Here are a series of doubles pattern you need to practice and execute during competitive play to get that winning edge over your opponents. Each pattern is punctuated by a winner and (for this narrative) an onomatopoeia for illustrative purposes.

1. Serve and follow your serve into the net, hit your first volley cross-court (maintaining the direction of the return) for depth isolating the receiver of the serve at the baseline and then close and hit a hard angled cross-court volley for a winner. Zing!
2. Serve and follow your serve into the net, hit your first volley cross-court for depth isolating the receiver of the serve at the baseline and then close and redirect the second volley down-the-line at the feet of your unsuspecting opponent positioned at the net for a winner. Bam!
3. Hit the serve to the middle T. Your partner recognizing the value of your well-placed serve drifts to the middle of the court with your serve and then crosses on an angle towards the net to intercept the cross-court return with a down-the-line volley hit at the feet of your opponent positioned at the net. Thump!
4. Now that you have honed your serve and can hit to any location upon demand, hit a serve to the outside corner of the service box. Your partner shifts towards the alley and back anticipating a defensive lob return. The serve returner responds with a defensive lob as anticipated and then your partner rears back with a drop step and hits a devastating overhead to the middle gap. Wham!
5. Rather than serve and volley, hit your serve and stay back. The receiver hits the return cross court but doesn’t recognize that you are staying back and makes the fatal flaw of staying back as well. On the third shot of the point sequence, respond with a cross-court angled shot hit to the outside T (as defined by the service line and the singles sideline) effectively drawing the receiver in and to the outside of the court. On the fourth shot of the exchange, the receiver replies with a cross-court groundstroke which leads to your next shot – a lob hit over the partner of the serve returner. Close to the service line to create an impenetrable wall with your partner. The opposing team (both of whom are now in a difficult position to run down the lob) manage only a weak defensive lob reply. You or your partner (you can spin a racquet to determine who goes first) deals the final blow with an overhead to end the point. Pow!
6. Respond to the serve with a lob return hit over the partner of the server (preferably with just enough arc and trajectory to clear the reach of your opponent but not with too much arc to allow for an easy rundown). As you close in after hitting the lob, your partner drifts to the middle of the court and closes slightly to pick off the responding lob reply with a devastating overhead. Kaboom!
7. With your opponents both positioned at the net and you and your partner staggered (your partner up at the net and you back at the baseline), hit a low ball with topspin over the middle and low part of the net. Your partner positioned at the net closes to the middle of court and picks off the opponents reply with a searing and lethal volley. Zap!
8. In a volley exchange with all four players positioned at the net, take a ball hit to you below your waist level and respond with a lob volley which is unfortunately not hit high enough or with disguise and is subsequently crushed with an overhead hit by your opponents. Let’s try this again in number 9 below. Yikes!
9. In a volley exchange with all four players positioned at the net, take a ball hit to you below your waist level and respond with a lob volley hit over the head of your unsuspecting opponents. Maintain your net position but drop back with your partner slightly in anticipation of a weak lob reply. As expected your opponents manage only a weak lob response and you or your partner crush it with an overhead. Bang!
10. On a “hunch” that the partner of the server is planning to cross to intercept your cross-court return, redirect the return of serve down-the-line with low net clearance (recognizing that the net is higher on the outside of the court) for a clear winner. One shot and it is over (what could be easier than that). Whack!

Want to make your strongest side a little stronger or perhaps make your weaker side less of a liability? Here are some suggestions of what to do.

