. Tactical variety, not mindless repetition. Partnership synergy, not two separate games.

So next time you’re grinding through a Badge match, ask yourself:

Am I playing with intention—or just hoping it works?

Play sharp. Play smart. Play Badge Smart.

It’s 2025: The Raison d’Être of the Tennis Whisperer

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Welcome to 2025!

To our returning readers and the many new ones who joined us in 2024, welcome to The Tennis Whisperer! Let us reintroduce the purpose of this site and share what you can expect moving forward.

What We Offer

Here at The Tennis Whisperer, we focus on four essential areas of tennis:

  1. Real Fundamentals (Ask the Pro):
    Practical advice and techniques to sharpen your skills.
  2. Strategies (Whisperer):
    Advanced tactics for both singles and doubles play.
  3. Health & Injury Prevention (Tennis4Life):
    Tips to keep you in peak physical condition.
  4. Tennis News & Gossip (Goss):
    Updates from the tennis world.

We post periodically, with more frequent updates during Badge season or tournaments. Posts are inspired by match takeaways, training insights, or timely teaching moments from lessons and clinics. Not every post will resonate with every reader, but there’s always something valuable for those seeking to elevate their game.

Cutting Through the Noise

Let’s face it—there’s a lot of questionable tennis advice out there. Take, for example, the overhyped “windscreen wiper” groundstroke, which might do more harm than good. Many online sources rely on cookie-cutter coaching or a “copy my game” approach. While these methods may work for some, they often ignore that every player is unique.

Instead of imitating others, your goal should be to craft your game around your unique strengths. This approach ensures that your game reflects your abilities, harnesses your strengths, and feels authentic to you as a player.

Timeless Wisdom

Mercer Beasley, the legendary coach of tennis icons Ellsworth Vines, Wilmer Allison, and Frank Parker, distilled tennis fundamentals into three powerful principles:

  • Keep your eye on the ball.
  • Get your racket back as quickly as possible.
  • Move your feet.

These principles remain as relevant today as ever. They remind us that while tennis evolves, its foundation is timeless—a harmonious blend of physics, geometry, and psychology.

Let’s Make 2025 a Winning Year! 🎾

This year, we’ll continue exploring these timeless truths while diving deeper into the strategies and techniques that make tennis the beautiful game it is. Together, we’ll grow, learn, and enjoy thrilling matches!

Here’s to another year of tennis excellence!

Dehydration: The Silent Performance Killer

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Dehydration: The Silent Performance Killer for Older Athletes

Hydration is the foundation behind the three keys of great tennis—ball watching, balance, and rhythm. Without it, your eyes track slower, your body wobbles during movemeny, and your timing falls out of sync. Even the best technique can’t survive when the system runs dry.

For many of us still grinding it out in Badge or weekend comps, the real opponent isn’t always across the net—it’s inside our own body. Dehydration is a silent performance killer, and as we age, the risks rise dramatically.

Why Dehydration Hits Harder After 60

Aging bodies hold less water in muscle and connective tissue, meaning older players start matches closer to the dehydration threshold. Add heat, long rallies, or even a couple of drinks the night before, and the impact multiplies:

  • Muscle elasticity drops, raising the risk of strains and tears.

  • Balance and coordination decline, making quick steps and safe recovery harder.

  • Cramping becomes more likely, as electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium get flushed out.

For players already battling slower recovery and tighter tissues with age, dehydration acts as an amplifier.

Accelerating Impact of Alcohol

Alcohol compounds these risks. Research shows it affects every organ system—muscles, blood vessels, digestion, heart, and brain. With age, those systems are already under strain. Older players typically:

  • Have less muscle mass and water retention, so blood alcohol levels rise faster.

  • Show memory and coordination deficits at lower levels than younger players.

  • Face a greater risk of falls and injury—especially troubling since tennis demands balance and quick directional changes.

Even “just one drink” can impair working memory, slow reaction time, and compromise balance—the very skills we rely on for safe movement on court.

Signs You’re Playing Dehydrated

Many players think they’re just “sluggish” or “getting older,” but the warning signs are often hydration-related:

  • Dry mouth or sticky saliva

  • Dark yellow urine (pale yellow is ideal)

  • Headache, dizziness, or mental fog

  • Heavy legs or sudden cramps

  • Faster heart rate than usual for your effort level

  • Footwork suddenly feeling clumsy

How Long Does It Take to Recover?

