 |
November 2015 Article Turbo Tennis Archives:
Tennis Server
|
|
You will join 13,000 other subscribers in receiving news of updates to the Tennis Server along with monthly tennis tips from tennis pro Tom Veneziano. 
  |
|
Discovering The Type Of Player You Actually Are
Back in the dark ages when I was an undergraduate student, I recall that psychologists had identified at least two distinct personality types... Type "A" and Type "B." It has been a long time since I studied Psychology. Today, they may have identified more types.
TOTALS: _____ True _____False _____ Uncertain If you have answer 8 or more questions with a "False," you are what I call a Type "A" player. If you have answered 8 or more questions with a "True," you are what I call a "Type B" player. If you have answer 8 or more questions with an "Uncertain," I suspect that you are not really in touch with your game. You might want to reconsider some of your answers. However, there are some players who just don't fit completely into either category, and you may be one of these. Although the above questions are not the only indicators of player type, I have found them to be remarkably accurate with those I teach and coach. So now, I need to define what each player type means. Type "A" players are usually characterized by good to excellent athleticism and usually possess at least one weapon in their arsenal of strokes. Type "A" players are usually those players who play their best on "auto pilot." They need to simply hit out and to play their games. If they are on and if their games suit the surface and opponents, Type "A" players usually prevail. However, they are also prone to some serious losses... often times against players that they believe they should beat. Type "A" players can very easily "think" their way out of a match. They need to focus upon what they know best and play the style of tennis with which they feel most comfortable. Type "A" players do not perform well when they are taken out of their comfort zones. Execution is everything to a Type "A" player. They feel great pressure to win, and frequently, they are unable to control their emotions (positive or negative) on the court. When they are way down in a match, they usually show defeat in their eyes and body language. Often times, they hold onto their wins and losses longer than they should. When competing, Type "A" players may seem a bit one dimensional, but this is usually not a valid perception. Rather, Type "A" players just do not take advantage of all of their skills, strokes and abilities. Type "B" players are much more cerebral players. Frequently, they will be called "heady" players. They may possess a weapon or weapons, but they are willing to hit any shot. Sometimes, the Type "B" player takes the form of the dreaded "pusher." Type "B" players are usually probing their opponents for weaknesses. They generally approach the game with effective "counterpunching." They are not afraid to dominate a weaker opponent, but more often than not, the Type "B" player is helping her/his opponent lose. Quite often, Type "B" players are real students of the game of tennis. They are always looking for a new way to win. Type "B" players may show some emotion on the court (positive or negative), but these usually dissipate rather quickly. Stability, patience and persistence are the mainstay of the Type "B" player's game. Type "B" players usually know exactly what and why things happen in a match. They are learners and are constantly improving their games... many times without the assistance of a coach or a teaching pro. On collegiate, high school and club levels, Type "B" players fair very well. Brad Gilbert was an archetypal Type "B" player (albeit a bit more emotional than what is normally the case). He could reach the top 10 and he was able to win some big tournaments. His book, Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis-Lessons from a Master, sums up his approach to the game... do whatever it takes to win. He realized that there are no "style points" in tennis. On the pro level, my belief is that to be truly one of the best, you need to first be an accomplished Type "A" player. You need big and reliable weapons (note the plural in weapons). However, to move up a notch, you will also need to have the ability to sometimes adopt a Type "B" approach to the game. That is why I have such respect for coaches like Darren Cahill, Stefan Edberg, Brad Gilbert, Bob Brett (the man who helped Boris win his first Wimbledon), and in days past, Pancho Seguro. (He helped Jimmy Connors.) These Type "B" players, upon retirement, are able to help Type "A" players move up a notch. In my opinion, these are the truly best coaches. Fortunately, on the collegiate, high school and club levels, both player types can reach the top. Why? Well quite simply, the competition just isn't as fierce. The playing field is usually a bit more level. What is important is to realize what type of player you are and train accordingly. If you are a Type "A" player, you need to do lots of drills. You need to know where to hit a ball from any position on the court and imprint these placements in your tennis memory bank. You want your shots to be automatic. There should be no decision in your execution. You