Comments on: #1 Thing In Tennis You Must Never Forget: Intention

By: Quinby

Quinby — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:47:27 +0000

At 82 years old, thinking about where you want the ball to go, is the single best thing I have ever thought about!

Thanks!

By: Tomaz

Tomaz — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 22:13:34 +0000

In reply to Antoine. Very much appreciated, Antoine!

By: Antoine

Antoine — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:41:23 +0000

Hi Tomaz.
I am a 5.0 player and I have to say that you are one of the wisest and cleverest coach on line.
Thank you for your posts which benefit the whole community of tennis players from beginner to advance.

By: RICHARd

RICHARd — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:48:06 +0000

i have never heard this advice before and it has really got me thinking where I have been going wrong. I tend to just return a shot without thinking about what i want to do first and frequently especially if i move up to the net or try an approach shot i miss it completely much to everyone’s amusement. I will try your thought process next time im on court. I assume im missing these shots because i am at the last minute thinking about grip, how to hold racquet and where is the opponent instead of where i intend to place the ball. i am trying to think of too many things at the same time and then miss the shot.

By: T. P. Thurman

T. P. Thurman — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:56:40 +0000

Very well put, as a teaching pro for the last 34 years I can’t agree more. Visualization is key, I’ll preach to use it prior to every shot, some have more time than others such as the serve/returns on one end of the time frame scale, and the reflex volley on the other.
I’ve also been taught to teach, when walking up to serve as yourself, where to serve (FH, BH, or Body) where to go after the serve, (back or forward) all based on both players strengths & weakness, game & set score, singles or doubles. All visualized prior to the toss up.

By: Carlo

Carlo — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:56:11 +0000

In reply to Daniel. 100% true! :-)

By: charlotte

charlotte — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 13:05:54 +0000

Fantastic video and detailed explanation ! I tried it in a match immediately and it helps a lot ; it helps me also to avoid ‘thinking about technique’ because this technique-thinking is like a negative circle in a match ….
I am a huge fan . thanks

By: Tomaz

Tomaz — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:18:52 +0000

In reply to Marcion.

Good points, Marcion. Yes, any time you think anything as the ball is approaching you, you are taking a part of the brain’s processing power away so there is less “CPU” power to process the ball’s flight.

Ans since that’s a very demanding calculation, as soon as you don’t have full “CPU” capacity, it will probably not be enough power to calculate the ball’s flight well and you’ll be late or misjudge the distance to the ball.

By: Marcion

Marcion — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:35:46 +0000

The was an insight I’d been (finally) reaching myself, so I’m really pleased to see it confirmed here.

I realise now that my high unforced error rate has been mostly down to errors in decision-making, not errors in technique. When I just think about where I want to put the ball, and nothing else, I make all the final micro-adjustments automatically and the shots are great. As soon as I start thinking about anything else – technique, the score, the opponent – I react late and everything misses.

I think this also explains why pushers can really mess you up. As you say their own intent is really strong, but also their shots give you too much time and too many options, so you overthink an easy ball where you’d just react instinctively to a more difficult one.

By: John A Flores

John A Flores — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 21:06:26 +0000

This video on intention is the best advice I’ve seen or heard in years. I have a general question for you about playing doubles. In doubles all other things being equal, it seems like a flat hard forhand and also backspin can be more effective than topspin. In other words harder to return. Therefore in doubles it seems worthwhile to try to flatten your shots if you can be as consistent with either. So with the INTENTION of getting the ball over into the open court at a certain height -would you be mixing up your groundstrokes or flatting them or going with your more consistent topspin stroke.