For the Love of the Game
The latest free blogs.
Lessons from Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a great role model for any competitive player. Here are 5 things I whish every one of my players would copy....
Fundamental Rally Tactics
One of the greatest mistakes players make is practicing to hit the ball better instead of practicing to win. For many players learning to play tennis means learning to hit the ball, so they...
Stay Away from the Net
One of the easiest ways to improve your game immediately, is by aiming higher over the net. Most players think that a great shot in tennis is fast and low over the net. They look at the net and...
Let the Ball Bounce Twice!
In this blog you will learn the secrets of the second bounce and why sometimes letting the ball bounce twice is a great coaching tool that will reveal very useful information....
Tossing hand and path of the toss until impact
The unbelievable range of movement variations is particularly evident on serve. In this article, we first look at the variation in Nadal and Dimitrov, at what height the ball is released (at a...
Men at Work
The main difference between top players and the rest. Here is some video footage from Domink Koepfeer at work. The drills are quite common, they focus primarly on intensity, rhythm, serving plus...
Who are the Best Coaches in the World?
What does the term “best coaches in the world” really mean? Are they the most knowledgeable coaches? Are they the ones responsible for the high level of play of top players? What about all the...
Practical Mental Training
The following video provides a summary of the mental game along with several simple yet very effective tips and ideas to help you play more relaxed, confident and focused....
Approaching the Net Successfully
Playing tactically solid tennis requires you to understand the odds and constantly hit the shot that will give you the best chance of winning the point. Here are a few ideas to help win more...
Beating a Pusher
No one likes to play a pusher. It is frustrating to face a player that keeps sending the ball back, back and back. Pushers do not play to win the points, they just keep returning your shots...
Passing Shot Fundamentals
Facing someone charging the net can be intimidating, but understanding the following tactical concepts will help you win more points against net rushers. Here are some important fundamental...
A Letter to Parents – Why Tennis?
Through this letter, I would like to invite every parent to introduce their children to tennis. It is one of the best things you can do to enrich their lives....
10 Rules to Win More Points Against Net-Rushers
Here are ten practical and effective rules to beat net-rushers...
10 Rules to Win More Baseline Exchanges
One of the greatest mistakes players make is practicing to hit the ball better instead of practicing to win. For many players learning to play tennis means learning to hit the ball, so they...
How to Win More of the Key Points in the Match
Winning key points consistently is what separates the top players from the rest. In key points one needs to play the odds. The following ideas will improve your chances in these determinant situations....
Practicing to Win
One of the greatest mistakes players make is practicing to hit the ball better instead of practicing to win. For many players learning to play tennis means learning to hit the ball, so they...
Anticipation
Most people think of anticipation as knowing in advance where the opponent will hit the shot. However, that is a very simplistic and incomplete definition....
The Greatest Drill in the World
Payer-development coaches are obsessed with finding new drills, but in reality, the greatest drill in the world has already been discovered. It is the only drill where players can practice every si...
Is There such a Thing as “Key Points” in Tennis
This concept of the “key points” is often used by coaches and throughout my career I have heard many different points labeled "key points." For example: the first point in each game, the deuce...
Are you a Smart Player?
The difference between smart players and the rest is that every smart player does the following things every time they compete: Warm up correctly Smart players are ready mentally and physically for...
Learning from Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is a great role model for any competitive player. Here are 5 pieces of advice based on the way he approaches the game: 1) Tennis has only one Gear: All out! A few points decide most ma...
Comparing Forehands with Swing-path Animation
In this interesting swing-path animation, we admire three forehands: Nadal, Federer and Murray. The swing-path depicts the trajectory of the tip of the racquet-head and therefore provides a clear r...
How to Improve Match-Play Performance
Tennis, like everything else in life has a set of rules to help you succeed. Edgar Giffenig calls these rules the "Laws of the Battle." Here are his "Laws of Match Play."...
Improving Balance – a Serve Progression
Sina Herrmann, one of the top junior players in Germany will start her professional career after she finishes high school. She won her first ITF 25K tournament in September and improved her WTA ran...
Thiem’s Horse Kick while Landing on his Serve
Watch Thiem's beautiful serve in Slow motion. Throughout the swing Thiem remains sideways, the back hip rotating over the front one, which allows him to land on his front foot with the back foot...
A Mental Ride on a Razor Blade
Dominik Koepfer had an incredible run in Rome. Three, 3-set matches coming from behind, a match point against him saved, the unexpected success against Monfils, ranked in the top 10 in the world...