1. Isolate and focus on the stroke you are looking to improve. Look for every opportunity to hit the stroke particularly if it is the weaker side you are looking to improve. Unfortunately, most players in practice avoid hitting balls off their weaker side (i.e. positioning to the outside of the court to avoid hitting a shot in returning serve or in crosscourt exchanges).
2. Hit a lot of balls. Repetition is everything in tennis, good and bad – good if you are smart in hitting the shots and sequences that make your game better and bad (or probably better stated “not as good”) if you continue to ignore these same shots and sequences. The best approach to practice (and practice by this definition also applies to match play) is to practice with a purpose. Incorporating different situational patterns into your practice sessions similar to working different scale patterns on the piano (even if your main focus is on one shot) helps your practice sessions stay fresh and interesting.
3. Hit all forehands (or all backhands). Shade to the left or right of the center mark and take everything with either your forehand or backhand. If you are drawn out wide, raise the height of your responding shot to buy time to get back into the court and to avoid having to hit the next shot with your other groundstroke side. Do the same in cross-court exchanges. Recover to the middle of the court after each shot and take everything with your outside stroke or recover to the far left (or right) of the court and take everything with your inside stroke (i.e. inside/outside forehands). These types of patterns and responses are also great for building better footwork and agility.
4. Hit for consistency. The best way to establish rhythm and timing is to hit a number of balls in succession in a sustained “live ball” rally. Maintain a pace that allows you to keep the ball in play. Increase the pace and tempo with success. Establish half-court, cross court or down-the-line patterns to isolate one stroke.
5. Hit for depth. Maintain a rally with the goal of hitting every shot past the service line. As another option, establish a target area in the backcourt. Continue hitting until you have successfully hit X number of shots to this target area.
6. Hit for redirection. Hit three (or a specific number of shots) cross court followed by a fourth shot hit down-the-line. Play points where your opponent is required to only hit cross court until you redirect a shot down-the-line (preferably not on the first shot). After the shot is redirected down-the-line, play out the point using the full court.
7. Add variety and versatility to your game. Spend time working on high/low patterns (adjusting the trajectory and net clearance of your shots). It’s important to also devote time on varying spin (both the degree and nature of the spin). I earned good lunch money as a kid playing “Slice Wars” (every ball has to be hit with underspin). One of the first steps I take to prepare for tournament play (particularly when I haven’t played competitively in a while) is to hit a lot balls off my backhand side with topspin (not slice) to reestablish confidence in my ability to use the backhand as a weapon.
8. Work on your offensive skills. Here are two drills to improve your ability to attack and finish the point. Play points (half court, down-the-line or cross court points as necessary to isolate one stroke) with the requirement that you finish the point in X number of shots. With the goal of encouraging aggression and offsetting the risk of making mistakes, play points in which winners (specifically winners hit with your designated stroke) are rewarded with bonus points.
9. Work on your defensive skills. Play points in which you are rewarded for extending the length of the rally for more than X number of shots. Play a game in which you are required to begin each point by running down a forehand or backhand (from a starting position in the alley and in response to a ball fed to the opposite side of the court).
10. Establish point patterns during play to encourage your opponent to hit to your strongest (or weakest side). Don’t worry about the outcome. Hit down-the-line with your forehand to draw shots to your backhand (or hit down-the-line with your backhand to draw shots to your forehand). Noticeably adjust your starting position for the return of serve to bait your opponent to hit to a particular side.

The premise behind a game-based approach to learning is to define the intention of the act (what needs to be accomplished) before an explanation of how to execute the act (what is required to accomplish the act). In the game-based approach to learning, the tennis professional or facilitator outlines the rules and parameters of the game or goal to be accomplished and then allows the individual player (through a process) to find the best and most efficient way to make it happen. What drives the process is intention and motivation. At the purest level, the game-based approach to learning assumes the body if not hindered by doubt or tension will through trial and error eventually find the most efficient way to achieve the desired result. Modern technical innovations and advancements in tennis are driven by the intention and motivation of players to solve specific problems as defined by the pace and flow of the game. It is the challenge of the requirement that fosters efficiency of movement, tactical adjustments and creativity. There are a number of examples of how specific development can be targeted by manipulating the score, adjusting the parameters of the game and/or setting different ground rules and requirements. Here are ten examples of games or point situations that can benefit your game.