Recovery depends on severity:

  • Mild: A few hours with steady water + electrolytes.

  • Moderate: Often 24 hours before you’re truly back to baseline.

  • Severe (>5% loss): Can take days, sometimes requiring medical attention.

For older players, recovery is slower because tissues don’t retain water as efficiently. That’s why a Friday night out + Saturday Badge is a dangerous combo—you’re starting in deficit before the first warm-up ball.

Hydration and Cramping

Cramping is one of the most common on-court issues for aging players. Alcohol raises the risk in two ways:

  • It acts as a diuretic, flushing electrolytes needed for muscle contraction and relaxation.

  • It dehydrates tissues, making them less resilient under long rallies or hot conditions.

Even moderate intake the night before a match can leave you depleted, increasing the chance of those painful late-set cramps.

Dehydration in Much Older Players

For players in their 70s, 80s, and beyond, dehydration isn’t just a performance dip—it can be a safety hazard. At these ages, the body holds far less water, kidney function declines, and the thirst signal is blunted, meaning you may already be under-hydrated before stepping on court. Even mild fluid loss can cause sharp drops in balance, reaction time, and coordination—magnifying fall risk during quick directional changes. Recovery also takes longer, as tissues rehydrate more slowly and muscle water reserves are reduced. For this group, hydration isn’t optional—it’s the foundation for safe movement, clear thinking, and simply enjoying the game.

A Practical Hydration & Recovery Checklist

To stay ahead of the curve:

  • Hydrate steadily the day before a match, not just on game day.

  • Sip water  during play, especially in heat.

  • Avoid alcohol before/after matches, when the body most needs hydration and tissue repair.

  • Listen to your body—foggy thinking, sluggish movement, and cramps are warning signs, not “just aging.”

Wrap-Up

Dehydration steals performance quietly—slowing reaction time, draining energy, and increasing injury risk. For older athletes, the margin for error is razor-thin.

Tennis always comes back to the three keys: ball watching, balance, and rhythm. Protect your hydration, and you protect them. Lose it, and the game unravels one step at a time.

Nerves: “My Nerves Really Got the Better of Me”

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Nerves: “My Nerves Really Got the Better of Me”

Madison Keys has never been one to hide from the truth. After her loss to Renata Zarazúa in the US Open, she admitted something every competitor—whether in a Slam or a club match—has felt: nerves can take over.

“For the first time in a while, my nerves really got the better of me, and it kind of became a little bit paralyzing. I felt like I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way I wanted to, which resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork.”

It’s striking to hear this from a player who has already lifted a Grand Slam trophy this season. But Keys’ honesty reminds us of a universal truth: nerves don’t discriminate. They can hit when you least expect them, even in a “career year.”

Why Nerves Feel Paralyzing

Sports psychology has long studied what happens when pressure turns excitement into fear. Muscle tension creeps in, footwork slows, and decision-making clouds. In tennis, where balance and quick first steps are everything, being half a beat late can unravel an entire game plan.

As Keys put it herself: “I felt like I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way I wanted to, which resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork.”

Nerves Mean You’re Ready

Here’s the irony: nerves are not a sign of weakness. They’re a sign of readiness.

Bruce Jennings, before breaking world records, used to throw up from nerves. Serena Williams admitted she still felt “shaky” before major finals, despite more than two decades at the top. Rafael Nadal, throughout his career, relied on rituals—placing his bottles just so, adjusting his shorts, bouncing on the baseline. These weren’t quirks, but anchors. They channeled nervous energy into rhythm and control.

As uncomfortable as they feel, nerves are your body’s way of saying: you’re about to do something important. With age, those nerves can intensify—performance anxiety tends to grow sharper, not softer. For juniors, it often shows up differently: the fear of disappointing coaches or family. And sometimes, that pressure leaks out in unhealthy ways, like bending the rules or even cheating.

Practical Ways to Tame Nerves

The good news: nerves can be managed. Not eliminated—because nerves mean you care—but managed.

  • Pre-Match Rituals: Creating a consistent routine (listening to music, breathing exercises, visualization) helps anchor the mind.

  • Left-Hand Squeeze: Research shows that squeezing a tennis ball with the non-dominant hand before serving reduces overthinking and steadies execution.

