November 8, 2008 
TENNISFRANCE.net - Ultimate Tennis Player's Vacation
Click here to see more information on TENNISFRANCE.net. Andy Murray's Backhand - ProStrokes 2.0 Feature This Week
See sample of Andy Murray's backhand in ProStrokes 2.0 Slow-Motion in this week's edition.
Perception of Success: How We Judge Our Improvement David W. Smith, Senior Editor TennisOne This past week, I was asked to speak at a tennis club in south Orange County in Southern California. The topic of my on and off-court lecture was my Advanced Foundation, the principle of training all players using methodology that does not have to change for higher levels of achieved skill. This newsletter is not a recap of that lecture, but a review of what one player mentioned in the way of feedback regarding what she had learned. This woman’s response was an eye-opener for me, in terms of recognizing how players can perceive their success and whether or not that perception will allow them to move to higher levels of play. Note that all the players attending were there because they wanted to reach higher skill levels. It could be surmised that all were hoping to learn something that would give them a leg-up on the competition. We can safely say that most people who attend clinics, workshops, lessons, and camps, are hoping to improve their game and become better players. Yet, many players fail to improve from because of a few, critical factors. This newsletter will focus on one such factor. Current Success The comment that triggered this newsletter was written by a 3.5 level, 35 year old female who plays quite often, attends clinics and lessons, and competes regularly in USTA league programs. The comment was this: “I learned a lot. However, the serve information might be difficult for me. I already can get my serve in and get a couple aces on my serve each set.” On the surface, it would appear this woman had a legitimate concern as to learning something that might limit her current success. Yet, it is this very perception that prevents the vast majority of players from moving out of the 3.0 or 3.5 levels and into more and more highly competitive and skilled play. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with players who play at these levels. However, the vast majority of players tend to stagnate there for life. Yet, so many wish and dream and practice with the goal of improving to the next level. This woman’s perception of success, and millions of others like her, can not only prevent the acquisition of skilled tennis progressions, it can insure stagnation, even among those who are fully capable of reaching higher levels of play. Why would such a perception or statement do this? Anyone who seeks to improve and reach their potential must understand the limitation of such a perception. Success at higher levels Typically, a 3.0 or 3.5 level player’s “success” is often not the result of more effective shot-making, but a failure of opponents at such levels to respond correctly to shots and strategies. In other words, an “ACE” against a 3.5 level opponent may very well be ripped and pulverized by a 4.5 level player.
One can’t simply use success at lower levels as a tool to evaluate whether a player is actually on the right track towards reaching higher levels of play within a player’s potential. In the example I mentioned at the beginning of this newsletter, the woman who was afraid of changing her serve for fear of losing its “successful” nature (against her current level of opponent), had a very flat serve (almost an “underspin” serve) that was effective when it landed in against her 3.5 level opponents. However, such a serve would not only be very ineffective against higher level players, it would also severely limit her ability to hit more aggressive second serves. So, by trying not to lose her “perceived” level of skill, this woman could not recognize the overall limitations of her current service technique and as a result, she missed an opportunity to work towards continued improvement of her serve. Typically, it will take such an individual several years at the same level before she recognizes that she is not improving the quality or effectiveness of her serve. (Or, at least until she sees other students passing her up!) Misplaced Success A similar situation occurs when a player tries certain shots over and over, experiencing success periodically with such play. For example, a player can try a down-the-line passing shot against a net player in doubles; a shot that is considered low percentage by most pros and skilled players. Yet, a player who makes the shot every fourth time believes he is successful simply because he's won a point every so often. Of course, all of us know that winning one out of four points with a particular shot (if used often enough) will result in a loss anyway you look at it! Unfortunately, a shot such as that just mentioned, offers a “reward” in that the player executing the shot gains a sense of satisfaction because the shot is indeed difficult. Thus, a player trying it many times will usually experience some success, impressing those who see that one successful shot. Yet, such players seldom win matches because they are playing low percentage shots too often. Advanced Foundation Success Players need to recognize shot techniques that lead to more advanced play. Methods that are only successful against lower level players will usually result in player stagnation. Unless you want to remain at levels below your potential, you will want to make sure the techniques and methodology matches that which is recognizable at higher levels. While using such techniques won’t guarantee success, especially early on, (as it applies to winning points or matches), players who use such techniques will eventually master those patterns and methods to the point where they will become more consistent as well as effective. I have a favorite phrase: “If we avoid that which we want to achieve, we will only achieve that which we want to avoid.” Players who remain complacent at lower skill levels may indeed have a very difficult time moving out of those levels in time. There is a phrase I heard somewhere: “The 3.5 level players have all the trophies.” This is usually true because players who only use 3.5 level strokes and techniques tend to stay at these levels for life. Those who are using more advanced and effective swing patterns usually lose to these “experienced” 3.5 ‘lifers’…the first few times they play. But players who are working hard on their games and who recognize and develop more advanced stroke patterns usually pass up these 3.5 level opponents and end up playing in much higher level events. Thus, those who stay at the 3.5 levels end up winning many trophies…but never at higher levels! You know these players from your own club. Do you want to be one of them? (Click link to purchase Dave Smith's Book Tennis Mastery, at tenniswarehouse.com.) As always, we would love to hear from you! Questions, comments, personal experiences all create helpful dialogue for everyone! Please click here to send us your email.
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