1. Establish a game where you and your opponent (practice partner) are only allowed only one, two or no bounce(s) on your respective sides of the net during the course of each point (usually played with a hand drop-hit feed to start each point). This requirement forces players to take the ball on the rise (should it bounce) and close quickly (hitting only volleys and overheads) to ensure the ball does not bounce more than is allowed by the rules. The game fosters good volley skills, quick hands and footwork closing movement patterns.
2. Conversely, establish a game where players on each side of the net must take the ball on the bounce (no volleys). This game requires players to adjust the height, net clearance, pace, spin and direction of each shot to buy time for recovery back to the baseline and to force opponents out of position and unable to respond to the ball (other than with a volley). The game helps players develop up and back footwork skills and a better understanding of how to “work” the entire court.
3. On the same vein as the first two examples, establish a game where players must play from within the court lines (meaning that players may not step past the baseline or outside the singles sidelines). This game develops quick hands, mid-court volley skills and an ability to hit the ball on the rise.
4. Want to slow things down? Set up a game where the ball must bounce twice (within the court lines) prior to contact for each and every shot. This game gives players more time to set up and prepare. Hitting with soft hands and a complete extension and finish make this game a great way to perfect stroke technique.
5. To isolate a specific stroke, establish a requirement for you and your playing opponent (practice partner) to hit only with your forehand groundstroke (backhand groundstroke) or with your outside stroke if playing half-court only cross-court or down-the-line points. This game can be modified to require players to hit with their inside strokes in an inside/outside cross-court pattern.
6. You can sharpen your serve return skills by having the server start each point serving from the service line.
7. My favorite game to develop better consistency and rhythm is to require a rally of X number of shots prior to the start of each and every point. Beware the “nudge” response in which the player with highly developed “nudge” tendencies will hit the ball “lights out” on the Xth shot of each rally (nothing ventured, nothing gained).
8. To improve your quickness up and back, set up a game with the following requirements.  Narrow the court boundary to one service box on each side of the net. Establish a requirement for all shots to be hit softly. One option is to require both players to only hit the ball up (and not down at the feet of the opponent). Position an object (such as a cone) half way between the service line and baseline or back as far as the baseline. Require you and your opponent (practice partner) to retreat back to touch the cone with your racquet after each shot. Start each point out with a drop-hit groundstroke (courtesy feed). Rotate service every five points or have the winner of each point start out the next point.
9. Raise the height of the net (using PVC piping or extender poles plus string or rope) from six to 15 feet. Require players to hit above the new raised height for all shots or require players to hit above the raised height only when hitting from behind the baseline. Players who develop the capability to hit with heavy, high arcing topspin have the best success in the game.
10. Manipulate the risk-reward dynamic of tennis. Reward players with more points with the execution of a positive action and/or penalize players by taking away points with the execution of a negative action. As an example, if your goal is to promote more risk-taking and bolder initiative, establish a game where you and your opponent (practice partner) are awarded bonus points for hitting outright winners.

There are a countless number of other examples of how to incorporate a game-based approach to improve the quality and purpose of your practice time.

1. To establish better timing with the bounce and to better see the ball to your racquet, say (either to yourself or out loud in practice), “bounce” when the ball bounces and “hit” when making contact with the ball.
2. Maintain a balance and centered position (with the core of your body centered above your hips) and a still head position (a quiet upper body) when moving left, right, up and back to hit a ball. It is hard to see and track a ball when your head is bobbing up and down.
3. Focus on reading the lettering on the ball (which can be more difficult for balls hit with a lot of spin).
4. For groundstrokes, keep your head down and focused at the point of contact through the follow through and the finish of the stroke. Lifting the head too early is a major cause of mishits.
5. For serves and overheads, keep your chin up and head and eyes focused on the point of contact until completion of the stroke and follow through.
6. Position your eyes and head at the level of the ball to better see the ball for volleys. Try to see the ball through the strings of your racquet.
7. Having trouble seeing the ball in the sun with your serve? Use your tossing hand to shield the sun.
8. As an alternative approach for watching the ball, take your focus off the ball (at least attempting to track the ball from start to finish) and fix your visual focus on your contact zone. Visualize a large window spanning the court in front of you at a comfortable arm’s distance and use your strokes to prevent every oncoming ball from getting past this imaginary window.
9. Similarly, go from a “soft” to “hard” focus.  It’s difficult to maintain a “hard”, intent focus on the ball from start to finish (from the point at which your opponent makes contact with the ball to your point of contact). Instead, initially establish a soft focus and then narrow your focus on the ball as it approaches your point of contact.
10.  Of course, anticipation and your ability to recognize hitting cues from your opponent and likely hitting directional patterns, helps you get a “read” on the ball for better sightlines and vision.

