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Original source: The Tennis Congress
This video from The Tennis Congress covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Most tennis players instinctively run back to the middle 'T' after a shot. Here’s why that’s a tactical mistake and how to position yourself to cover the court like a pro.
Tennis Coaches Urge Players to Ditch Center-Court Recovery for Off-Center Positioning
One of the most common mistakes in tennis practice is recovering to the middle of the court after every shot, according to coach Craig Jones. He advises that a player's optimal recovery position is actually off-center, determined by the angle of their last shot. For instance, after hitting a ball wide, a player should recover diagonally towards that same side to better bisect the angles of the opponent's potential returns, particularly the high-percentage cross-court reply.
Jones calls the failure to connect a shot with the correct subsequent movement the "number one practice mistake" because it builds poor habits that fail under pressure. To correct this, he insists that players must physically move to the proper recovery spot after every single shot in practice, even when hitting from a basket of balls with no return coming. This repetition builds the instinct needed to anticipate and cover the court effectively during a real match.
"Every time you practice, after you make the shot you have to recover where you're supposed to go, even though you know the ball's not coming back."
Inside vs. Outside Angle: 'Wardlaw Directionals' Explain High-Percentage Shot Selection
Tennis coach Craig Jones explains a tactical principle called "Wardlaw directionals," developed by coach Paul Wardlaw, that helps players make smarter shot selections. The concept distinguishes between an "outside angle" (a ball moving away from the player's body) and an "inside angle" (a ball coming across the body). According to the principle, attempting to change the ball's direction is a significantly more difficult, lower-percentage shot when dealing with an outside angle.
This insight explains why elite players like Andre Agassi would often wait patiently during a rally for the right opportunity to attack. They are looking for an inside angle, which allows for a natural "pulling" motion to hit a powerful, direction-changing shot. Trying to force that same shot on a wide ball (an outside angle) is a common error that leads to mistakes. Understanding this distinction can help players at all levels reduce unforced errors and choose more effective tactics.
"It's coming across your body—he calls it an inside angle... if you watched the difference with Andre Agassi, it was like Wardlaw directionals. He would wait in the rally 'til he could pull it across the body."
To Improve Match Play, Tennis Practice Must Move from 'Blocked' to 'Random,' Coach Says
Tennis coaches should adopt a "representative learning design" to make practice more closely simulate a real match, says instructor Craig Jones. He advocates moving away from traditional "blocked" practice, where a player hits the same shot repeatedly. Instead, training should progress through three stages: from blocked, to "serial" (mixing shots in a predictable pattern), and finally to "random," where the player has no idea what shot is coming next.
Jones argues that blocked practice creates a false sense of confidence that disappears in competition. He compares it to old-style baseball batting practice, where hitters faced easy "lollipops" before a game, which didn't prepare them for 100-mph fastballs. Modern teams now use former pro pitchers to throw game-speed pitches in practice. By making tennis drills similarly unpredictable, players develop the crucial adaptability and decision-making skills needed to succeed in a match.
"Why the hell do you practice serving to the forehand 19 times in a row? I did it for years."
Tennis Drill 'Wide and Glide' Teaches Players to Link Serves with Offensive Shots
Tennis coach Craig Jones pushes back against the common advice for developing players to just focus on "getting the ball in" when practicing serves. He insists that players of all levels should practice with specific targets from the very beginning to build purpose and accuracy. Jones recommends using large zones as targets rather than small cones, noting that a player could hit a cone and the ball could still land feet out of bounds.
To apply this principle, Jones demonstrates a "wide and glide" drill. A player serves wide to a specific zone, and their practice partner returns the ball. The server must then hit their next shot—the "plus one"—into the opposite, open court. This drill trains players to not only execute an accurate serve but to immediately think one step ahead, linking the serve to a tactical pattern designed to move the opponent and win the point.
"Immediately go with targets. Let's have a purpose."
Drill Teaches Players to Base Shot Choice on Return Angle, Not Pre-Planned Plays
To train players to make smarter tactical decisions, coach Craig Jones introduces a drill focused on "dependent shots." A player serves wherever they choose, but their next shot—the "plus one"—is entirely dependent on the quality and angle of the opponent's return. The rule is simple: the server is only allowed to change the direction of the ball if the return provides an "inside angle," meaning a ball coming across their body.
