Julie Des Jardin
Donโt let the title fool you. Our goal at Tennis Life Magazine is to give you the tips and tools you need to win matches, not lose them. However, sometimes, pointing out the most common costly mistakes (and offering corrective suggestions, of course) is just what players need to help them recognize those patterns in their own games and, hopefully, fix them faster.
When we sat down to think about the ways there are to lose a tennis match, we had no idea there were so many! So, for this article, we narrowed it down to our top 10 things that recreational players do most often that can cost them not only their games but their matches.
Going for winnersย from behind the baseline.
There is a time and place to rip a winner, but standing behind the baseline is not one of themโฆ unless you are Federer. Then, by all means, rip away.
When youโre behind the baseline, you have a lot more open court to cover. You will have to hit the ball harder and risk hitting out or into the net. Instead, be patient as you keep the point going, and save the winners for when you are inside the baseline for those shorter balls.
Swinging on high floating volleys inside the service box.
A floater is a gift. Your opponent is already backing up, dreading the consequence. DO NOT return the gift with either a long ball or a deep one โthey might get it back for a winner of their own.
Instead, use your short-angled volley, keeping the ball in and as far away from the opponent as possible.
Hitting the same first or second serve for the entire match.
This is one of the ways that most recreational players at least lose their service games. I mean, even if you have pace and spin, your opponent will eventually figure it out and use it against you. Rather, you should mix it up with different speeds and placement. Keep them wondering what youโll do next. On a big point, hit a more conservative first serve to ensure it goes in. If youโre up 5-2 and serving 40-15, go for a big first serve aiming at one of the lines because you have a solid โscore cushion.โ And if you miss it, do it again for the second serve. They wonโt be expecting that at all. Rememberโฆyou have a score cushion.
Hitting groundstrokes into the net.
If you canโt get the ball over the net, you literally have zero chance of winning the point. Aim for about 5 feet above the net and use your topspin. If youโre at or behind the baseline, make sure to hit hard, as the topspin will bring the ball down into your opponentโs court.
Trying to put away overheads from behind the service line.
Trying to put away an overhead from the baseline is pretty much the same thing as trying to ace your opponent. You donโt want to risk hitting it into the net, so instead, be patient and wait for a putaway at the net.
Not changing up a losing game plan.
If itโs not working and you donโt change it, it will continue to NOT WORK. If youโve lost the first set badly, change it up. Do everything you havenโt done yet, and then figure out what works best.
Having only one game plan.
Like number 6, only worse. If your A-game isnโt working, then you need a B-gameโฆand maybe even a C or D-game. Never just have a game A because you will be too easy to figure out.
Take a few doubles drills and learn new strategies and tactics, and then use them in your practice matches.ย
Hitting drop shots from behind the baseline.
Unless you are Rogerโฆ or Serenaโฆ or Novakโฆor Nadalโฆ(you get what I mean), do notโฆI repeatโฆDO NOT attempt a drop shot from behind the baseline. It will be easy for your opponent to read, and if it even clears the net, you might be too far behind the baseline to run in when they return your drop shot with one of their own.
Drop shots are much easier to make when you are inside the baseline.
Insisting on playing how you want instead of how to win.
If you donโt want to win, then play whatever game you like. But if you want to win, then PLAY. TO. WIN. If your opponent loves pace, then take the pace off. If they hate coming inโฆ feed them drop shots. If they love coming in, lob them to death.ย Play however your opponent DOESNโT like to play.
Using a game plan or tactics that you really donโt own yet.
Anything you havenโt mastered that you havenโt quite figured out how to deliverโฆ donโt do it in a competitive match. You will be setting yourself up for errors. Instead, use the shots you are most comfortable with and use the placement of those shots as your weapon.
BONUS:
Playing every point without considering the score.
Always play the score. Your shots should not be the same if you are up 5-2, serving at 40-0, versus if the score is 4-5, and youโre serving at 40-40. Keep the ball in at all costs on big points (make your opponent beat you!), and save those bigger, riskier shots when you have some โscore cushion.โ
Do any of these ways to lose a tennis match apply to you? If so, try our solutions and win more matches!