PERCENTAGE TENNIS SINGLES Tips to remember when playing a match: 1. Never change a winning game 2. Get your first serve in. It puts the pressure on the returner more than the 2nd serve. 3. When the score is close, hit shots with depth and in the middle of the court. Avoid hitting drop shots, tough vollies/angle vollies 4. Remember, the last game is toughest to WIN, so it is not over until you play and win match point! PERCENTAGE TENNIS DOUBLES Tips to remember when playing a match: 1. Get your first serve in. It puts the pressure on the returner more than the 2nd serve and less likely that the net person will poach 2. Both players take the net before the other team 3. Hit deep and down the middle. Most winners in doubles occur down the middle due to lack of communication with opponents 4. Force opponents to hit up on the ball by keeping the ball low and at their feet TYPES OF POINTS TO PLAY Based on the score of each game/set, use the following guidelines to close out a match: First points of game always have least pressure – play aggressive to keep pressure on opponent If you are: 1. Ahead by 1 point: (15-0, 30-15, 40-30) 2. Ahead or behind by 3 points (40-0) Play a delayed pressure point: Patient play, hitting cross court/high percentage shots. Once you have an opening or opportunity, go for the shot. 3. When you are in the lead in the set score, be aggressive early in the game and then slowly make your opponent bleed!!!!! 4. Break them down your opponents confidence– Go after ball, but safer targets (big shots, safe targets) 5. DON’T RUSH FOR THE WINNTER 6. DON’T PLAY TENTATIVE 7. Behind (0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 30-40): Breakdown pressure point - Stay patient and go back to fundamentals, look for opportunity to attack. 8. Tied – Go with whatever you have the most confidence doing – play aggressively (pressure is same on both sides of net)