  • Footwork Focus: Returning to basics—split steps, prep steps, crossover moves—can reestablish rhythm when your brain feels foggy. Rafael Nadal built his match-play identity around such details. At the start of matches, he would sprint to his return position—not just out of habit, but to keep his heart rate elevated and his body engaged. That simple ritual ensured his footwork was alive from the first ball—a reminder that movement patterns can settle the nerves before strokes ever do.

  • Mini-Resets on Changeovers: Think of changeovers as built-in reset buttons. Slow your breathing, towel off, replay the previous points briefly in your head—and then let them go. Use those ninety seconds to shift attention forward: What’s the next serve target? What’s the next tactical adjustment? Just as Keys spoke about the need for longer training “reset blocks” during a season, these mini resets in a match help restore balance, calm nerves, and re-enter play with clarity.

Whisper Tip:

Madison Keys’ candid reflection is a reminder that tennis is as much mental as physical. Nerves will always surface—but they don’t have to define the match. Some days, particularly when you’re tired or not feeling well, you just can’t get over the hump. Even so, the real secret to tennis is simple: just keep turning up.

Nerves don’t mean you’re unprepared. They mean you’re ready to play. The real question is: can you perform when it matters?

ITF MT200 Camden Tennis Centre

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How Title IX Built US Women’s Tennis

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How Title IX Built US Women’s Tennis

For decades, US women have carried the Grand Slam torch, and in 2025, the trend is more alive than ever. Gauff, Keys, Pegula, Anisimova, and Navarro headline a wave of US women who dominate the game’s biggest stages. Four straight Slam finals have featured a US woman. Two Grand Slam winners.

That strength shows up in the 2025 US Open draw: six US women are seeded, more than any other nation. Gauff (#3), Pegula (#4), Keys (#6), Anisimova (#8), Navarro (#10), and Kessler (#32) form the deepest national presence at the tournament.

But this dominance didn’t happen by accident. It traces back more than 50 years, to Title IX, the landmark US law that required equal opportunity for women in education—including sports.

What Is Title IX?

Passed in 1972, Title IX prohibited sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools and universities. While its language never mentioned “sports,” its ripple effects transformed athletics in the US. Suddenly, high schools and colleges had to create programs, scholarships, and infrastructure for female athletes.

That meant more courts, more scholarships, more coaches—and most importantly—a cultural expectation that girls would play sports just as boys did.

How It Shaped Tennis

Tennis was already unique: it was one of the rare sports where women could earn prize money and media attention, especially after Billie Jean King’s 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” win. Title IX supercharged that pipeline.

  • College tennis as a development weapon: Navarro, Kessler, Stearns, and Collins all sharpened their games in NCAA competition, a luxury few European or Asian players have. That system exists because Title IX forced universities to fund women’s tennis scholarships.

  • Access to coaching and resources: Players like Anisimova and Kenin benefited from USTA programs, but their early opportunities—public courts, travel teams, scholarships—flowed from a Title IX culture where female athletic dreams were legitimate.

  • Role models and representation: Without Title IX, Serena and Venus Williams may have remained outliers. Instead, they became cultural icons in a system designed to nurture and multiply talent. Gauff and Keys are their direct heirs.

Why the US Leads the World

Many countries have talented female players, but few have the same critical mass. About 35% of US girls play sports regularly between ages 6–17. That’s unmatched globally.

The result? Depth. The US has Slam champions (Gauff, Keys, Kenin), Slam finalists (Anisimova, Pegula), rising stars (Navarro, Krueger, Stearns), and teenage prodigies (Jović). Title IX built not just one star, but a production line of champions.

The US has proven what happens when a country commits to equity in sports. Fifty years on, Title IX’s fingerprints are all over the US Open draw sheet.

Wrap

Title IX gave US girls permission to dream—and the resources to chase those dreams. The next US Slam champion won’t just be a product of talent and hard work. She’ll also be a child of Title IX.

P.S. In the spirit of full disclosure… Pam and I have six granddaughters. So yes, I may be a little biased when it comes to celebrating the future of girls’ sports

Manly 7 Valiant in Defeat in Badge Final

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Manly 7 Valiant in Defeat in Badge Final

Manly 7 fell 5–2 in their Badge Final on Saturday at Sydney Boys High, battling on an away blue hard court that felt far from their comfort zone.

Match Highlights

Barnaby & Isaac

  • Dropped their first set in a brutal tiebreaker (8–6) after serving for the set at 5–4 with three set points. Finals pressure kicked in, and playing “not to lose” into a stiff wind proved costly.

