Tennis Coach Greg

I met a nuclear physicist once, and I asked them this question
If you had a dice, a single dye that is perfectly cubed
And a table that is perfectly flat
In a room with no air, no windows no variables
And you had a robot that dropped the dice onto the table in the exact same way every time, with the 6 always facing down
All the factors are the exact same every time the dice is dropped, would the dice land on the same number every time
Most people I ask that question say yes
Then I ask them, so does that mean luck exists? And then they usually pause and say I suppose it doesn’t no
But do you know nuclear physicist said? They said no, the dice would not land on the same number every time
And the reason they said no is because even if you had all the best scientists in the world, all the money in the world, you cannot create anything that is perfect
So that taught me 2 things, number 1, luck is just the imperfect randomness of the world, luck is just the word we use to describe that imperfect randomness
And number 2, nothing and no one is perfect
If you want to improve on the tennis court, give me a follow.

How to read your opponent like a pro. 🔽

Pro tennis isn't just about reaction speed, it's about anticipation. If you are only reacting to the ball after it leaves your opponent’s racket, you are already too late.

Champions look like they have all the time in the world because they actively decode the court before the ball is even struck. To stop scrambling and start dictating the pace of the match, you must master the 4 pillars of pro-level anticipation:

1️⃣ Geometric Elimination (Reading the Angles):
Before you even look at your opponent's body, look at the court geography. Based entirely on where your opponent is standing and where your previous shot landed, physics restricts their available court space. By understanding high-percentage tactical angles, you can mentally eliminate 50% of the court before they even swing. Don't defend the whole court, defend the geometric reality.

2️⃣ The Technical Read (Decoding the Mechanics):
Your opponent's stroke mechanics will always give away their intent. Train your eyes to instantly scan three things as they set up: their *racket face angle*, their *shoulder orientation*, and the depth of their *backswing*. A late contact point or an open racket face physically cannot drive the ball crosscourt. Read the mechanics, and you read the destination.

3️⃣ Tactical Prediction (Pattern Recognition):
Under pressure, 90% of tennis players default to their comfort zones. They stop playing creatively and start playing automatically. Pay attention during the first three games: Where do they serve on break points? Do they always slice when pulled out wide on the backhand? Once you crack their behavioural patterns, you can sit on their favourite shots and punish them.

4️⃣ Intuitive Fluidity (Trusting the Subconscious Feel):
This is the ultimate stage of performance that comes from disciplined match play. When you build up enough hours on court, your subconscious brain begins processing micro-signals, like a slight shift in your opponent's balance or foot spacing, before your conscious mind even notices it. Learn to trust your gut instincts when moving to a ball; your body often knows where the shot is going before you can articulate why.

If you are ready to eliminate the unforced errors, master your tactical anticipation, and finally take your tennis to the next level, it's time to build a structured routine.

👇 Comment "TACTICS" and I'll send you the free guide on the 3-step process that helped my students win more matches.

80% of tennis matches is played between points 🎾

So what should your thinking be during a match?

👉 70–80% tactical problem solving
👉 20–30% self-talk that helps you feel how you want to play

That balance keeps you clear, focused, and competitive.

Get those two right, and your tennis levels up fast.

If you’re ready to improve, comment TENNIS👇 and let’s get started.

🧠 YOU DON'T LOSE TO BETTER PLAYERS. YOU LOSE TO YOUR OWN MIND.

The difference between closing out a tight match and completely falling apart isn't your physical skill, it's how you handle the chaos in your head.

Here are 5 non-negotiable mental rules to stay aggressive, confident, and locked in:

1️⃣ Flip the Internal Script:

The second you tell yourself "I always choke my second serve," you’ve already gifted them the break. Stop coaching your opponent. Swap the emotional criticism for clear, tactical commands: "Next point. Kick out wide. Heavy topspin." Control the voice in your head before it controls your swing.

2️⃣ Stack the Micro-Wins:

You don't need a highlight-reel winner down the line to shift the momentum. Did you hit a deep, heavy return? Did you move your feet well on a defensive slice to stay in the rally? Give yourself a subtle fist pump. Momentum is built by intentionally celebrating the small ex*****on wins, not obsessing over the unforced errors.

3️⃣ Weaponize Your Between-Point Routine:

Look across the net. If your shoulders are slumped while you're walking back to the baseline, you are handing free confidence to your opponent. Use those 25 seconds to towel off, fix your strings, and project absolute composure. When you look unfazed, your brain starts believing it, and your opponent starts doubting their own strategy.

4️⃣ Ruthlessly Filter the Noise:

Bad line calls, windy conditions, or a missed overhead from three games ago, none of it matters because you can’t change it. Lock your focus entirely on the only variables you actually own: your footwork split-step, your racquet preparation, and your targets.

5️⃣ Hit the 0-0 Reset Button:

The biggest mistake players make is carrying the ghost of a blown deuce point into the next game. Treat every single point like a brand-new match. Take a deep breath at the baseline, flush the last error, and focus entirely on the ball in front of you.

