Tennis Tactics - United States Tennis Association

Tennis Tactics

by United States Tennis Association

NEW, 248 pages

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About Tennis Tactics

Match point. Your opponent hits a deep-sliced approach shot to your backhand. To neutralize this attack and regain control of the point, you retaliate with a crosscourt passing shot, low with topspin. Your opponent is forced to return a weak volley to the open court, and you win the point with a passing shot down the line. Game, set, and match.

This is just one of the many winning strategies you`ll find in Tennis Tactics: Winning Patterns of Play. It`s the first book to break down what shots to make and when to make them. You`ll learn how to plan your shot selection in competition and put yourself in the best possible position to win every point.

Based on an extensive USTA study of actual tournament play by the game`s top athletes, Tennis Tactics describes 58 patterns—repeated shot sequences—that will emphasize your strengths and exploit your opponents` weaknesses. It contains 63 drills that show you how to practice the patterns and make them part of your routine during match play. Competitive players, coaches, and instructors will love the book`s simple approach for practice and play.

Tennis Tactics reviews sound, time-tested strategic principles, then explains how they apply to patterns of play. You`ll learn how to choose patterns that fit your style of play, whether you`re an all-court player, a counterpuncher, an aggressive baseliner, or a serve-and-volleyer.

Next, the book provides strategies and tactics for different areas of the court. You`ll learn how to execute 58 patterns for

• backcourt (26),
• midcourt (8),
• net play (8), and
• defensive play (16).

For each pattern, the book describes and illustrates corresponding practice drills that will help you get an edge on the competition. A Pattern Finder chart helps you quickly locate the shot combinations you want to study and incorporate into your game.

Make your practice sessions pay off in competition by using the drills and mastering the patterns in Tennis Tactics: Winning Patterns of Play.

About UTSA

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the governing body for tennis in the United States. Its mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The USTA's membership includes more than 500,000 individuals and nearly 6,500 organizations, including schools, park and recreation departments, community tennis associations, and tennis clubs.

The USTA is widely known as the owner and operator of the U.S. Open Championships, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in worldwide tennis competition. It also sponsors amateur tennis competition for players of all ages and abilities. More than 5 million schoolchildren are introduced to tennis each year through USTA school programs, and opportunities for further instruction and play are provided by a menu of USTA entry-level programs.

A full range of player development and sport-science programs is offered at Player Development Headquarters in Key Biscayne, Florida, at 120 Area Training Centers throughout the country, and in communities (through a network of Local Excellence Training Programs). In addition, the USTA emphasizes coaching education and development through an ambitious offering of coaching seminars, workshops, and conferences. It works closely with the two major organizations certifying coaches—the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR)—together accounting for more than 18,000 members.

Ron Woods, director of player development for the USTA, wrote Tennis Tactics with the help of the USTA sport-science staff and coaches. Woods is responsible for planning and implementing programs that help players—from beginners to veterans in the professional ranks—achieve their maximum potential.

Woods is also a senior staff member for the USTA committees in charge of player development, sport science, Olympic tennis, junior competition, and collegiate tennis. A former member of the International Tennis Federation's Coaches Commission, he serves on the coaching committee of the U.S. Olympic Committee. The USPTA honored him as 1982 National Coach of the Year and designated him a Master Professional in 1984. Ron is also an honorary member of the USPTR.

Reviews of this Book

"Play like a pro! Tennis Tactics brings you the perfect blend of the mental and physical aspects of the game. Learn the strategies and how to practice them, then see the results when you compete."

Todd Martin
Professional Tennis Player

"Winning matches depends on the ability to think fast. This book helps you put together patterns and strategies to do just that."

Lindsay Davenport
Professional Tennis Player
Women's Tennis Association

About Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs.

The modern game of tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis" which has close connections to various field/lawn games as well as to the ancient game of real tennis. Up to then, "tennis" referred to the latter sport: for example, in Disraeli's novel Sybil (1845), Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will "go down to Hampton Court and play tennis. As it is the Derby [classic horse race], nobody will be there". After its creation, lawn tennis spread throughout the upper-class English-speaking population before spreading around the world.

The rules of tennis have not changed much since the 1890s. Two exceptions are that from 1908 to 1961 the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times, and the adoption of the tie-break in the 1970s. A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of electronic review technology coupled with a point challenge system, which allows a player to challenge the line (or chair) umpire's call of a point. Players have unlimited opportunity to challenge, but once three incorrect challenges are made in a set, they cannot challenge again until the next set. If the set goes to a tie break, players are given one additional opportunity to challenge the call. This electronic review, currently called Hawk-Eye, is available at a limited number of high-level ATP and WTA tournaments.

Tennis is enjoyed by millions of recreational players and is also a hugely popular worldwide spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments (also referred to as the "Majors"): the Australian Open played on hard courts, the French Open played on red clay courts, Wimbledon played on grass courts, and the US Open played also on hard courts.

Tennis Tactics