Here are 10 ways to prepare for the outdoor playing season and upcoming team and/or tournament competition.

1. Hit a lot of balls. Hit for repetition (with an emphasis on cross-court patterns) to establish consistency, rhythm and confidence in your ability to execute shot sequences. Hitting balls is the “groundwork” necessary to build a solid foundation for the season.
2. Work on your technique. Take advantage of your off-season to work on improving your stroke techniques. Take an inventory of your game and work specifically on improving your identified weaknesses.
3. Get in great playing shape. Establish a tennis-specific fitness conditioning program focusing on developing complex coordination and movement, linear/multi-directional speed, strength, flexibility, core and shoulder stability and power.
4. Restring your racquet(s). The general rule is to restring your racquet every six months whether used or not and to restring your racquet three times per year if you play on average three times per week, four times if you play on average four times per week, etc. Check for fraying strings and cut marks. Protect your racquet and strings by using a thermal bag with a clear plastic bag wrap (if really serious about maintaining the integrity of your strings) and keep your racquet out of your car on cold (and hot) days.
5. Work with your partner and teammates. The off-season is a good time to work with your partner (or teammates) to improve communication, dynamic positioning, coverage patterns and styles of play.
6. Set goals for the upcoming season. The best practice is to establish process versus outcome goals.  An example of a process goal would be a goal to improve your first-serve percentage.
7. Focus on your mind game. Examples of tools to improve mental toughness are imagery and role playing. Use imagery to improve focus and concentration and to establish a module or construct to govern your actions on the court.  Use role playing to improve your ability to respond to different situations and conditions (both positive and negative).
8. Set and prioritize your schedule. Identify the team matches and tournaments you are earmarking for the season particularly your key events and matches.
9. Establish a “periodized” training schedule (both on and off court) focusing on peaking for your identified key events and matches.
10. Get your life in order. Complete outstanding projects. Get a jump on pending work or school assignments. Learn how to better manage your time. Do your best to ensure competing interests and outside pressures do not disrupt your ability to focus on your competitive playing season.

Here a ten ways to take control of your life on the tennis court and to never again succumb to the whims and dictates of an unrelenting opponent.

1. Establish an overall game plan (strategic vision) with contingency options for each match.
2. Have a purpose (a specific plan) for the start of each point. Map out the first two shots for each point to gain better control over the process and outcome (successful or not with your execution). Without a plan, the tendency is to be more reactive and defensive.
3. Maintain your composure and never let your opponent(s) get into your head or cause you to veer from your purpose and objectives.
4. Control the tempo and timing between points (particularly with your service games). Do not allow your opponent(s) to pressure you to play at a pace of play not to your advantage.
5. Get in the best possible playing shape (physical condition) to do the things you want to do on the court for the full duration of every match.
6. Control the pace and rhythm of the rally to your playing advantage for each point sequence. Shorten or extend the length of the rally and give yourself and your opponent(s) less or more time between shots by taking off or adding pace to the ball, raising or lowering your net clearance, adding or taking away spin (both backspin and topspin), adjusting your position on the court (particularly as it relates to your position to the baseline), varying your direction/redirection patterns and adjusting your trajectory and
7. Systematically work on your game to better manage the control variables of pace, spin, direction, depth, net clearance and trajectory particularly if you’re not able to effectively and consistently control the tempo of the rally (as noted above).
8. Maintain a minimum level of consistency to create opportunities to execute your game plan (and to put yourself in a position to exercise free choice and will). You need to minimize unforced errors and get into the point to make things happen. The focus should be on the first serve and return.  Then look to end the point on a set number of shots as established by your risk/reward style of play and game plan.
9. Don’t panic and never give up. No matter what the score, you still maintain control of the process by working hard to the bitter end. Give up or resign yourself to a negative outcome and you relinquish any kind of choice or control of the process.
10. Have fun and enjoy the process of play and competition.

