Hey Tennis Freaks!

You’re not losing points because of your forehand.

You’re losing them because you don’t finish them.

You get the short ball.
You move forward.
And then you hesitate… or play it safe.

At higher levels, that’s the difference.

Good players build the point.
Better players finish it.

This week is all about that.

Let’s break it down.

Taj from Taj Teaches Tennis shared a simple rule:

Your volley should go where your body weight is moving.

If you’re moving left → volley left
If you’re moving right → volley right

Most players try to get “creative” here.

They change direction at contact.

That’s where errors happen.

When your body and your shot are aligned:

• cleaner contact
• better control
• easier recovery for the next ball

If you want to finish points, start here.

A common doubles mistake:

Standing still instead of adjusting with the ball.

Better rule:

Position yourself based on where the ball is being hit from.

This does two things:

• you’re closer to where the next ball is going
• you can actually finish instead of react

Most players don’t miss volleys because of technique.

They miss because they’re in the wrong spot.

Jonathan Stokke said it best:

You’re going to lose points either way.

But only one option moves you forward.

If you poach and miss:

• you apply pressure
• you make the court smaller
• you learn timing

If you stay and lose:

• you make it easy
• you stay passive
• you don’t improve

Finishing points requires action.

Not perfect timing.

A new format launched this week: INTENNSE’s first pro draft.

Teams. Coaches. Faster format.

Why this matters:

The game is slowly shifting toward:

• quicker points
• more aggressive play
• more net pressure

At every level, the players who win are the ones who:

👉 recognize the moment
👉 move forward
👉 finish

That applies just as much in your weekend match as it does at the pro level.

If you’re trying to get better at finishing points, your racquet matters more than you think.

I just dropped a full review of the Pure Aero 98.

What stood out:

• very stable through contact
• solid on volleys when you’re moving forward
• rewards clean, committed swings

But there’s a tradeoff:

• stiffer feel
• smaller sweet spot
• less forgiving if you’re late or off balance

If you’re a player who likes to move forward and finish at the net, this could actually be a really interesting option.

If you rely more on feel and forgiveness, it might be tougher to use.

See ya next Friday,
Cade & Chris

Premier racquet stringers, official stringers at the National Bank Open. Your go-to online tennis store for top gear in tennis, badminton, table tennis, squash, and pickleball. Use "MPTENNIS10" for 10% off.