Tennis is a very demanding sport—Im sure we can all agree on that! It is very rare to have a session where everything feels perfect on court. Even after all the years that I have played for, with an extreme amount of hours on the practice court, we constantly encounter days where something just feels off. Every court has a different bounce, each ball has a different feel to it, the wind factor, and many other factors that can change the game. If this happens to you; Don’t worry, it happens to everyone. That is why it is important to develop many tools in order to adjust and problem solve.
On the positive side, There is ALWAYS something you can work on. The best players are those who are able to get the most out of every practice session. Going out to the practice court with a plan is very helpful. It can be a very physical practice or an individual session where you are digging into your game. It is important to always identify your focus for that practice and make that your purpose. If you are feeling that your volleys are off, make that practice all about ending the training session with better volleys.
The following tips will help you take full advantage of each practice and avoid wasting time by going through the motion.
1. Have a plan for each session: Focus on your goal
Once you have played tennis for a long time, it is easy to go through the motions during a practice. This is a terrible habit that needs to be avoided at all costs. Each time that you step on a court, you must identify what you will focus on for that session. By having a plan and focusing on something specific, you can really use your time on court to improve. Don’t know how? Try the following ideas.
- Choose a shot that you are struggling with: Even if you feel that your entire game is falling apart, just pick one specific shot that you want to shift our focus on for that practice. I tend to need a lot of specific work on my backhand; I dedicate a lot of time to simply get reps in to build confidence.
- Share your ideas: Make sure to express to your coach or hitting partner what you would like to focus on that day. It will help to keep you accountable, while also listening to their feedback.
- Evaluate yourself: I find it very helpful to keep track of my training sessions. I always keep a notebook in the side compartment of Axiom Tennis Bag. I write down what I will focus on and write down key points throughout my practice. At the end, writing down what you noticed that changed and improved also helps to build confidence.
2. Organize your practice: Create Time Blocks
Creating a plan that has different phases during your practice can help. Many players struggle to stay engaged for a long period of time while working on the same stroke. If you plan to have a longer session; create a plan that gives you the opportunity to divide your practice into different blocks. Structuring your practice will help you to stay engaged and not space out. Here’s an example of the layout that I use in order to structure my practices.
- Warm up: After completing a full body warm up, I start by hitting up the middle and getting my movement and swing going. I use this time to prepare for a great practice.
- Communicating my Purpose: After warming up, I take a moment to go over my intentions for that practice with my coach. Listening to his opinions and the drills we will be doing.
- Block A: I use the first time block of the practice to fully engage and work on something specific (Example: hitting through the court backhand)
- Block B: I use the second time block of the practice to release tension from all the repetition and drills that focused on my backhand. I shift my focus to something else (example: hitting a basket of serves) in order to not over train and allow quantity to affect my quality.
- Evaluate my practice: This is the time to review with my coach and write down in my notebook any key notes.
3. “Quality Over Quantity”
This is a phrase that I am positive that you’ve heard before! As competitive athletes, we struggle to find the balance between training smart and doing more than needed. Over training with the wrong mentality doesn’t make you better. You can be on the court for 3 hours, but if you are all over the place, you won’y get the most out of that practice. Instead, engaging for 1.5 hours with a structured plan can be more beneficial. Follow these guidelines.
- Find a time that works for you: Every player is different, there is not a right or wrong amount of time to train. Find a time that allows you to fully engage throughout the entire session and give your entire focus to it.
- Value each repetition: It is better to be fully engaged in the drill and only hit 6 balls, rather hitting 12 balls and creating bad habits by slacking on your footwork.
- Reset after each drill: Make sure that you take a moment to breath and reset in-between drills. Don’t rush—take your time. Use the towel and water that is organized in your tennis duffel bag, in order to regroup and give it your best every time.
4. Practice=Match Play
I understand that it is very difficult to fully simulate the feelings you have during a match while practicing, but you need to try your best! At the end of the day, you play the way you practice. You have to have a positive mentality while practicing in order to mimic that on match days. Use your time on court properly; every moment matters. Here’s some examples on what to pay attention to.
- Routines: Give it the same importance to complete your routines for practice sessions as you would for a tournament. Accustom yourself to have your tennis bag ready with towels, extra clothes, etc. Complete the exact physical warm up and hydration prep for both practice and matches.
- Positive expressions: Force yourself to not become too negative during practice sessions; avoid the making of that habit which could creep in during a match. Use practice to gain confidence in order to trust your hard work when you are facing a difficult moment in a big match.
- Competition drills: This has really helped me throughout my career. I like to add competitive scenarios while practicing in order to try and find that similar emotional edge.
5. Reviewing Your Daily Progress
I cannot emphasize enough on the importance of studying your game. Improvement is not only done on the court with drills. Find the time to review what is working and what is missing in your game. Identify specific parts of your game that you need to add to your practice schedule. Use a notebook in order to keep written logs about your improvements; it’s great to have them handy in case of needing to look back and refresh your memory. I have a series of questions that I like to ask myself and my coach—brainstorming together, searching for constant improvement.
- How was my intensity today?
- Any technical/tactical corrections?
- What was my level of engagement during my practice?
- Was I negative or positive?
- Do I feel like I got better and Improved my purpose of the day?
- What key points do I need to keep in mind for my next session?
Use these questions or create ones that work for you. The idea is to hold yourself accountable and make sure that you are always developing.
6. Feedback: Be coachable
Make sure to be open to receive feedback. It is not always easy to hear criticism from others, especially when you are doing the best you can in order to improve. Yet being easy to coach is important for your development as a player. Take deep breaths and understand that some aspects of the game are easier to see from the outside of the court. Try to keep your emotions under control and listen to the coaches that are trying to help you become a better tennis player.
I hope this blog helps you during your journey to becoming a better tennis player. As a pro player, I know what it is to want to find every solution that can help develop and improve my game. From now on; show up to practice with a plan and have a purpose for that session. Avoid wasting your time by just going through the motions and hitting balls back and forward. Create good habits that will build your confidence and level during matches. Identify quality over quantity while also taking the time to review your progress with your coach.
Let’s make every single swing count. Let’s continue to level up together! Let’s practice with purpose!
About the Author
Brandon Perez is a professional tennis player from Venezuela who turned pro in 2024 after a standout collegiate career at Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University. Known for his aggressive lefty playing style and South American fighting spirit, Brandon competes in both singles and doubles.