Coaching tips

Tips for overcoming difficult conditions in autumn and winter

1. Warm up before any tennis activity. This can be stretching or tennis related movements across the court, e.g. side steps, jogging or shadow tennis.
   
2. The courts can be damp for most of the winter, use this to your advantage. Mix your shots and introduce slice a little more to keep the ball low.
   
3. If windy, always make your opponents smash or play shots overhead if you're under pressure. Don't go for the perfect lob everytime.
   
4. Try to dominate the net in bad conditions, although this is the number one tactic in doubles, it becomes necessary in wet and swirly conditions.
   
5. The balls will become heavier due to the damp conditions and, in turn, will be slower. Don't try and hit too hard - use placement and touch shots.
   
6. Communication is key in doubles, especially in bad conditions. Call every shot even if it's obvious.

Ten hot tips for the grass court season (Wimbledon) - also work well on artificial grass

1. Bend your knees for the lower bounce.
   
2. Communicate with your partner when serving. It's a team game. Discuss where your partner is going to serve.
   
3. Slice is a good shot to use on grass keeps the ball low and makes your opponent play up.
   
4. Always practice serving and returning. On fast courts these are the shots that are important within the game.
   
5. Doubles is more often a game of mistakes due to 4 people being on court.
   
6. Both players to hold their postions forcing opponents to make difficult shots.
   
7. Server to serve to opponents weakness to create possible interception for net player.
   
8. Serve down the middle to cut out angles.
   
9. Follow the return off a short serve to the net.
   
10. Net players to watch opponents. Do not turn round. Helps anticipation. Learn to read what the opponents are doing.