Hey Tennis Freaks!

Tennis highlights can be dangerous.

You see:

Jump smashes.
Running forehands.
Impossible winners.

But highlights do not show the real story of tennis.

Most matches are decided by patience.

This week, we found three clips that showed exactly why.

Let’s break it down.

One of the most shared clips this week was a Gaël Monfils point.

He looked completely out of the rally.

Defending.
Stretching.
Scrambling.

Then suddenly…

Defense turned into offense.

Winner.

Most club players would have tried to end the point three shots earlier.

Pros stay in the rally.

Here is a coaching clip that asks a simple question:

Should you keep rallies short or be patient?

The answer was interesting.

Patience first. Attack second.

Impatience creates errors.

Patience creates opportunities.

Most club players try to force offense too early.

But the best players understand something different:

The short ball is earned, not forced.

Move the opponent.
Keep depth.
Wait for the right moment.

The rally rewards the patient player.

A coaching clip circulating this week showed a simple fix for players who struggle to rally.

Three keys:

• shorten the backswing
• focus on footwork and timing
• prioritize control over power

The message was simple:

Smooth contact beats big swings. Practice this with Mini Tennis.

When players start missing rallies, the problem is often not their technique.

It is their swing size.

Shorter swings give you:

• better timing
• better control
• longer rallies

If you want to stay in points longer, start by simplifying your swing.

I tested something funny.

I asked ChatGPT to pick my dream racquet setup.

The specs looked amazing.

On paper it was perfect.

Then my wrist quit.

Lesson learned.

Technology can help.

But your body still has the final vote.

This week try one simple challenge.

Stay in rallies three shots longer than normal.

No hero shots.

Just depth and patience.

You may find you win a lot more points.

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.