Ten areas of focus for your serve

1. Ritual/preparation prior to start of serve. Develop a consistent ritual (routine) prior to the start of each and every serve to establish intensity and focus.
2. Stance. The choices are to hit from a more open or closed stance (as defined by the line connecting the toes of your right and left feet). The stance should promote balance and stability and enable the body to transfer weight up and into the court.
3. Grip. The preferred grip for spin, disguise, incorporation of all body components and racquet head speed is the Continental grip (which places the base of the knuckle and palm of the hand on the second bevel of the racquet).
4. Footwork (positioning and movement of feet with start of service motion). The choices are to hit from a platform stance (where the back foot stays back in the set position) or a pinpoint stance (where the back foot comes together with the front foot in the set position).
5. Arm action – Phase One (motion of the arm and racquet to the set position). The importance is to get the hitting arm and elbow up with the toss to a cocked and ready-to-hit set position. The path of the arm to the set position can take a down, back and up, down and then up, out and up or straight up path.
6. Toss and coiling/sinking action in conjunction with tossing motion. The first goal with the toss is to get the ball into the ideal location for the point of contact. The second goal is to use the toss to sink and coil your body (by bending your knees and extending your hips and chest out and up).
7. Arm action – Phase Two (motion of the arm to the power position). The tossing arm drops to a tuck position (with the elbow positioned at your rib cage) and the elbow of the hitting arm bends to allow the racquet head to drop and loop down to the power position.
8. Arm Action – Phase Three (motion of the arm to the point of contact). The racquet (leading with the butt end of the racquet) and the hitting arm (with a pronation of the foreman) then extend in a continuous motion up and out to the point of contact. The goal is to develop racquet head speed (versus hand speed) by cart wheeling or snapping the racquet head up and out to the point of contact.  At the same time, the body uncoils and propels up and into the court.
9. Follow-Through.  The racquet ideally first extends out and then down (leading with the tip) to create an inverted V with the arm and racquet. The racquet and hitting hand then continue down and across the body with the weight landing on the front foot (or transferring to the front foot if not elevated at the point of contact). Balance is maintained on the finish by kicking back with the back foot (or coming through with the back foot).
10. Recovery. The goal is to quickly recover for the next shot by aligning the feet and repositioning for the next shot or sequence of shots.

Here are 10 considerations to finding the “right” fit for you and your game.

1. Complimentary skills.  It’s good to find a partner who can compensate for your weaknesses and augment your strengths. For example, if your weakness is your court mobility then it would be wise to find a partner with good foot speed to run down lobs, angles, etc. If you have a powerful serve, it would be in your best interest to have a partner who has a strong net game and can attack the return and decisively finish the point with a volley or overhead.
2. Lefty/righty. There are a number of advantages to left-handed/right-handed partnership. When playing with a lefty (if you’re right-handed) or a righty (if you’re left handed), you can position your forehands (or strength) down the middle on the return of serve (hopefully taking away the middle of the court from your opponents). Positioning your forehands down the middle also encourages your opponents to serve out wide which makes it more difficult for your opponents to poach off the serve. Lefty/righty combinations can also be disruptive with different looks off the serve, varying spins, etc.
3. Return of Serve compatibility. It’s a plus if you can find a partner who is confident returning serve on your least comfortable return side. Although it’s valid to have a preference, it’s important not to be too adamant or predisposed to return on only one side of the court. A predisposition to only return on one side makes it difficult to make mid-match and next match adjustments. Plus it reduces your pool of potential doubles partners.
4. Communication. For starters, it’s important to find a partner who can communicate coherently in a language you understand. Your multilingual friend who speaks twenty languages (but unfortunately not English) may be difficult to communicate with on the court (particularly given the time constraints between points and changeovers). Other important communication skills with a partner are his/her ability to administer and receive signals, offer feedback constructively and without judgment and effectively read and respond to your body language and cues.
5. Offense/defense. Opposites do attract with effective team partnerships. One example is a team consisting of one player who is consistent and can set up the point combined with a partner who is aggressive and can finish the point. So, if you’re aggressive by nature and have first-strike capabilities look to partner with a player who is defensive and can keep the ball in play.
6. Jerk factor. Playing with a “jerk” can lead to good (and hopefully entertaining) results. Let your “jerk” loose to do his/her thing to drive your opponents crazy with disruptions in play, disputes and other “noodge” type stuff and you may be surprised at the results that follow. The important thing to remember throughout your on-court encounters and ordeals (and your off-court encounters and ordeals that spill over after the conclusions of your matches) is that your partner may be a “jerk” but he is your “jerk”.
7. Fun factor. Tennis should be fun and you should play with a partner that makes it more fun (not raucous out-of-control fun but fun in the context and process of competition).
8. Winning formula. I would “stick” with someone you are able to garner success and positive results. But this does not necessarily mean you should “give up” on a partner when you do not initially experience positive results (particularly in the middle of a match which by all accounts is considered “bad form”).
9. Like Mind… It’s ideal to enter into a partnership with a shared vision and sense of purpose whether it’s a style of play, strategic game plan (e.g. attack on everything) and/or how you support and complement each in your established roles.
10. Intangibles. Sometimes things just click for no apparent reason. Some of my best results in the juniors were with a left-handed partner who preferred to play the ad court, stay back on the return and have me stay back on the return (none of which would have been my first preference). But it turned out to be fun sitting back on the ball and “crunching” groundstrokes and surprisingly disruptive to our opponents who were conditioned (almost by rote) to come in on everything and not as conditioned to seeing and having to handle pace from groundstrokes hit from the baseline.

