As an instructor, I always thought that the more one played tennis or practiced, the better they become. As the world changed, most people have limited time and multiple interests. It has become harder and harder for a person to dedicate 100% of their time to one interest. As a result, time spent on multiple interests is fought over.
 
As a young instructor, I believed that hitting ball all day long was imperative. In actuality, it led to mindless playing and injuries. It was practice, practice, practice or drill, drill, drill! As an older instructor, I discovered that teaching a student the entire game as soon as possible, not just hit or drill, immediately allows a player to reach their potential much sooner.
 
Now, as soon as my student warms up, I have them playing points. Serving and returning incorporated in the drills. They learn movement, strategy and court sense right away. They immediately learn how to set up points and win points.
 
As a result, I found I have many players who actually practice a lot less and who perform much better in a real match under pressure. When you get good at just hitting a lot of balls, sometimes it does not translate into winning.
 
I like to teach my students the whole game and then allow them to compete. Learning under pressure, keeping score is much better than mindless hitting. Remember, it's "How" not "How much" you play.
 
Good luck on the courts!