simply hit the ball where you have trained yourself to hit it. If this is good enough to win, so be it. If not, you stick with the plan and attempt to execute it better the next time. When I encounter Type "A" players, I do not try to change their orientation to the game. I have seen many coaches try to make a serve and volleyer out of a Type "A" baseline player... with little or no success. Rather, I try to put them through drills that replicate match play. They learn through a very rote methodology to hit shots over and over. For example, if the player has a great forehand, I will have him/her run around it every time the ball is less than half way into his/her ad court. This becomes automatic in time... requiring no thinking or reflection. I will have him/her hit this shot crosscourt 80% of the time (the percentage shot). This way, the player goes crosscourt unless there is a clear and compelling reason to go down the line (For example, if the opponent is drawn out wide on her/his ad court). When competing, the Type "A" player is free to do what she/he likes to do most... simply hit the ball... usually with pace! Type "B" players should train differently, in my opinion. They need to play lots of sets with their coaches. The coach should discuss, after each point, what options the Type "B" player should or could have selected in the situation. Type "B" players need to work on game strategies more than strokes. Of course, they need to be able hit and execute well, but unfortunately, most Type "B" players have, at best, only a single weapon. They are not likely to develop any more in any short period of time. They can, however, become great champions without lots of weapons... if they use their powers of observation and their critical thinking skills. A very simple (and admittedly inadequate) way of separating Type "A" from Type "B" players is as follows: Type "A" players will hit drop shots out of frustration or desperation... Type "B" players hit drop shots as winners. Parents of players often times ask me: "What should I do to help my child become the best tennis player she/he can become?" If they are very young (under 11 or 12), I recommend that they find teachers and coaches who will train them as a Type "A" player. In this way, they develop automatic and solid stroke production. Usually, this will lead to the development of at least one weapon. If the child is older than 12, an assessment of player type and associated decisions need to be made. Assuming that the child is a Type "A" player, one needs to know how many weapons she/he has and how reliable are they? If these areas are weak, I would recommend a Type "A" training approach to solidify the necessary foundation. Later on in her/his tennis life, Type "B" training can be added... usually on the collegiate or satellite levels. However, if the child is naturally a Type "B" player, she or he will rarely improve with Type "A" training. She/he needs to develop the strategic breadth that will allow them to adapt to many competitive situations. If she/he is given this type of training early on, her/his high school and college "careers" will probably be successful. If the Type "B" player is exclusively given Type "A" training, he/she will probably become frustrated and feel inadequate. Why? Because he/she will perceive that he/she does not comparatively possess sufficient weapons. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that the Type "B" player will greatly benefit from Type "A" training... they usually have no real "weapon." However, they can succeed if they learn to use the breadth of their game wisely. Once in a very rare while, a child will come along who possesses Type "A" strokes and a Type "B" player personality. These are the true prodigies and deserve to get the very best training available... they truly have a future in professional tennis! I label these talent "futures" as Type C players. So, take inventory of your approach to the game of tennis and train accordingly. If you do, I am sure that in no time you will become a tennis overdog!
1996 - 2002 | 2003 - Present
This column
is copyrighted by Ron Waite, all rights reserved. Questions and comments
about these columns can be directed to Ron by using this form.
Ron Waite is a certified USPTR tennis instructor who took up the game
of tennis at the age of 39. Frustrated with conventional tennis methods
of instruction and the confusing data available on how to learn the
game, Ron has sought to sift fact from fiction. In his seven years of
tennis, Ron has received USTA sectional ranking four years, has successfully
coached several NCAA Division III men's and women's tennis teams to
post season competition, and has competed in USTA National singles tournaments.
Ron has trained at a number of tennis academies and with many of the
game's leading instructors.
In addition to his full-time work as a professor at Albertus Magnus
College, Ron photographs ATP tour events for a variety of organizations
and publications. The name of his column, TurboTennis, stems from his
methods to decrease the amount of time it takes to learn and master
the game of tennis.
|
 |
|
October 2022 Tennis Anyone: Patterns in Doubles by John Mills. September 2022 Tennis Anyone: Short Court by John Mills. |