1. Don’t panic. Don’t “throw in the towel” or worse yet throw away your towel because then you would have nothing, nothing that is to wipe the sweat from your face and hands.
2. Go to your “happy place” to that imaginary place in your mind where there are “trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes…” Then again, maybe that is not such a good idea.
3. Be positive. Use positive affirmations and “self talk” to motivate yourself and to get yourself back on track. From personal experience, a little fist pump followed by a “let’s go” or “come on” works better than a whack in the shins with your racquet (very painful).
4. Take a deep breath and refocus your energy to playing one point (not two or three points) at a time.
5. Acknowledge you’re having a hard time with your composure, your game, your opponent, etc. Acknowledgement is the first step to dealing with your problems. The best way to overcome an obstacle is to confront it head on. Don’t offer yourself any excuses, anything that mentally gives you an “out” or a reason not to perform or do your best.
6. Stay in the present. Don’t dwell on your past mistakes, missed opportunities or bad turn of events. Deal with the bad bounces, unlucky breaks, etc. by “moving forward and putting things behind you”.
7. Generally it is best to slow things down if you are losing your composure. Judiciously take more time between points (up to 20 seconds between points) and during changeovers (up to 90 seconds). A towel break (assuming you still have your towel) is a good way to buy time between points. Be conscientious of how you are managing the time and tempo of the match. If the points are ending too soon, get more balls in play and try to lengthen the time of each point. If the rallies are too extended and the points are taking too long to develop, try to take time away from your opponent and shorten the length of each point.
8. Be very deliberate prior to hitting your first and second serves and prior to receiving each serve from your opponent. Establish or re-establish a ritual prior to serving and receiving to eliminate outside distractions and to narrow your focus to the task at hand.
9. Consult your inspirational reader (conveniently placed in your racquet bag along with your back-up towel) during the changeovers. For more profound inspiration and direction refer to something like the Art of War. Another option is the Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. “I’m sorry to say so but sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you…”
10. Put things back in perspective and remember what it is you enjoy about hitting tennis balls and getting on the court to compete.

Here are ten ways to rectify your relationship and make you a hero with your partner.

