How to Set Goals for Tennis Training

Tennis success often depends on how well you train. A player can't just show up on the day of a big match after practicing haphazardly for weeks and expect to win. The approach to practice is an important ingredient to winning. Every second of every practice should be planned out. Additionally, all your training sessions need to connect from week to week, month to month. Whether it's a high school player, a weekend warrior competing in local leagues or a professional, tennis players should set goals before training.

Things You'll Need

  • pen
  • notebook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what you want to accomplish. Do you hope to win a United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournament for your age group? Or, do you simply want to get into shape? Practicing with a purpose will help motivate you during your training sessions and shape what you work on.

    • 2

      Identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a great forehand, but a weak serve, then spend extra time on your serve. After a few practices, your style as a player should emerge.

    • 3

      Set a practice schedule. You can't train for one day and then take two days off to play video games because you don't feel like playing. A player should write out a training schedule and stick to it, except for emergencies.

    • 4

      Tailor your goals to your upcoming playing schedule. For example, in the offseason you'll want to work on conditioning and repetition of all strokes. As a match approaches, you'll want to work on fine-tuning specific strokes and strategy, such as working on your serve-and-volley game plan.

    • 5

      Devote time to the off-the-court aspect of tennis. Players need proper nutrition and sleep, as well as mental toughness. You may want to consider hiring a sports psychologist if you have trouble focusing or pulling out close games. Also, constantly playing tennis may put you in a rut. It's OK to supplement your tennis conditioning with swimming and playing basketball.

    • 6

      Constantly re-evaluate your goals. You may realize you'd like to serve more aces. Or, you're getting tired in the fourth set and you need to work on conditioning. The key is to not stay static and comfortable in your training. A player needs to evolve to reach the next level.