There is a three-pronged response and/or progression to just about every need or identified objective in tennis.  Here are 10 quick, easy-to-remember three-pronged (coaching) responses to situations and needs encountered every day on the court.

Objective ^#1 (Doubles):

Get a difficult serve back in play.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Have your partner fall back
2. Lob
3. Chip

Objective ^#2 (Singles/Doubles):

Finish the point quickly (in three or fewer shots).

Three-Pronged Progression:

1. Serve (return)
2. Close
3. Volley

Objective ^#3 (Singles):

Extend the length of the rally.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Hit high over the net
2. Hit cross court
3. Hit for depth

Objective ^#9 (Singles/Doubles):

Reduce your need to cover the court (particularly when injured and/or fatigued).

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Play on or inside the baseline to reduce court angles.
2. Close into the net whenever possible.
3. Take balls on the rise and/or before the bounce.

Objective ^#5 (Singles):

Expose or break down your opponent’s backhand.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Hit out wide to the forehand to open up a hitting window or lane to the backhand.
2. Relentlessly hit to the backhand whenever closing and/or attacking.
3. Mix things up when hitting to your opponent’s backhand. Disrupt rhythm by varying pace, height, depth and spin.

Objective ^#6 (Singles):

Disrupt the rhythm of your opponent with your serve.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Hit at the body
2. Hit down the middle with depth
3. Hit short and out wide (at an angle)

Objective ^#7 (Singles/Doubles):

Take time away from your opponent.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Play close to the baseline
2. Take the ball on the rise
3. Close in response to anything hit short

Objective ^#8 (Singles):

Take away your opponent’s angles or opportunity to open up the court.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Hit down the middle with depth.
2. Serve at the body
3. Hit behind your opponent. (Direct the ball to side of the court you hit to with your previous shot.)

Objective ^#9 (Singles):

Keep your opponent pinned back at the baseline.

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Hit high over the net with depth.
2. Hit a heavy ball that penetrates the court.
3. Be the first to strike and attack.

Objective ^#10 (Singles):

Make your opponent run (particularly if your opponent lacks mobility).

Three-Pronged Response:

1. Work the four corners or target areas (particularly with offsetting diagonals). Keep the ball out of the middle of the court.
2. Open up the court with angles.
3. Hit short and deep. Draw your opponent in and then back.

Here are 10 classic patterns to finish the point in singles and doubles. Practice, rehearse and utilize these patterns in match play to improve your ability to dictate play, finish points and win matches.

Singles

1. Work the forehand or backhand corners with cross-court drives hit with depth and penetration to soften up the court and create an opportunity to finish the point with a redirection down-the-line.
2. Serve out wide with a slice or kick serve (depending on whether you are serving from the deuce or ad sides of the court) and then follow-up with a drive hit to the opposite (and hopefully open) side of the court.
3. Serve out wide with a slice or kick serve (as above) and then wrong foot your opponent by driving the next shot back to the same side of the court.
4. Draw your opponent into the net with an angled drop shot (attempted only if you’re positioned inside the baseline) and then follow-up with a lob hit to the opposite corner of the court.
5. Close into the net with a down-the-line approach shot.  Follow the line of your approach to cover the line (and a potential down-the-line pass) and then finish the point with a cross-court angled volley.

Doubles

1. Lob your serve return down-the-line over the head of your opponent. Close into the net and towards the middle of the court (no closer than the service line) and then finish the point with a volley or overhead.
2. Serve to the middle of the court to allow your partner to drift, cross, intercept and finish the point with a down-the-line volley.
3. Chip and angle your serve return out wide with backspin (drawing the server in and to the outside of the court).  Close into the net and finish the point with a volley hit to the middle of the court.
4. Hit to the feet of your opponents positioned at the net (either with a groundstroke or volley) and then pounce (forward and in) to volley away the anticipated weak and short reply.
5. Serve and follow your serve into the net (serve and volley). Hit your first volley cross-court and deep to isolate the serve returner. Redirect your next volley to the feet of the unsuspecting partner of the serve returner.

Here are ten more creative ways to have more fun on the court (and develop racquet and footwork skills at the same time).