On Watching the Ball
“Watch the ball” is probably the most common instruction in tennis, and one would think that after hearing it over and over, lesson after lesson, a player would at some point become proficient ...
“FOCUS”… “CONCENTRATE”
If you are looking to imitate a one-handed backhand, Dominik Thiem is the perfect model. Here are a few things to observe....
Take your Doubles Game to the Next Level
Doubles is a game of percentage. The team that wins is not the team that hits the best shots but the one that does the right things over and over. Here are 10 rules to better doubles: Think “m...
A Quick Guide for Effective on-court Coaching
The followign guide is meant as a reminder for any coach looking to optimize their time on the court. Most point will be second nature for seasond coaches but an objective review once in a while wi...
Make Academics the Driving Factor in your College Tennis Decision
I am often amazed when talking to ranked competitive high school tennis players about their college plans. In many cases their school choices are mostly based on tennis related factors – the coa...
Change your Attitude to Improve your On-court Movement
Movement is one of the most important aspects in tennis, and the ability to move better can make a huge difference in a player’s game. Fitness training has become an essential component for ever...
What Every Coach of Competitive Players should Remember
The coach does not make the player. The player makes him or herself with the help of the coach. They are never your players. Players pass through your program. No one can steal your players. Player...
The Unconventional Rise of Dominik Koepfer
Many of you may not recognize the name “Dominik Koepfer” since he just broke into the “big leagues” by reaching the round of sixteen at the US Open after mostly playing on the Challenger Ci...
A One-Handed Backhand of a New Grand-Slam-Champion
If you are looking to imitate a one-handed backhand, Dominik Thiem is the perfect model. Here are a few things to observe....
Camouflage
Time is one of the most valuable commodities on the court. In essence a tennis match is nothing more than a battle for time, with both players trying to gain time and take time away from the opponent....
Are You Sabotaging Your Development?
Becoming a great player is incredibly difficult even when doing everything right. Here are ten common mistakes many competitive tennis players regularly make without understanding the tremendous da...
10 Things You Can Do When You Are Nervous On The Court
Nerves are an integral part of competition. Every competitive tennis player feels nervous when stepping on the court. The difference is that the best players have learned how to channel their nervo...
Interview: The Bryan Brothers on How the Doubles Game has Evolved
From ages 13 to 15, the Bryan brothers played for the USTA national team. TennisGate coach Edgar Giffenig was a National Coach for the USTA and traveled with them during that time. In this exclusiv...
How to Improve Your Tennis Game at Home
With most of us isolating, playing tennis will be difficult. However, there are many things that you can do to continue to improve your game when confined to your home. Here are 6 ideas to improve ...
Return of Serve Tennis Guide: Technique, Drills to Improve, & Key Tactics
Every point in tennis starts with a serve, and a return. Your success as a player is highly dependent on your ability to execute these two shots successfully. A big mistake many players make is...
How to Hit a Kick or Slice Serve in Tennis
Learning to serve with spin is an important goal for any serious tennis player. It’s also something many players fail to achieve. A slice serve and a kick serve will take your game to a whole...
How to Volley in Tennis: Video Tips, Drills, & Common Mistakes
The strategy in tennis has changed in the last 30 years, favoring the baseline game more and more. However, knowing how to volley well is still a very important skill and an absolute necessity,...
One-Handed Backhand Slice: The 5-Step Guide to a Great Slice Backhand
A very useful alternative to a one-handed topspin backhand is the backhand slice. It’s a great defensive shot in tennis that you often see professionals hit on TV. So, how do we hit an effective...
One-Handed Backhand Guide: How to Hit with Proper Technique, Pro Tips, & Common Mistakes
The last decade has seen a resurgence of the one handed backhand at the top of the game demonstrating that a good one-handed backhand can be as effective or even more effective than a two handed...
Two Handed Backhand: 6 Steps to a Great Backhand, Mistakes to Avoid, & Drills to Practice
In the last 50 years the backhand has evolved from a predominantly one-handed groundstroke to a two-handed shot. The reason for this is that most players find it to be an easier to play...
How to Hit a Forehand in Tennis: Grip, Technique, & Drills
We break down the forehand groundstroke into everything you need to know. With video, images, and text, we cover the proper grip, technique, and drills to practice. Then we show you a slow-motion...
Tennis Singles Strategy: 8 Tactics to Help You Win!
These strategies lay the foundation for any tactical game plan and are essential to succeed on the court. A good strategic plan on the court is like having a GPS in your car. It keeps you on the...