Hey Tennis Freaks!

Quick question:

Why do so many players look great in practice…but can’t win matches?

Watching the Miami Open this week and Cade coaching at the U12/U14 Nationals made this obvious.

The difference isn’t technique.

It’s how players handle imperfect situations.

At the Miami Open…

Points aren’t clean.

• players are late
• spacing isn’t perfect
• contact isn’t ideal

But they still find a way to win the point.

Now compare that to how most people practice:

• cooperative rallies
• predictable feeds
• starting every point balanced

That’s not tennis.

At Nationals this week, Cade is seeing it live:

The players who win aren’t the cleanest hitters…they adjust faster

They hit:

• off-balance
• on the run
• slightly mistimed

If your practice only works when everything feels good…it won’t hold up in matches.

Most players train:

❌ technique
❌ repetition

But matches reward:

…problem solving

Every ball is slightly different.

The players who win more:

• adapt quicker
• recover faster
• make decisions under pressure

That’s the real skill.

Cade’s been on court all week coaching at U12 & U14 Nationals.

Here’s what stands out:

the gap isn’t talent, it’s how players handle stress + chaos

Some players panic when things aren’t perfect.

Others compete harder when things get messy.

That’s not just tennis.

That’s life.

Next time you hit:

Stop trying to look clean.

Do this instead:

• start points off a bad feed
• play live points earlier
• stay in rallies when things break down

Then ask yourself one question:

👉 Can I still control the ball when I’m not set?

That’s where most players fall apart.

It’s also why we tested the Head Speed Tour this week.

This racquet doesn’t give you easy power…

👉 but it rewards control when things aren’t perfect

• stable when you’re stretched
• predictable when you’re late
• helps you reset instead of miss

If your game breaks down under pressure, it’s worth a look.

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.