I teach this exact mental framework, along with everything else that goes into building a complete player, inside The Online Tennis Academy.

👇 Comment "FREE" and I'll send you 7 days free access.

I don’t usually make technical videos… but this needed saying 🎾

Did you know your grip affects how bent or straight your arm is at contact?

👉 Full western grip = you’ll need a more bent arm to get the right racket angle
👉 Continental grip = much easier to keep the arm straighter at contact

Otherwise, you’re compensating (like leaning back) just to find the right angle.

Is this obvious to you, or new?
Let me know in the comments 👇

The #1 Method to Dominate Match-Day Nerves

Nerves aren’t going anywhere. Every single player on the planet, from club level to Grand Slam champions, feels the weight of pressure. The difference? Average players let nerves paralyze them. Champions weaponize them.

If you want to hijack your nervous system and turn anxiety into hyper-focus, you need to use the exact biological hack utilized by Novak Djokovic: "Box Breathing."

When pressure mounts, your heart rate spikes, your breathing gets shallow, and your muscles freeze up. Box breathing instantly forces your body out of "fight-or-flight" mode and resets your cognitive baseline.

The 4-Step Reset Framework:

Inhale: 4 seconds (Fill the lungs slowly)
Hold: 4 seconds (Lock the oxygen in)
Exhale: 4 seconds (Release all the tension)
Hold: 4 seconds (Empty the lungs completely)
Repeat this cycle 3 times between games or changeovers.

Why the Pros Rely on This (The Science):

1️⃣ Arousal Regulation: Deep diaphragmatic breathing physically stimulates the vagus nerve. This lowers your heart rate in under 15 seconds, stopping the physical "shakes" before a big serve.

2️⃣ The Present-Moment Anchor: By counting to four, you force your brain to focus on a rhythmic task. This completely shuts down the internal panic loop of "What if I lose this game?" or "What if I double fault?"

Next time you feel your chest tightening at 4-4 in the final set, don't fight the feeling. Step back, look at your strings, and box breathe.

Comment "BELIEF" and I'll send you my free guide on building confidence that actually holds up under pressure.

How do you know what to work on tactically in tennis? 🤔
Here’s a simple formula to help you stop guessing and start improving 👇

Step 1: Look at where you're losing points — either by charting your matches or going off your feel. Be honest with yourself.

Step 2: Focus on what’s most important, most frequent, and easiest to improve. That’s where your time should go 🎯

For example: if you're getting broken a lot on serve, you’d want to improve your 1st serve out wide on the ad side. Why?

1st serve = most important
Happens every game = most frequent
Easier to train than 2nd serves or specialty shots
And on the ad side, because most pressure points happen there — and the wide serve statistically wins more points than the serve down the T 💡
Then, look at the next shot — your +1 ball. Have a go-to pattern you trust, like serve wide, hit open court. Simple and effective.

Do this with every area of your game — and you’ll be more confident, more strategic, and win way more matches.

If you want to improve tactically, give me a follow and comment TACTICS to discuss working with me 1-on-1 🎾

🧠 YOU CAN HAVE A MILLION-DOLLAR FOREHAND, BUT IT'S WORTH NOTHING IF YOU HAVE A TEN-CENT MINDSET.

When the momentum shifts and things start to slip away, average players panic while champions execute. Here are *5 non-negotiable mental rules* elite pros use to stay aggressive, confident, and focused:

1️⃣The 3-Second Visual Lock (Eye Coaching):
Feeling anxious? Lock your eyes on a single, non-moving target for 3 seconds before a point. This helps calm your mind.

2️⃣Standardize Your Post-Error Reaction (Emotional Control):
Don't let a bad miss get to you! Turn away from the court and count to 3 in your head. This breaks the negative energy and preps you to move forward.

3️⃣ The Physical Trigger Anchor (Muscle Mindset):
Nerves can freeze you up. Bounce on your toes and shake it out to signal your body that it's time to execute!

4️⃣Shift to an "Outward Focus" (The Scanning Method):
When losing, focus on your opponent instead of your own feelings. Notice their positioning and breathing, this shifts your mindset away from panic.

5️⃣Play the "First 4 Shots" Game (Micro-Targeting):
Under pressure? Simplify things! Focus only on executing the first 4 shots into big crosscourt targets. This takes the fear of outcome off the table.

Comment "BELIEF" and I'll send you my free guide on building confidence that actually holds up under pressure.

Thinking about winning mid-match? That’s when things tighten up 🎾

It pulls you into extrinsic motivation—focused on results like winning, ranking, money, trophies, or recognition.

But the best tennis comes from intrinsic motivation—playing for the love of the game.

No one is 100% one or the other…
But if you rely too much on outcomes, pressure rises and performance drops—especially when you’re close to winning.

Shift your focus. Play for the process, not just the result.

Want help building that mindset?
Comment TENNIS👇

Much love everyone 💛 💛