I went to college with the goal of becoming a writer of some sort. That… never panned out. However, as my tennis teaching career has taken me through many roles and responsibilities, those writing skills (if I ever had any) never really left – they’ve just been waiting for the right moment to be put to work again. As we head further into 2026, that moment is NOW!
Throughout this year, I will be releasing one article each month with the purpose of supporting and strengthening our minds and brains to help ourselves become better tennis players…and just maybe learn more about ourselves. These articles are meant to guide players, parents, and our coaches toward smarter, more effective development both on and off the court.
This month, we kick it off with an important idea in this day and age with seemingly endless activities and responsibilities as kids and adults: continual improvement in your game is not about spending endless hours on court; it’s about using the time you have with consistent intention. That’s where the idea of working smarter, not longer, truly matters.
How do we work smarter when we’re on court? I believe you can break it down into four key concepts:
Clear Focus on Court
Every productive practice begins with focus. Players should step onto the court knowing exactly what they want to work on that day. This might be a technical skill like serve consistency, a tactical goal such as shot selection under pressure, or a mental habit like staying composed after mistakes.
Without a clear focus, practice becomes random hitting. With focus, every drill and rally has purpose. Time on court becomes meaningful, and improvement becomes measurable.
Being Able to Explain the Work
A simple but powerful test of a good practice is this question: “What did you work on today?”
Players should be able to answer this question with detail. Not just “my forehand” or “serves,” but how and why. For example:
- “I worked on hitting my forehand with more topspin so I can control the ball crosscourt.”
- “I focused on my second serve routine to improve consistency under pressure.”
When players can clearly explain their work, it shows ownership of their development and a deeper understanding of their training.
Development over Winning in Practice
In a practice setting, winning should never be the top priority. While competition is important, practice is where skills are built, refined, and tested. That often means making mistakes, trying new patterns, and stepping outside comfort zones.
If a player only focuses on winning points in practice, growth can stall. True development happens when players are willing to lose points in the short term to gain skills that will help them win matches in the long term.
Reflection and Self-Evaluation
The best players don’t stop learning when practice ends. Reflection is a critical part of development. After each session, players should ask themselves:
- What improved today?
- What still needs work?
- What should I focus on next time?
By evaluating their own performance, players begin to take responsibility for their progress. This habit sets them up for more productive practices in the future and creates a clear pathway for continuous improvement.
Working smarter does not mean staying on court longer than everyone else. It means practicing with focus, purpose, and reflection. As we move through 2026, these principles will serve as the foundation for growth within our RAC Tennis program – and for every player who wants to get better QUICKER within their busy everyday life.
Have an article or topic you’d like written about? Email me at stacl@racmn.com. Maybe I’ll even do a “Steve’s mailbag” edition some month!