  • Down 1–6 in the breaker, they rediscovered their patterns, fought back to 6–6, but narrowly lost.

  • With their rhythm restored, they took the second set. (One Love’s top player later admitted he was intimidated by Isaac’s net presence.)

Bilal & Joel

  • Locked in two tight, deuce-heavy sets but couldn’t convert opportunities, falling in straight sets.

  • Equipment drama: Bilal broke his only racket, forcing Joel to lend him his spare.

Momentum Shift

  • Barnaby & Isaac carried their momentum into the turnaround, securing a third set win.

  • Bilal & Joel, facing the opposition’s top pair, pushed them deep. Joel earned the ultimate respect when they adjusted into tandem formation to counter his cross-court returns. Still, they lost another deuce-heavy set.

Closing Stage

  • In the final set, missed chances finally wore Barnaby & Isaac down. As Coach Tim put it: “Finals tennis is brutal — but it’s a great teacher.”

Positives to Take Away

  • Team fightback: rallied from 15 points down at the start of round two to get to the final.

  • Found their doubles identity: rediscovered magic diamond patterns travel well to any surface.

  • Serving & returning under pressure: remarkable execution in fierce wind and final-round pressure.

Areas to Build On

  • More match play for experience in pressure scenarios.

  • Strengthening regular doubles partnerships.

  • Sharpening tiebreak and pressure-play skills.

  • Across the board, volley improvement.

Wrap

While disappointment stings, this was a powerful learning experience. Manly 7 showed grit, flashes of brilliance, and plenty to build on. Finals tennis exposed the gaps but also revealed their competitive edge.

A loss on paper, but a huge step forward in development.

Ah! Doubles Really Is a Different Game

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Ah! Doubles Really Is a Different Game

At this year’s U.S. Open mixed doubles, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori reminded everyone that doubles is not just singles with four players jammed on the court—it’s an entirely different sport.

The Italian specialists—last year’s champions—are back again, dismantling some of the biggest singles names. Rybakina and Fritz? Gone. Rublev and Muchová? Outclassed. And with only a semifinal run so far, Errani and Vavassori have already pocketed more money than they earned winning the entire event last year.

The irony is sharp: the event was packaged as a showcase for singles stars, but it’s the doubles masters who are writing the story and cashing the checks.

Why Doubles Specialists Dominate

  • The Magic Diamond – Picture a diamond laid over the court, linking the four players. That diamond marks out the key sections where nearly 80% of balls are played at every level. Great doubles teams shift the diamond with each shot, always covering the hot zones, closing seams, and shrinking angles. Singles players often miss it—and leave space that doubles experts devour.

  • Craft Over Power – Singles stars try to blast their way through. Doubles specialists rely on placement, anticipation, and sharp angles.

  • Net Control – In doubles, the net is everything. Vavassori’s wingspan and Errani’s timing turn floating balls into easy winners.

  • Partnership as Choreography – Doubles isn’t improvisation. It’s synchronized movement—like Torvill and Dean on ice, only with rackets.

Badge Lessons

The same story unfolded last Saturday with two Manly teams in the Sydney Badge semifinals.

  • In Division 1, two young singles guns came out banging from the baseline. Nick and Rimmo stayed calm, worked the diamond, and took charge at the net. Result: four sets won, match sealed.

  • In Division 10, Issac and Barnaby committed fully to the diamond, keeping themselves anchored in the right zones every point. The payoff: three sets, including the clutch decider that delivered the tie.

Different divisions, same truth: doubles is a different game.

A Crowd’s Education

At the U.S. Open, fans came for the franchise names. Ticket prices were trimmed to fill the stands.

What the crowd got instead was a masterclass in doubles.

It wasn’t just tennis—it was Torvill and Dean on a court: precision, timing, and coordinated movement. The fans expected fireworks. They walked away talking about geometry, poaching, and anticipation.

How to Play Winning Doubles

To win in doubles, stop playing singles with a partner. Start playing doubles:

  • Play the Diamond – Shift with your partner on every shot. Protect the middle, close the angles, and make opponents hit the low-percentage ball.

  • Serve & Return With Purpose – Serves should feed your partner. Returns should be crosscourt, low, or lobbed to disrupt formations and keep the net player honest.

  • Stay Mentally Sharp – Keep your eyes outward on cues and patterns. Use quick rituals—like a simple ball squeeze—to reset and stay calm under pressure.

  • ABC: Always Be Closing – Move forward behind deep shots, poach the floaters, and keep opponents under constant net pressure.