1. Be an intimidating presence at the net. Cover as much ground as you can. Drift to center on all shots hit down the middle. Close and drift to the middle of the court following well-placed shots hit by your partner or you. Be decisive and close in on the diagonal. Drop back quickly and kick up to decisively take the overhead. The result is that the court area requiring coverage by your partner narrows and becomes much more manageable, particularly when your partner is serving. And if you play your volleys right, you may become the subject of lore.
   Roam the net freely she did
   Unabated by no foe known to man
   In harmonious symmetry, balance and cheer
   Fears not nothing for there is nothing left to fear
2. Get your first serve in. Good things happen for your partner when you get your first serve in play. Your partner can drift and roam more freely at the net when you get your first serve in. Your opponents are generally more cautious and hesitant in returning first versus second serves. Other important factors with your serve are depth (unless you are hitting an angled serve to the singles sideline), hitting down the middle T to provide your partner with a greater opportunity to successfully poach the return and finally, mixing the location, spin and pace of your serve to disrupt the rhythm of your opponents and make it easier for your partner to cover the net.
3. Get your serve return in play. It is important to get into the point and make your opponents play shots. Getting the return in play preferably away from the net person gives your partner and you opportunities to succeed. The alternative high risk, go-for-broke approach does not work as well in doubles. It makes it tough to get a rhythm and flow in the match plus your partner will get “ticked”.
4. Get to the net with your partner. Particularly if your partner is already at the net in a volley position, do everything you can to close into the net. Serve and come in. Return and come in. Approach the net on short balls. Lob and come in. Tennis is a percentage game and your percentages are greatly enhanced if you are both at the net versus slugging it out from the baseline or worse yet if you are back and your partner is up in a staggered doubles position.
5. Give your partner credit and acknowledgement for good shots. I will give you a little test. Here are two scenarios. Which scenario should you choose to create a better working bond with your partner?
   Scenario #1
   Your partner hits a great shot. You then close into the net and drift to the center of court in anticipation of a weak reply by your opponents. You get the shot you are looking for and pounce on it for a clear and decisive winner. Without as much as a glance to your partner, you raise both your hands in the air and exult to your friends watching from the sidelines.
   Scenario #2
   Your partner hits a great shot. You then close into the net and drift to the center of court in anticipation of a weak reply by your opponents. You get the shot you are looking for and pounce on it for a clear and decisive winner. Immediately upon hitting the final shot, you look to your partner and acknowledge and congratulate him/her for the set-up.
6. Support your partner when he/she makes mistakes. Although techniques such as dropping of the racquet, rolling of the eyes and verbal chastisement may in some cases, motivate your partner to better performance, the more typical response to such techniques is to motivate your partner to take a whack at your leg with her racquet. The message you want to convey to your partner is that it is okay to make mistakes (particularly in crossing and closing patterns) and that you are in it together to the end as a team regardless of the score or the circumstances of a particular point.
7. Follow-through on your promises. As an example, if you signal to your partner (prior to when he/she is to hit the serve) that you plan to poach and pick off the cross-court return, make sure you go with conviction and get the ball. It is not fun for your partner if you go half-heartedly and let the ball get by you (“whoops”). Players don’t like partners who are indecisive, hesitant and non-committal. If you say you are going to go, then do your best to disguise your intent, but when the time is right make that explosive start and move on the diagonal to pounce on the return. And if the return is hit down-the-line…
8. Be the enforcer when your partner takes one for the team. It is your responsibility to take retaliatory action if your partner gets “popped” by a ball by your opponents particularly if your opponents are unremorseful or worse yet, happy about the result. Don’t be rash or impulsive. Hold your fire until you see the whites of their eyes (and I’ve seen the whites of their eyes and they “ain’t” pretty). Wait patiently for the right opportunity and then “bam” take your shot. Your partner will love you forever.
9. Reward your partner with physical therapy sessions to help heal his injuries sustained in the fight that ensued after your retaliatory shot. If you both escape injury, reward your partner with a semi-private doubles lesson with your understanding and accommodating tennis professional who will find a time in his schedule despite your previous student faux pas such as hitting him with errant shots, no shows and purposeless practice sessions.
10. Make it fun. Of course, this leads to the question as to what defines fun on the tennis court. Can you be competitive, even rock-hard competitive on the tennis court and still have fun? Having fun does not necessarily mean you have to “yuck it up” although it is invigorating to laugh on the court. Having fun on the tennis court can and should be a meaningful experience. Fun is the process of playing and competing. Fun is when you are actively engaged in a dynamic relationship with your partner in a physical and mental goal or pursuit (where the outcome is very much in doubt) to win each and every point. Fun is sharing the assignment of hitting the ball back over the net in the process of constructing a point. If you want to make it fun and exhilarating for your partner, be enthused and energetic and work as hard as you can on the court. What could be more fun than that?