This exercise breaks the habit of using pre-planned patterns, such as automatically hitting to the open court after a wide serve, which is often a low-percentage play against a good return. The drill forces the server to read the incoming ball and react with the correct tactical choice in real-time. By restricting direction changes to high-percentage situations, it trains players to construct points patiently and attack only when a clear opportunity arises.
"It's not 'I'm going to serve wide and I'm going to go up court no matter what.' That's probably not very realistic."
Doubles Players Urged to Practice Chip Lob Return to Neutralize Server and Attack Net
Coach Craig Jones highlights the chip lob return as a crucial but under-practiced shot in doubles, noting that professional teams like the Bryan brothers and Jamie Murray drill it in every practice. He demonstrates an exercise where a player practices returning serve with a tactical lob down the line, a play designed to push the server back and neutralize an aggressive team at the net.
The second, equally important part of the drill focuses on what to do after hitting the lob. Jones stresses that if the lob is effective and forces the serving team onto the defensive, the returner should not hesitate to follow their shot to the net. This move transforms a defensive return into an offensive play, allowing the returning team to seize control of the net and the point. The decision is "dependent" on the quality of the lob, teaching players to recognize and capitalize on opportunities they create.
"If you do it that well, come to net."
Singles Drill Focuses on 'Return Plus One' to Turn Second Serves into Opportunities
To help singles players capitalize on second serves, coach Craig Jones demonstrates a "return plus one" drill. The exercise simulates a common match scenario: one player hits a second serve, and the returner focuses on executing an aggressive return and playing the subsequent shot. The emphasis is on the returner's decision-making, as they must choose the highest-percentage shot based on the angle of the incoming serve.
The drill also reinforces the critical link between a player's shot and their recovery. After hitting the return, the player must immediately move to the correct defensive position on the court, which changes depending on whether they hit cross-court or down the line. This two-part focus helps players practice the entire sequence of turning a return into an advantageous rally position, rather than just hitting the return in isolation.
"Recover according to your return, and then secondly, we want to see what are you going to do with the next ball."
Coach Advocates for Random, Game-Like Drills to Bridge Gap Between Practice and Match Performance
The most common failure in tennis practice is an over-reliance on repetitive, "blocked" drills that don't translate to real matches, according to coach Craig Jones. He argues that players build a false "warm sense of mastery" by hitting the same shot perfectly over and over, only to perform poorly in matches where every shot is different. The antidote, he says, is to dedicate far more practice time to the two most important shots: the serve and the return.
To be effective, this practice must move beyond simple repetition. Jones advises that drills should progress from blocked to "serial" (patterned) and finally to "random," which best simulates a live-ball environment. Crucially, players must always practice the "plus one" shot—the ball immediately following the serve or return—and link it with proper recovery movement. This holistic approach prepares players for the unpredictable nature of a real match, bridging the gap between practice performance and match results.
"You get that warm sense of mastery when you do block practice... and then you suck in matches because you're practicing something that doesn't occur."
Also mentioned in this video
- The topic of the first four shots in tennis, emphasizing their importance based… (0:00)
- Many attendees actually practice their serve or return of serve outside of… (0:29)
- The lack of practice among tennis players for crucial elements like serve plus… (1:04)
- Practicing serve plus one and return plus one is more challenging in doubles… (2:27)
- Craig Jones details the court dimensions for doubles and singles, explaining… (3:21)
- The low number of participants who practice with another person, emphasizing… (5:02)
- Craig Jones demonstrates a serve plus one drill where players serve, the… (6:11)
- The three stages of serve development based on NTRP ratings (7:55)
- Craig Jones reviews the tactical elements covered in the serve plus one drill,… (12:42)
- The five ball characteristics in tennis (direction, height, depth, speed,… (15:30)
- Wardlaw directionals apply to doubles, explaining that hitting deep to the… (27:26)
- The resurgence of serve and volley in men's tennis, particularly with players… (29:36)
- The three stages for return of serve in singles (30:44)
Summarised from The Tennis Congress · 39:55. All credit belongs to the original creators. Streamed.News summarises publicly available video content.