Whisperer Wrap

This year’s U.S. Open mixed doubles was designed as a showcase for singles stars. Instead, it has become a clinic on the geometry and psychology of doubles. Errani and Vavassori—last year’s champions and already richer semifinalists this year—are proving the point.

From Flushing Meadows to Sydney Badge, the lesson is the same:

Doubles really is a different game. And those who master the diamond, the net, and the partnership—always win.  

And of course, it helps if you have a consistent volley!

Source: Getty Images

PS: Errani and Vavassori didn’t just make the semis — they won it in classic doubles fashion: 6/3, 5/7, 10/6 in the match tiebreaker. Another reminder that when the pressure’s highest, the doubles specialists know exactly how to finish the job.

The Underarm Serve: Errani’s Masterstroke

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The Underarm Serve: Errani’s Masterstroke

Most of Howie’s midweek group are appalled at Errani’s serve.  They are purists, to say the least. Some even question whether it’s legal.

But the results speak for themselves: Sara Errani, at 38, remains a force on the pro tour, a Golden Slam-winning doubles specialist who has mastered a serve few dare to try.

Sara Errani stood at match point in the Billie Jean King Cup semifinal, staring down Iga Świątek, one of the world’s best. Then, she served—underarm.  What followed was not a gimmick or an act of desperation. It was a masterclass in adaptability, executed by a player who has turned a perceived weakness into one of the game’s more potent weapons.

Michael Chang: The Original Underarmer

Long before Sara Errani brought the underarm serve into the women’s spotlight, Michael Chang executed one of the most famous underarm serves in tennis history—on match point, no less. It was the 1989 French Open, and Chang, just 17 years old, was battling severe cramps in a fourth-round clash against world No. 1 Ivan Lendl. Barely able to move, Chang pulled out an underarm serve late in the fifth set. It caught Lendl completely off guard. Chang went on to win the match and ultimately the tournament, becoming the youngest male Grand Slam champion in history.

Reframing Weakness into a Weapon

Errani’s story is unique. Standing at just 5’5”, she lacks the height and power of today’s big servers. For years, her serve was mocked, criticized, even meme’d. But instead of hiding from it, she embraced the challenge, building a tactical repertoire around placement, variation, and surprise.

The underarm serve wasn’t born from whimsy—it was born from necessity. When her regular serve began collapsing under pressure—most notably with severe yips in 2019—Errani made a radical decision: she would serve underarm entirely during a tournament in Paraguay. The reaction was brutal, but the outcome was revealing: she reached the final.

A Strategic Statement, Not a Trick Shot

While players like Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik deploy the underarm serve for flair, Errani does it with a surgeon’s precision. Against Świątek, it wasn’t about showmanship. It was about starting the point on her terms—controlling tempo, rhythm, and positioning.

As she explained:

“I don’t try to make winners. I just try to make kick, make slice… sometimes is better for me to serve not that fast, because if you serve fast the ball is coming back faster.”

Is It Legal Under the Rules?

Yes—the underarm serve is completely legal under the rules of tennis. The only requirement for a valid serve is that the ball must be hit before it touches the ground and must land in the appropriate service box. There is no rule that requires the server to strike the ball overhand. As long as the motion is continuous and the ball is not thrown and allowed to bounce, the underarm serve is fair game—even in professional play. That’s what makes it such a disruptive, underutilized weapon.

Why It Disrupts Timing

What makes the underarm serve so difficult to return is that it fundamentally breaks the rhythm most players rely on. At every level of tennis, returners are trained to read toss height, racquet swing, and body rotation to time their split step and initiate their backswing. The underarm serve removes all of that. It comes slower, lower, and earlier than expected—often before the returner has even completed their split.

This plays havoc with players who “quick hit” the return—those who rely on the ball’s pace to time a sharp, early contact. Suddenly they’re forced to generate their own power on a floating ball that arrives below knee height, with no predictable trajectory. The result? Mis-hits, awkward footwork, or mistimed aggression. Even top pros like Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz have been caught out by Errani’s underarm, proving that disruption can be just as deadly as power.

Expect Scorn

Even so, if you decide to use the underarm serve, be prepared for derision and scorn. Tennis purists often view it as unsportsmanlike or beneath the standards of “proper” play. You might face eye-rolls, muttered comments, or even outright ridicule—from opponents, spectators, and yes, even your own teammates. But as Errani has proven time and again, winning changes the narrative. If you’re confident in your intent, unbothered by tradition, and smart about when to deploy it, the underarm serve can be a bold, effective answer to pressure—not a sign of weakness.