Hit with slice, when you …

1. Need to take pace off the ball. If the pace of the rally is becoming unmanageable (from your perspective), a great strategy is to take pace off the ball with slice to buy you more time to recover and to potentially disrupt the timing of your opponent(s).
2. Are responding to a ball above your strike zone. The mechanics of the stroke provide a great response to high balls.
3. Are responding to a ball below your strike zone. The mechanics of the stroke provide a great response to low balls.
4. Are responding to a ball hit with slice. Just as it is easier to maintain the direction of a shot (rather than try to hit with redirection), it is easier to maintain the spin of a ball (topspin to topspin, slice to slice).
5. Are approaching the net. An effectively hit approach shot with slice tends to stay down forcing your opponent(s) to hit up to your volley strike zone. You can also use slice on the approach to provide more time to close to an ideal net position.
6. Are running to retrieve a shot hit wide left or wide right or digging out a drop shot. Look to the professional game for examples on how to respond with slice. It is a well-utilized response in the pro game to retrieving wide shots particularly when sliding to hit a shot and/or hitting from an open and outstretched (in some cases almost split-legged) stance.
7. Want to disrupt the timing and flow of your opponent(s). Changing the spin of the ball (topspin to underspin) even when in control of the rally or in a neutral rally position can be extremely effective against more one-dimensional opponents and against opponents who prefer high and/or uniformed paced rallies.
8. Are responding to a ball hit with pace, depth or both. Hitting with slice is an effective response when you are pressured with a difficult shot. It is easier to hit a ball late in your hitting zone with slice.
9. Are competing against an opponent with an extreme forehand and/or backhand grip or an opponent with technical stroke deficiencies. Most players with extreme Western forehand grips have difficulty responding to sliced, low-bouncing balls. Players with straight (versus loop) take backs and players who are out of sync with their dominant and non-dominant hands (left and right hands) are two examples of other players who have difficulty responding to slice.
10. Want to do something fun with the ball. Hitting with a variety of spins (including underspin and sidespin) can be a lot of fun. Having the skill to hit with a variety of spins leads to more imaginative play and play-pattern options.

1. Hit the backhand with one hand. Release the left (or non-dominant) hand at the start of the swing.
2. Coil with your upper body to set your racquet for the backswing. Coil with your hips and rotate your shoulders to set the racquet head in the set position and to prepare for the oncoming shot. Remember to also take adjustment steps and secure your footwork in preparation for the shot.
3. Utilize the continental grip for both the forehand and backhand. Position the base of your index knuckle and the heel of your hand on the second bevel of the racquet handle.
4. Lead with the butt end of the racquet. Leading with the butt end of the racquet combined with the continental grip opens the racquet to the ball at contact.
5. Lead with the bottom edge of the racquet. This is another way to ensure the face is open at contact.
6. Hit with a high/low/high swing pattern. Start above the ball and strike the ball in a high to low pattern. Extend the racquet face through the strike zone (with an open face) and then finish up and out (pointing the tip of racquet to the target). The racquet face should be open to the sky or ceiling at the finish.
7. Hit with an outside-inside pattern. Start out away from the body with the racquet head and drag the racquet head in (towards your body) and out to the target through the hitting zone. A more dramatic or exaggerated outside-inside pattern generates sidespin on the ball.
8. Keep your head and eyes down to the level of the ball. Hit from a wider stance (particularly on low balls) and get down to the ball. The positioning of your head and eyes is similar to the positioning for the volley.
9. Extend your left (or non-hitting) hand back and out as you extend forward with your backhand swing. Start the swing pattern with the left (or non-hitting) hand positioned at the throat of the racquet. Use the left (or non-hitting) hand to change to the continental grip and to place the racquet in the set position. Release the left (or non-hitting) hand as you start your forward swing or as the racquet head crosses your shoulders. Extend the left (or non-hitting) hand back with the forward swing (as if you are squeezing your shoulder blades together).
10. Adjust the position of the racquet face at contact to hit with more or less spin. Hit through the ball with less downward action and only a slightly open racquet face at contact to hit a flatter drive. Open the racquet face and adjust your swing pattern for more spin.

