1) Don’t try shots that you don’t practice. Whether you are behind or ahead by a mile against your opponent, don’t ever try to do this. Stick to your winning game plan and walk away for your next match. Weekend players tend to be playful when they are ahead. In the process, they lose their concentration and start struggling to get back to the game.
2) Don’t go to tennis class for nothing. Define your strokes issues with your tennis instructor. So he can organize a program to improve your weakness or correct your game flaws. If you have concern on your backhand, tell this to the teacher right away.
3) Don’t decelerate your swing. There are two reasons why should accelerate your swing:
It allows you to hit the ball even if you are late. And secondly, you achieve follow through in your swing movement, which is very important to realize power. If your ball starts to fly off the court, make an adjustment instead of decelerating your swing.
4) Don’t hit the lines. As you will notice in professional tennis, players don’t hit the lines.
Their balls land just barely beyond the service line. If the pros don’t this, there is no reason why weekend players will do it.
5) Don’t be a one-dimensional player. You just can’t live with your forehand and backhand skills alone. You should also learn the net game, volley game and smash game. I bet that you will not only win more matches. You will enjoy the game as well.
6) Don’t rush your shot. Many weekend players misfire their shots not because they are less skilled. It happens because they rush their shots. Try to wait for the ball to go down and hit it. It won’t be long that you will notice some consistency in your game.
7) Don’t go to court without a plan. Whether it is an official match or a friendly game, it is still competition. Tennis players would always say that losing does not bother them. But actually it does. So what is the plan? If serve and volley game plan does not work, stay in the baseline for awhile. If passing shot is off, try the lob game.