From Panic to Process: The Psychological Shift

Errani’s journey with the serve reflects the essence of mental resilience. Her coach advised her to serve underarm for a full tournament to liberate her mind. That decision echoes the “Practice Under Pressure” and “Adaptive Strategies” discussed in sports psychology: face the fear head-on, and reclaim control.

She also leans on breathing routines and visualization, managing match-day nerves that once crippled her ability to toss the ball.

For Competitive Players

The underarm serve isn’t a shortcut. It’s a reminder that tennis intelligence can outplay raw firepower.

Errani’s decision to lean into discomfort turned her serve into a disruptor—a shot that rattled Świątek, flummoxed Fritz, and helped Errani secure a Golden Slam in doubles.

Want to Try It? 

  • Practice under pressure. Don’t save it for matches. Test it during high-intensity drills.

  • Pair it with variety. Mix it with slice and kick serves to create unpredictability.

  • Use it selectively. Against deep returners or when protecting a second serve.

  • Own the moment. Confidence is everything. Commit, don’t hesitate.

Wrap

The underarm serve isn’t weak—it’s wise.  Errani didn’t just revive a controversial shot—she redefined it.

The Art of Hard Court Doubles

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Has Hypnosis Been Applied in Tennis?

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Has Hypnosis Been Applied in Tennis?

Rachel asks whether hypnosis has been used in mental conditioning in tennis.

The answer is yes—tennis professionals and sports psychologists have explored hypnosis techniques to enhance mental focus, reduce anxiety, and improve performance under pressure.

Notable Examples:

  • Tennis legends including Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Jimmy Connors, and Martina Navratilova have publicly credited mental conditioning, including hypnosis or visualization, for their success (Village Hypnotherapy).

  • A review in Frontiers in Psychology supports hypnosis as an effective mental training method for managing stress, enhancing focus, and boosting performance in sport (Frontiers in Psychology).

Mixed Evidence:

  • One study evaluating hypnosis and progressive relaxation in tennis training found no significant performance improvement compared to standard coaching over the long term, suggesting effectiveness depends on context and implementation (Academia.edu).

Tennis Ball Squeeze: A Scientific Parallel

One of the most validated and comparable tools is the “tennis ball squeeze” method, developed by Professor Jürgen Beckmann.

While not traditional hypnosis, this neuromuscular priming technique—a form of embodied cognition—alters brain function to reduce performance anxiety. The method involves squeezing a tennis ball with the left hand for 10–15 seconds before serving, which has been shown to stabilize performance under stress by calming the brain’s motor control center.

Hypnosis and Guided Imagery in Sport

Hypnosis and guided visualization techniques have long been employed in elite sport to help athletes:

  • Enter relaxed, focused states

  • Visualize successful performance outcomes

  • Reinforce confident behaviors

  • Regulate emotional arousal

In tennis, these tools can be critical for:

  • Mental recovery between points

  • Handling momentum shifts

  • Sustaining focus and intensity throughout a match

Complementary Mental Conditioning Techniques

To maximize effectiveness, hypnosis or guided imagery should be integrated with:

  • Visualization

  • Breathing routines

  • Pre-match rituals

  • Mindfulness techniques

When combined with behavior design principles like those from Atomic Habits, these strategies can support the creation of mentally resilient, high-performance routines.

Wrap

Hypnosis in tennis isn’t just a theoretical concept—it’s a proven tool used by champions and backed by psychology.
While results can vary based on individual receptivity and application method, it remains a valuable option for players looking to strengthen their mental edge.

Lessons from the Badge Semi-Final

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Atmane’s Evolution: From Banging to Relentless Patterns

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Atmane’s Evolution: From Banging to Relentless Patterns

The newly expanded 96-player draw in Cincinnati gave Térence Atmane a lifeline — a spot in qualifying. He seized it, beating Yoshihito Nishioka to reach the main draw, then taking down Flavio Cobolli, João Fonseca, Taylor Fritz, and Holger Rune.

Cincinnati’s fast, low-bouncing hard courts, with their skidding ball speed, are tailor-made for his game. The surface rewards his first-strike instincts, amplifies his lefty serve, and keeps opponents from settling into long exchanges.

