QUESTION: How can we help our son reduce his unforced errors? Part 1
Frank: In my opinion, reducing unforced errors always starts with the identification process. On numerous occasions I have asked parents and coaches to map players using the Cause of Error Chart. (Found in the Match Chart Collection at Maximizingtennipotential.com). The results were very interesting.
While the majority of international coaches focused solely on shot production year in and year out, the main cause of mistakes was consistent shot selection and NOT form.
When analyzing the ’cause of error’ charts with elite athletes, the top cause of error was mental shot selection, followed by movement distance, a very close third was emotional performance fears… and last on the list was technical shot mechanics!
Since poor shot selection is the leading cause of mistakes at the higher competitive junior level, let’s focus on that aspect. Shot selection starts with understanding that there is only about 2 milliseconds of actual decision time between each shot in a rally. How much can you analyze in that short time? The answer is not much.
This means that most shot selection options are learned behaviors acquired on the practice field. That’s right. These tools must be plugged into a player’s game before the tournament begins. Presetting offensive, neutral, defensive and directional options is mental training.
“High shot selection is mental preparedness.”
To explain the importance of shot selection, we will use two of my students: Jack and Jason (brothers who couldn’t be more different). Jason chose to focus on the mental/emotional aspects of tennis early in his development, while Jack was and still is too cool to listen to this crazy stuff. Below are a dozen shot selection scenarios. Let’s see how each brother chooses to handle the situations.
The story of Jack and Jason
Situation #1: It’s an add-on. Holding serve means a comfortable 5-2 lead.
Jason: Selects a big kick, serve wide to the opponent’s weaker side. He executes a boring, successful pattern to close out the game.
Jack: Opts to go for a big ace up the middle (like the one he once made in tornado-like conditions in 2014.) He misses, gets angry and rushes into a double fault.
Situation #2: Our player has just hit an offensive shot and has the opponent dead run, stretching and dodging with a low backhand.
Jason: Sees the visual cues such as the position of the defensive court, body language, open racket face and opponent’s defensive hitting zone. He comes in, takes away the opponent’s recovery time and steals an easy volley winner.
Jack: He didn’t bother to learn to recognize these clues, so he stands at the baseline, lets the opponent float the ball back and starts the rally again. Jack just missed an important opportunity to win the point.
Situation #3: The opponent hits a deep cross-court ball.
Jason: Hits a neutral building, shoots four feet over the net and back across the field.
Jack: Tries to reach a screaming net as the half-volley winner skims down the line and fires the ball into the bottom of the net.
Situation #4: The brothers find themselves in a vulnerable position as they run five yards behind the baseline and retrieve the opponent’s great shot.
Jason: Throws a deep, high, defensive lob upward to push the opponent back and gain valuable recovery time.
Jack: Goes on the attack, along the line pass that ends up at the back fence… And then shouts… AAAAHHHH!
Situation #5: Our player gets to the ball too late. He is off balance and ends up hitting the ball down with his socks.
Jason: Quickly resets his attacking shot selection to neutral, choosing to simply prevent the opponent from taking an attacking position.
Jack: Still in full flight and goes for a topspin rip off of his shoelaces. The ball rips into the net.
Situation #6: Our player wins comfortably 6-3, 4-1.
Jason: Keeps doing the exact same, boring shot selections. He ends the match in routine fashion. He realizes how important it is to save physical and emotional energy for the next round.
Jack: Gets boring with such a lead. He’s starting to add some more exciting, yet low percentage new stuff. Essentially, Jack changed the shot selections that gave him a comfortable lead. Now the set is 5-5 and Jack is so angry that he acts like a crazy person; he throws his racket and shouts, “I hate tennis.” His situation is the result of his wandering mind.
Situation #7: Our player is down 1-4, but actually controls the court and the points. His hard basic style works, but he simply misses the tucked balls by inches.
Jason: Notices that the style works. He adapts by sticking to the hard-hitting playing style and chooses to apply more topspin to his shots and simply aim one meter inside the lines.
Jack: Is so upset that he’s missing that he doesn’t notice the fact that he’s actually controlling the points with his hard-hitting base game style. So he changes his hard hitting style and stands flat on his feet and pushes every shot. Jack’s slow, short balls are now ‘Sitting Ducks’ and the opponent has winner after winner on the field. After the match, Jack says, “He was too good.”
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