17
Match Tips: Save Your Best Stuff For When It Counts Most
17 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Justin Verlander is probably the best pitcher in Major League Baseball this year. He has lead the Detroit Tigers to one game from a sweep of the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. In the newspaper yesterday, there was an article that showed the former Cy Young Award winner averaged 91.4 mph on his pitches in the first three innings, 93.5 mph in the fourth thru sixth innings and 97.9 to get the final outs.
This tactic of starting off by holding back your best stuff works for tennis too. I think a lot of rec players make the mistake of trying to hit their best shots in the first few points and games. Like Justin Verlander, save your best for when it counts most. The key to winning tennis is conistency – not hitting screaming winners. Most players on any level, outside of Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon this year, will fail to make the screaming winners at crunch time.
Practice playing points with a friend where you can hit 10, 25, 50 shots over the net before you go for it. This will challenge your consistency and build your confidence.
Brad Gilbert said in his book “Winning Ugly” that Ivan Lendl wouldn’t crank up his best shots till the end of the set.
Try it. Try the simple tactic of hitting the first ten balls of the point deep into the court, either cross court or down the middle. Don’t give away any free points, let the opponent be the one try to hit a winner. If ten balls is too much for you, try three.
Then, the more balls you hit over the net, the more confident you are with your feel of the ball and in all probability you will take the early lead in the match. Then you will be in better position to unleash your best shots when you need them most.
(Next Tip: How mini tennis will advance your game)
Steve · October 17, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Good tip although every once in a while it’s fun to enter “beast mode” when lacing up your shoes before the match.
Dan Markowitz · October 17, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Is that Scoop Malinowski or Ivan Ljubicic?
Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Agree Steve, against really good players who hit hard and accurate you have to be sharp early. But the majority of players aren’t like that. Hugo Armando told me Nadal was doing short sprints in the tiny locker room, before they played like a raging caged bull. He played Nadal early in his career. Got the impression Nadal was doing it to pump and psyche himself up and also to intimidate.
Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Haha Dan. Also it’s been said I look like Johnny Mac, some fan at the Open said that about 10 years ago.
Steve · October 17, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Nadal is in that mode even in practice.
Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Not during the first few days before a major, saw him practice at the US Open with Lopez, nice and easy, but then he amps it up as the tourney nears. Remember Patrick McEnroe said before a Davis Cup tie in Spain on clay, Nadal was said to have a hurt knee whatever and yet he was still practicing like an animal all out for four hours a day.
Steve · October 17, 2012 at 9:02 pm
The second time Nadal served, Dr. John hit back and could’ve sworn he dislocated his shoulder in the process. “I never saw Nadal play casually,†he says in awe of the Spaniard who is in the midst of recovery from nagging knee injuries. “He’s a very intense player.â€
Dan Markowitz · October 17, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Who was that fan, Scoop, Ray Charles? I know John McEnroe, Scoop, and you’re no John McEnroe or John Kennedy, I always get those two dudes messed up. They both had bad backs.
Steve · October 18, 2012 at 9:18 am
I tried to watch Nadal practice once at the US Open but the crowd around the fence was three people deep. Amazing how popular he was becoming/is. Seemed every kid had switched to a Babolat back then and was wearing sleeveless shirts. Tennis feels out of balance without him.
I wonder how many racquets Murray helps sell…
Harold · October 18, 2012 at 11:25 am
Are you a firm believer in not giving your opponent a fair warm-up..some players push the ball back in warmups, to not give their opponents a feel for their spin or pace…
Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2012 at 11:52 am
Harold that’s just smart tactics. The art of deception. I recently played a guy in a tournament who hit a slice with every backhand in the warmup then once the match started he used primarily a looping topspin backhand. Of course I lost the first set 26 then won 63 61 but that trick worked. I remember another player in a tournament made it seem like he had no backhand, he missed about 75% in the warmup, then when the match started it was a different story. Harold most good player I play in tournaments just hit simple basic balls in the warmup, they don’t show their arsenal at all.
Harold · October 18, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Gamesmanship starting in the warmups…do people give you 5 fh volleys, 5 bh volleys or do they try to drill you in warmups?
Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Both and vice versa. I remember at a tournament where I was defending champion for like four years, a big guy was trying to intimidate me, and then he tried to nail me with two overheads in the warmup ) So depending on how the opponent treats me before, that sets the tone. You can tell quickly if the opponent is just a fair clean no BS player (many of them) or if he is going to play little tricks like What’s your name again? or just if they’re friendly, totally neutral or plain cold. But it’s all fun, I prefer someone with an edge it makes it more interesting ) Like when Djok played Roddick in Ashe Kids Day in 08 and they were supposed to be playing just for fun with the mikes hooked up, then Roddick hit a drop shot and Djok came in to get it then Roddick tried to nail Djok with a vicious forehand. Djok dodged it and then smiled sinisterly at Roddick, “Sooo this is how you want to play Andy.”
Steve · October 18, 2012 at 2:24 pm
“and then he tried to nail me with two overheads in the warmup” that’s harsh. Did you end up winning that one?
Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Yes I was able to win this match 62 60 Steve and we had some nice pleasant conversations when it was over.
Steve · October 26, 2012 at 3:15 pm
The worst are players that don’t do mini tennis.
Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2012 at 1:18 am
Mini tennis is one of the best drills IMO, also the mini tennis using just one service box. You want to learn how to control the ball, try mini. Name of the game is controlling that ball.