1. Play a serving-based game where the server continues to serve each game until he/she loses serve. With the loss of serve, the opportunity to “serve it out” then reverts to the other player. It’s a different twist on serving and emphasizes the importance of holding serve.
2. Another way to change the complexion of the game with the serve is to play points where the server has only one serve per point (no second serve).
3. To emphasize the importance of net clearance, penalize players with the loss of an additional point for any ball hit into the net.
4. Play “Cut Throat”, a one versus two player game. Players only count points won on the singles side of the court. Players rotate clockwise one position with each loss of point by the player on the singles side of the court. With more than three players, the rotation can include a station off court.
5. Play a no-bounce, volley-to-volley game. Use the service box as the court boundary and require all volleys to be hit up in the air (versus down at the feet of your opponent).
6. Play an offense/defense game where one player (or team) has to finish the point within X number of shots (or loses the point).
7. Play a doubles-based lob game in which one player on each team is positioned in the forecourt and one player positioned in the backcourt. The players on each team positioned in the backcourt hit lobs over the players positioned in the forecourt (who are not allowed to step back beyond the service line). Once a lob is intercepted by the net player (either with a volley or overhead), the point is played with court positioning restrictions.
8. Maintain a (juggling) rally with two balls in play at one time. The two players initiate the rally by hitting a ball in play at the same time. The rally can also work with three, four or more players.
9. Play “Ping-Pong Doubles”, a game in which partners must alternate hitting each ball.
10. Place a target (or multiple targets) on each side of the court.  Players win one point for hitting a target and to keep things honest, one point for winning three consecutive rallies.
11. Finally, as a bonus, check out this mini tennis rally game video with Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9eNJBzptZ0

These are just a few examples of games to make things fun on the court and to target specific court skills. It is fun to experiment and be creative with different point situations and variables.

Here are ten creative ways to have more fun on the court (and develop racquet and footwork skills at the same time).

1. “Role play” and take on a new or different on-court persona and style of play. As an example, assume the role of a “baseline grinder” and stay back on everything and play a defensive, high margin style of play.
2. Play “Slice War” where every shot must be hit with slice (back or under spin).
3. Play “Mini Tennis” using the service box or boxes as the court boundary and a requirement that no shots can be hit with pace. It’s a great game to develop finesse and “soft hands”.
4. With a partner of similar constitution and temperament, hit 1,000 balls in a row (or as many as you can in a consecutive rally). Yes, this can be fun.
5. Grab a ball machine and/or a willing (or perhaps unwitting) partner and “crank it up” with your groundstrokes, serve, overhead, etc. After a sufficient warm-up, hit the ball as hard as you can.  Now if you want to make your session more productive, adjust and modify how hard you hit the ball to find your “pace threshold” (what pace you can realistically maintain before going “over the edge” and not being able to get a reasonable number of balls in the court). One variation is to play “Offense/Defense” where one player attacks with sustained and relentless pressure while the other player defends by doing everything possible to get the ball back in play and extend the rally.
6. Play points (or hit rallies) where the objective is to move your partner (opponent) around as much as possible without actually putting the ball away. Try to extend or lengthen the rally and add variety to the rally by utilizing the entire court, varying spin and pace, etc.
7. Play “No Bounce” (or one bounce) points meaning that you’re not allowed to let the ball bounce at all during the point (or only allowed to let the ball bounce one time on your side of the court each point).
8. Play “Two Bounce” points. Maintain a rally or play points with the requirement that you have to hit the ball on the second bounce and the second bounce must land within the singles (or doubles) court lines.
9. Raise the net by two, three, four or more feet using extender poles and rope.  Play points or maintain rallies over this higher (raised) net to help establish a higher percentage stroke pattern.  If you can stake out two side-by-side indoor courts, it’s also possible to maintain a rally over the divider net to achieve a similar objective.
10. Hit for targets.  Set up targets at strategic locations to hone your groundstrokes, serves, etc.

Here are nine basic control variables for tennis which define your choices and options for each and every shot.  These nine control variables can also serve as frameworks to define your capabilities and to help you (or your coach/professional) construct a game plan for your development as a player.