The Weapons Were Always There

Atmane has never lacked firepower — a left-handed serve that carves the court wide, a forehand that can rip through defenses, and angles that drag opponents into awkward recovery patterns.

What he hasn’t had is stability. His Challenger career yielded a 74–48 record before Cincinnati, but in 2025 he was just 19–10 despite two titles, his results swinging wildly from dangerous to erratic.

The last two seasons brought turbulence: a near-default at the 2024 French Open after hitting a spectator, the loss of his Asics sponsorship, and boos from the Philippe-Chatrier crowd after a flat 2025 French Open loss to Richard Gasquet.

A Mental Reset

After the Gasquet defeat, Atmane told Tennis Channel he wanted to be “more healthy, more happy.” It marked a shift from chasing only results to building daily habits that sustain performance.

He’s traded emotional volatility for adaptive mental strategies — match-day rituals, reset cues, and positive self-talk (shades of Draper) — giving his raw power a framework for consistency.

Inside the Patterns: How He’s Winning Points

Wide Forehand Setup: Lefty Geometry: One of his most effective plays this week has been the wide forehand setup — a nod to the Nadal variation, but executed with his own aggression. From the ad court, he serves wide to the backhand, forcing a stretched return. That gives him time to step around and crack a forehand crosscourt, opening the angle even further. With his opponent pulled far off the court, the next ball is an inside-out forehand into open space — precision meets geometry.

Short/Long Combo: Disrupting the Rally Rhythm: When rallies settle into neutral patterns, Atmane uses the short/long combo. He’ll carve a short, angled forehand that yanks his opponent forward, often on the run. As they scramble back, he picks his strike — a passing shot threading the gap or a deep lob that flips the point back in his favor. It’s a rhythm-breaker that unsettles even the most reliable baseliners.

Wrong-Foot Redirect: Timing Meets Deception: His improved timing and awareness are on full display with the wrong-foot backhand redirect. Taking the ball early, often as his opponent moves back to center, he sends it down the line — not into open space, but directly into their recovery path. The surprise forces an awkward adjustment, creating errors or easy finishes at the net.

Wrap

Cincinnati could be the turning point that transforms Térence Atmane from an unpredictable outsider into a player with top-20 potential.

His next challenge is Jannik Sinner in the semifinals — a meeting of two players with contrasting styles and very different routes to this stage.

Source: Cincinnati Open

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Keep Turning Up: The Mindset That Changes Matches

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Keep Turning Up: The Mindset That Changes Matches

Golfer Tommy Fleetwood knows the walk.  Final-round tension, leaderboard glances, cameras following.  And yet — no PGA Tour trophy in his hands.

He’s widely considered the best player without a win — a tag no one wants, but one he’s carried with grace. His close calls are many, his skill undeniable, but the breakthrough hasn’t arrived.

Tennis has its own versions of this storyline. Think David Ferrer, who reached a Grand Slam final and stayed in the top five for years without winning a major. Or Elena Dementieva, who played multiple Slam finals and won Olympic gold, but never claimed a major trophy. Like Fleetwood, they lived in the rare air of constant contention, week after week, without the crowning moment.

The Invisible Hurdle

Fleetwood’s challenge isn’t mechanical — he’s a world-class ball striker with multiple European Tour wins. The real opponent?

  • History’s shadow – Each time in contention, the whisper comes: Here we go again.
  • Expectation weight – Every point or shot feels heavier because of what’s at stake.
  • Anxiety’s trap – Playing to avoid failure instead of playing to win.

As Davis Love III says, “It’s a mental battle to not play for something other than one shot at a time.” Any tennis player who’s tightened up serving out a match in the third set knows exactly what he means.

Why Showing Up Matters

Performance psychology shows that repeated close calls can cause overthinking. The brain, trying to protect itself from the pain of past losses, tenses when the moment comes again.

The key is to keep showing up anyway.  Fleetwood himself put it best:  “I would way rather be there and fail than not be there at all.”

In tennis, the same holds true. Being in the fight — whether in the semis of your club championship or at the sharp end of a Badge finals match — is proof of belonging, not failure.

A Lesson From My Coaching Days

When I coached juniors in the US, I made a deal with my students: they had to play 10 tournaments over the summer. Why? Because no one knows when the breakthrough will come.

I secretly hoped it wouldn’t happen in the first couple — that early rush of winning can tempt young players to overplay and risk injury. But by tournament eight or nine, something deeper took hold. Turning up wasn’t just about chasing a trophy anymore; it became a life lesson in resilience.