1. Establish a plan in conjunction with your partner. Establish a plan with contingency options with your partner. Maintain the game plan specifically as it relates to your role (i.e. serve and volley on your first serve, lob at least one return per game, etc.).
2. Talk to your partner. Take time to communicate with your partner (particularly during the changeovers). Discuss strategy and tactics, what’s working, what’s not working, where to hit to serve or return, etc.
3. Be positive and provide moral support. Be supportive and encouraging with your partner. Help lift the spirits of your partner. Don’t wince, drop your shoulders or roll your eyes if your partner makes a mistake or error.
4. Get your first serve in play. You want to maintain a higher percentage of first serves in play for doubles. Getting your first serve in play places more pressure on your opponents and most importantly allows your partner to roam and be more aggressive at the net.
5. Hit your service targets. Hit the targets as signaled by your partner or as established in prior consultation with your partner. Your partner is in a better position to respond to the return if he or she knows in advance where you are planning to hit the serve (out wide, at the body or down the middle).
6. Keep the ball in play particularly with the return of serve. Doubles is a percentage game and your percentages definitely improve if you can keep the ball in play and make your opponents hit one more shot. Steady play also gives your partner more opportunity to finish the point with a winner.
7. Cover the middle of the court when positioned at the net. Don’t hug the alley. Ensure nothing passes you down the middle of the court, particularly floaters. Drift towards the middle of the court to cut off the next shot when your partner hits a strong serve, hits a serve down the middle or hits a low, difficult-to-return chip or drive.
8. Don’t be afraid to cross and poach. Impose your will and presence at the net with a lot of movement (particularly when your partner is serving).
9. Keep it low when your opponents are positioned at the net. Keep your ball low at the feet of your opponents making them hit up to your partner and you. Don’t get the ball up into the strike zone of your opponents where they can hit down at the feet or potentially at the jugular of your partner. It’s not a good thing to lose partners due to injury.
10. Make it fun. Enjoy the process and interaction of play with your partner.

Here are 10 things to consider in case you are faced with the situation of losing (however improbable).

1. Develop a plan or strategy. Too many times players approach a match and play out the beginning (or the entire length) of a match without a strategy of how to capitalize on strengths and exploit weaknesses. If things weren’t clear at the beginning (as to how to approach each point and game), take time during the next changeover to collect yourself, assess the situation and then draw up a strategy or plan.
2. Stick to your game plan. Maintain your plan if you feel the result has more to do with your execution or if you sincerely believe it is a matter of time before you can break down your opponent and reverse the outcome of the match. Sometimes a steady course is the best approach.
3. Change your game plan. Fall back on other contingency options (hopefully already spelled out and rehearsed before the start of the match) if prospects are looking bleak. The question is always when and how to best to make a change.
4. Be steady. If nothing else works, keep the ball in play. Be patient and consistent and hit with a high margin (cross court and high net clearance). Sometimes this is all it takes to get back into a match. The worst alternative is to hit outside of your capabilities. Going for too much and forcing your shots generally leads to more mistakes and a quicker demise.
5. Mix it up. As mentioned the previous month, mix things up to take your opponent out of his/her rhythm. Change the spin, depth, height, pace and/or direction of your shots.
6. Change the tempo. Take more or less time between points particularly when you are serving and can better control the pace of play. Judiciously take towel breaks. Bounce the ball more or less times prior to start of each serve.
7. Look for and take advantage of opportunities to change the momentum. There are “tipping points” or moments in all matches that can trigger a momentum shift. It could be a game in which your opponent is struggling with his/her serve. It could be a fortunate (or unfortunate for your opponent) errant bounce. To get back into a match, it is important to recognize and take advantage of these situations.
8. Hang in there. Redouble your efforts and focus. Maintain a positive frame of mind. Good things happen when you work hard and stay positive.
9. Maintain mental notes of what’s working and what’s not working so next time (or next match) you’re better equipped to handle adversity and reverse a negative outcome.
10. Have fun. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but enjoy the process of competing and testing your skills.