1. Ball Control Variable #1 (Direction) – Here are the choices: Hit cross-court. Hit down-the-line. Maintain direction. Change direction (redirection)
2. Ball Control Variable #2 (Depth) – The choices are: Hit short. Hit to the mid court. Hit deep.
3. Ball Control Variable #3 (Net Clearance) – Your options are: Hit with low clearance over the net. Hit with medium clearance over the net. Hit with high clearance over the net. Hit higher still (with a lob).
4. Ball Control Variable #4 (Spin) – You can differentiate spin by: Hitting flat (little or no spin). Hitting with topspin (slight to extreme). Hitting with underspin (slight to extreme). Hitting with sidespin (slight to extreme). Varying spin. Combining spin (as applicable for each stroke).
5. Ball Control Variable #5 (Pace) – As defined by your range of capability, the options are: Hit softly with slow pace. Hit with moderate or medium pace. Hit hard and fast. Maintain pace (hit it back at the same speed or velocity). Vary pace by taking pace off the ball (hit it back slower). Vary pace by adding pace to the ball (hit it back faster).
6. Ball Control Variable #6 (Bounce) – Using a combination of pace, net clearance and spin, work the ball so that it responds with a high bounce, responds with a low bounce, responds with something in between a high and low bounce, projects or carries into the court with a varying level of force or stops and does not carry or project into the court.
7. Ball Control Variable #7 (Point of Contact/Timing of Contact in Relation to the Bounce) – In relation to the bounce or flight of the ball, the choices are: Hit the ball at the peak of the bounce. Hit the ball as the ball is dropping. Hit the ball as the ball is rising (hit the ball on the rise). Hit the ball before the bounce (with a volley).
8. Ball Control Variable #8 – (Point of Contact/Timing of Contact in Relation to Your Body) – In relation to your body and strike zone (which varies depending on whether you’re taking the ball after the bounce or before the bounce), adjust your feet and position to hit the ball below your strike zone, hit the ball at your strike zone (preferable) or hit the ball above your strike zone
9. Ball Control Variable #9 – (Point of Contact/Timing of Contact in Relation to Your Position on the Court) – Adjust your feet and position on the court to give your opponent more or less time to respond by hitting the ball progressively further back away from the net or baseline or hitting the ball progressively closer into the court and towards the net.
10. In conclusion…

So if the ball comes to you, what do you do?

The only things within your capabilities you can do.

You hit the ball left or you hit the ball right.

You hit the ball up and deep or perhaps short with only a little flight.

You hit the ball fast or you hit the ball slow.

And possibly with less or more spin for a decisive blow.

You make the ball bounce up or make the ball bounce low.

You make the ball carry into the court or create extra bite to make the ball go real slow.

But most importantly, you make the ball bounce in as most of you should know.

You close to take the ball in or fade back to take the ball late.

You hit the ball on the bounce early or hold your ground and wait.

All of which sets the match tempo in your control leaving nothing to fate.

So if the ball comes to you, what do you do?

Go with what you know, keep things simple and have a plan.

And remember to maintain control and play to your abilities as only you can.

1. Acclimatize. If at all possible, get used to the conditions by playing outside in the heat in progressively longer increments of time. Roger Federer is famous for his intense training in the heat of Dubai.
2. Hydrate. Drink 16 – 20 ounces of water or electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink (one standard bottle) two hours before competition or practice. An electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink should not contain more than 9% electrolytes and carbohydrates (19 grams per 8 ounces or 48 grams per 20 ounces). An electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink with a higher % content may slow the rate of absorption. A sports drink with salt (sodium chloride) helps to replace lost salt due to sweating and increases thirst and voluntary fluid intake. Drink 4 – 16 ounces of water or electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink during every changeover (or 32 – 60 ounces per hour). It’s important to drink consistently not just when you’re thirsty. Drink an electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink for matches or practice sessions lasting more the 60 minutes. Avoid drinking beverages containing caffeine and carbonation. Beverages containing caffeine and carbonation are not as effective in replenishing body fluid loss. After a match or practice session, drink one 20 ounce bottle of electrolyte-enhanced carbohydrate sports drink for every one pound of body weight loss within two hours after completion of the match or practice session.  The goal is to replace 120% – 200% of body weight lost during competition or practice.
3. Cover up. Wear a hat or visor. Wear UV protective clothing with a UPF rating of 30 or more.  Liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater every two hours. Wear sunglasses which provide 99 to 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection.  Seek shade if possible during changeovers and between points.
4. Take your time. Pace yourself by taking as much time as possible between points and during changeovers. Judiciously take towel breaks and manage the tempo of play to your advantage.
5. Be smart. Avoid playing from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM when the sun is most intense if you’re not feeling 100%.
6. Get strong. On and off court conditioning is a must to be truly successful (and confident) in extreme heat conditions. Heat-related fatigue, sickness and cramping are viewed by the ITF and USTA as the result of lack of conditioning and are not subject to medical injury rules for timeout and treatment.
7. Shorten the rally. Play “first strike” tennis to end the point more quickly.
8. Extend the rally. Of course if heat is your thing, you may be better served grinding and extending the rally to wear down your opponent.
9. Be positive. Embrace the challenge and approach things from a positive perspective. Make the best of the situation and don’t waste precious energy by complaining or getting down on yourself.  If conditions are bad for you, they’re just as bad for your opponent(s).
10. Play indoors. Avoid the intense mid-day heat and sun by playing indoors.