They learned to:

  • Compete when tired
  • Focus after disappointment
  • Trust that persistence is its own kind of win.

The Takeaway

Fleetwood’s story — and those of Ferrer, Dementieva, and countless other players — proves that persistence is a skill.

When the breakthrough comes, it won’t be magic. It will be the natural outcome of showing up, again and again, long after it would’ve been easier to stay home.

Whisperer Tip: Keep turning up.

When the win comes, it won’t mark the beginning of your story — it will simply be the next chapter in your tennis development, forged through resilience.

The Silent Match-Loser in Badge: Unforced Errors

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The Silent Match-Loser in Badge: Unforced Errors

I still remember, as a kid learning tennis, going up against “the puddler” — that maddening opponent who never seemed to do anything but float the ball back to the middle of the court. Point after point, I’d try to blast my way through, only to miss and gift them another point. I was small, without the weapons to finish a point, clueless about court positioning, and far too impatient to play the long game. My young mind couldn’t wrap itself around one simple, infuriating question: how could you possibly lose to someone who never attacked?

The answer, of course, was simple: unforced errors.

What They Are — And Why They Matter

An unforced error is a mistake entirely within your control — no brilliant winner from your opponent, no impossible retrieval. Just a shot you should have made, but didn’t.

While the frequency of these errors generally decreases as standards rise, they never vanish. Even in Badge tennis, they are often the biggest deciding factor in a match.

Some are more painful than others. Failing to return a weak second serve — particularly in doubles, and especially when you dump the return into the net — is a serial offender. Other classic examples include:

  • Missing a routine volley with the court wide open

  • Overhitting an approach shot with no real pressure on the swing

  • Netting a slow sitter in the middle of the court

  • Double-faulting on a crucial point

  • Sailing a ball long when you had time to set up perfectly

The sting isn’t just in losing the point — it’s in knowing the outcome was entirely in your hands.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Roughly 30% of professional tennis points end with an unforced error. The best in history keep their rates unusually low:

  • Bjorn Borg → 4.9%

  • Rafael Nadal → 5.4%

  • Roger Federer → 8.2%

By comparison, the average Sydney Badge player will often see 35–45% of points end in a UFE — and in scrappy, high-pressure matches (especially against “puddlers”), that number can surge past 50%.

At Badge level, matches are often decided not by who hits the most winners, but by who can hand over the fewest free points.

Why It’s a Match-Changer in Badge

At pro level, shaving 5% off your UFE rate can swing a match. In Badge, where UFE counts are often much higher, the impact is even bigger. If you normally give away 40% of points through UFEs and you can bring that down to 30%, you’ll win far more matches — without improving a single other aspect of your game.

The Psychology of Control

Reducing unforced errors in Badge isn’t about playing “safe” tennis — it’s about disciplined execution under pressure:

  • Balance — hold posture through your shot so the ball stays on target

  • Footwork — small, precise prep steps to arrive balanced

  • Mental resets — breathing, self-talk, and rituals to stop one mistake becoming three

  • Training habits — making consistency automatic through repetition

Why UFEs in Doubles Can Be Easier to Manage

In doubles, you start in a winning position — right at the net. That positioning forces errors from your opponents and gives you high-percentage volleys to finish points quickly. Because rallies are shorter, there’s less time for UFEs to creep in — but the same rule applies: the team that gives away fewer free points almost always wins.

So how do you handle it when your partner makes a UFE? Nobody deliberately misses a shot, so be sympathetic — especially if they were doing the right thing tactically. In those moments, your role is to be encouraging, not critical. Remember, even a strong doubles team will still win only about 60% of points they play, so the occasional miss is not just inevitable — it’s part of the game. A quick nod, a smile, or a “good look” can keep your team’s confidence rolling into the next point.

How to Start Winning the UFE Battle

  • Track your mistakes — chart your UFEs in matches and notice patterns.

  • Consistency  — aim for 50+ rally balls deep-to-deep groundies and volleys without an error in practice

  • Simulate match pressure — assign penalties for UFEs in practice sets.  You lose 3 points when you hit the ball into the net.

  • Have a reset plan — deep breath, ritual, and a tactical target after every error.

Whisperer Tip:

In Badge tennis, you don’t have to be the biggest hitter to win — but you do have to be the one who gives away fewer free points. Control what you can control, and you’ll control the match.