Mistake:  Players make the mistake of waiting for a ball that they could move in to get.  They compound the error by hitting from a stand still position and then rush the net.  When you do this, you are more susceptible to the lob.  Correction: Close on the volley, don’t volley and close.  By closing in as you volley you use momentum and time to your advantage.  Plus being closer to net at time of contact usually means more angle opportunity.

Mistake:  Players hit shots that don’t protect the position of the team.  A good example is when a player is five feet behind the baseline off balance and tries to pass the net player with a down the line drive.  Knowing when to go to a smaller part of the court is based on height and speed of incoming ball as well as your overall court position at time of striking ball.  If I am inside the baseline and the ball is a floater that lands just past the service line, well then I have more options.  Correction:  If you have time, balance, and court position in your favor, your accuracy will increase.  That’s the time to find smaller areas.

Mistake:  Over covering the alley as the net player in doubles.  Mrs. overprotective alley parent is what I like to call this player. This player wants to guard 3 ½ feet of real estate like it was Fort Knox.  Rather than taking away the middle of the court, they leave it as open space for opponents’ future prime real estate development.  Getting beat down the line once in awhile is better than getting beat all day in the middle of the court.  Correction:  Poach twice on the same returner than fake poaching and defend the line.  Keep returner off balance this way.

Mistake:  Players tend to react after the opponent hits the ball.  Correction: Read your own shot or your partners’ shot.   If you understand immediately what position you just put your opponent in – offensive, defensive, or neutral, you then put yourself in a better position to react.  So many opportunities arise when you learn to what extent your shot has affected your opponent.

Mistake:    Approaches net randomly rather than following basic approach shot rules.  Well, I hit three crosscourt shots so let’s do something different, hey; I think I’ll approach.  No rhyme or reason is one good reason to lose.  If you hit a weak shot, they will hit a strong shot.  If you hit a neutral shot they will hit a neutral or offensive shot.  If you hit a strong shot, they will hit a weak shot.  This game repeats itself.  Play based on learned instincts.  Correction:  If you feel the incoming ball pulling you toward the net, then approach.  If it’s just a step or two inside the baseline don’t.

Mistake:  On big points player fails to hit to open court or fails to attack weak side.   If I have time on a passing shot against a 3.0 player, I will try to hit to the backhand volley or lob the backhand side since that is a 3.0’s weakness, generally.  Correction:  On big points hit to weaker side or weaker player and make them beat you with plan B.

Mistake:  Hits passing shots as all or nothing as if  they don’t want their opponent to volley.  Correction:  Don’t be afraid to make a volleyer volley.   Practice passing shots that land on or just beyond the service line.  By the way, a lob is a passing shot, so for those that never lob, we know it.  Lob once in awhile will ya.  Hey, you who lob all the time.  Keep it up.  I see overheads as a very difficult thing for club players.  The fact is lobbing keeps the game going.

Mistake:  Player hits high volleys to player standing near baseline rather than through the middle or net players side.   Correction:  The player that is standing deeper has more time to react.  It’s that simple; so find the court between both players or attack the closest player.

Mistake:  When poaching, player makes the mistake of hitting back behind themselves to the deep crosscourt player .  This leaves the line wide open for your opponent. Correction:  Hit in the direction that you are poaching most of the time.  If you go back crosscourt, hit short angle.

Mistake:  Player tries too often to hit outright winners off a second serve return.  It just isn’t possible most of the time.  Correction:  Learn to limit your thinking about hitting outright winners and instead hit aggressively to a target area and be ready to finish on the next ball.

Playing fundamental tennis means doing what is right consistently throughout a match not just randomly.  So remember that fundamentals are there for a reason.  They are building blocks to success.  Use them wisely and winning becomes fundamental.