Learn From The Best - November '24

First Class Lectures by Outstanding Professionals

Andy Dowsett
“The Beginner’s Routemap to Success.”
I always love Andy’s natural style of talking about tennis education. I mean, the man has educated over 3000 coaches spanning 3 decades. Quite an accomplishment. Last month, Andy made an offer to our readers with a free e-book giveaway and the raffling off of a huge book collection. Whenever Andy is lecturing at a conference, that event gains tremendously.

Sarah Stone
“Professionalism: The Recruitment Journey”
I had never heard Sarah Stone giving a lecture and was pleasantly surprised by the information and the clarity of her approach. Yes, finding a job in racquet sports can be quite a journey but when you’re armed with some of Sarah’s suggestions, it may not be that difficult anymore. Well done, Sarah.

To subscribe to all lectures at the conference, go here.

Net Gain - Are you a net avoider, net visitor, net regular, net controller, or net dominator?

One of the significant problems that people experience when trying to improve their net play is creating exceedingly high expectations. I will help you clear one mental hurdle to help you improve your net game incrementally until, over time, you can become someone who has a reputation for being very good in the front court and someone to fear as they move forward. The problem is that people think they should go from not playing well at the net to dominating in the net in a few lessons. And those expectations lead to feeling like a failure in an all-or-nothing act of futility. I will show you a better way.

The first step is to realize that you can make one slight incremental improvement in your net game. You can add one skill or two and move from one stage of frontcourt mastery to another, gaining confidence as you go. An example is Aaron, who went from being a high school junior varsity doubles player who could hit one good volley to a starting singles player who could finish at the net to playing college tennis as a strong net player within 3 years. There are net avoiders, visitors, regulars, controllers, and dominators.  If you avoid the net, you want to become a net visitor; come in a few times a set. Once you get comfortable with that, intentionally become a regular, where you might come in during every game or more. As you gain skills and push yourself, you could begin to control the net, taking it away from your opponent. The ultimate mastery level is the net dominator who lives up front, and you can’t keep them back at the baseline for too long. 

To visit the net or become a net regular, all you need is a decent approach shot and the ability to hit one good volley. The summer before Aaron’s senior year, he could hit one good approach shot and one good volley, but that summer, he worked on hitting a better, deeper, more accurate approach shot to pressure the opponent and remove some pressure from his first volley. He also became much better at hitting two volleys, one to open the court and the other to finish. Previously, as a visitor, he would hope his opponents would miss a passing shot, and they did. Now, as a regular/controller, he could use his volley to finish the point, force more errors, and get a few more winners, making the opponent feel helpless. 

So now, self-assess, what are you?

Net Avoider, Net Visitor, Net Regular, Net Controller, or Net Dominator.

Would you like to take my self-assessment test?  It only takes a few minutes and will give you a much more precise and not-so-subjective idea about where you are. Then you can ask your coach, “How can I get to the next level?”.  You can also buy my book Net Gains for detailed strategies for reaching the next level.  

For the self-assessment test, email me now at [email protected].  Thank you.  

Also, enjoy this video as a overview of the book: https://www.youtube.com/live/vOVsYTEc7XU?si=KjfPoVBmnfOlNNWm

Bill Patton

Bill has spent over 35 years teaching and directing tennis, consistently exploring the latest advancements in neuroscience to enhance understanding of how individuals learn and excel. He is married, has two adult children, and proudly calls San Diego, CA, his home.

Let me take you on a journey—one that starts at the very core of every successful tennis player: their footwork. Imagine a player who seems to glide across the court, effortlessly reaching each ball, always in the perfect position to strike. It’s not magic, and it’s not just talent—it’s the result of a well-coached, integrated approach to footwork.

Let me share a story of one of my players. Early on, they struggled—not with strength or technique, but with always being a step behind. The frustration was written on their face after every match. The answer wasn’t more power or even faster reactions; it was footwork.

The approach we took was integrated—meaning we didn’t just focus on speed drills or lateral movements in isolation. We broke down the game:

Anticipation Before Movement

The first thing we worked on was anticipation. We focused on how to read the opponent, to see where the ball would go before it was hit. We watched the body language, racket angles, and patterns of play. Soon, my player began moving before the ball was even struck.

The Importance of the Split-Step

From there, we turned our attention to the split step. It’s one of the most basic moves in tennis but is often overlooked. We worked on timing it right before every hit, setting the body up for quick acceleration in any direction. Once mastered, this small adjustment alone shaved precious moments off my player’s reaction time.

Positioning and Balance

But footwork is not just about getting to the ball—it’s about how you get there. We focused on keeping the body balanced through each movement. Whether it was stepping into a forehand or recovering from a wide shot, every step mattered. We used drills where we emphasized maintaining balance through sudden directional changes, ensuring that each shot was hit from a position of strength, not desperation.

Footwork as a Tactical Weapon

As my player’s footwork improved, so did their ability to turn defense into offense. They began to use their positioning to put pressure on their opponents, stepping inside the baseline for an aggressive forehand or smoothly transitioning to the net for a volley. It wasn’t just about reacting anymore—they were dictating the game.

With this integrated approach, footwork became more than just a skill; it became the foundation of their game. They started reaching balls they never could before, recovering from difficult shots with ease, and staying in points longer. Confidence grew as they learned that with the right footwork, they could be in control, no matter where they were on the court.

This story is just one example, but the truth is that every player can benefit from a focus on integrated footwork. It’s not about being the fastest player on the court—it’s about moving with purpose, balance, and precision. And as coaches, it’s our role to teach them how.

By working on an integrated approach to footwork, you’re giving your players the tools to move smarter, cover more ground, and ultimately, play their best tennis.

Remember, it all starts from the ground up.

P.S. If you are craving even more from strategies by accessing the full presentation, along with many other expert coaches, through the WTC Club Membership.

The WTC Club Membership includes:
More than 300 presentations from top coaches like Frederic Fontang, Toni Nadal, Gilles Cervara, and many more!

• Weekly emails with advice and suggestions on various tennis topics.

• Weekly resources (workbooks, infographics, books, and more).

• Free live webinars with top coaches.

• Exclusive invitations to all WTC events!

Join here: https://coachtu.be/membership/wtc-club-membership

For the love of tennis,

Fernando & WTC Team

Fernando has produced several tennis videos with recommendations for coaches in several crucial aspects of the development of the game. Topics like: the National Development Program, High Performance, how a coach has to implement his HP program, Tennis Schools recommendations, and many others.

Fernando is also one of a few coaches that have worked closely with the ITF.  He has produced and directed 5 ITF Regional Workshops (2 in Argentina and 3 in México) and also the 18th ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference in Cancun 2013. This was elected as the best organized in the history of the ITF by Development Director at that moment, Dave Miley.

He has also presented more than 100 tennis courses in many countries speaking about different aspects of tennis on subjects such as developing clubs, organization, and the game.