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Best Tennis Playing Style?

Posted on February 27, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: What determines my daughter’s best playing style?

Frank: I recommend developing the path of least resistance. The game of tennis is an extension of your child’s personality whether you like it or not. Fighting their natural genetic predisposition is a waste of time and money. As is training without considering the athletes genetics. Simply put, your athlete’s best style of play is a reflection of their unique brain type and body type.

NOTE: If you haven’t done so already, please read the opening section regarding this critical topic.

Start by understanding your athlete’s personality profile and body type efficiencies and deficiencies. Below are a few examples that will help clarify the effect of a player’s unique brain and body type. (Note: There are exceptions to every rule. On occasion, some player’s off-court personality opposes their on-court personality.)

A prime time example is my Aunt Loretta, a super kind and polite old lady until she got behind the wheel of her Chevy Nova!

Matching Personality Profile & Body Types with Appropriate Playing Styles:

  • Players that show impatience would be well advised to devise deliberate one-two punch patterns ending in shorter points. Patient players should use their frustration tolerance as a weapon to possible wear down opponents with longer grueling points.
  • Players that are flamboyant, with loads of energy, would likely thrive with a fast pace, attacking style of play.
  • Players that show restraint and are rather stoic would likely benefit from a safer, counter punching style of play.
  • In regards to body type dominance, fine motor skilled athletes (with good hands) may benefit from a net rushing style. Gross motor skilled athletes (who coil and uncoil more efficiently) would likely thrive in a back court style of play.

I worry when parents spend boat loads of time and money without ever acknowledging the athletes likes and dislikes with the player and their hired entourage of coaches. Assessing and organizing the athlete’s organizational blue-print is parent accountability 101.

Caution: A misconception of many parents and junior players, is to copy the style of their favorite ATP or WTA star, who is successful with a particular style. Just because Serena Williams prefers a 4 ball rally with her “all out attacking” style doesn’t mean that your child has the brain or body type to flourish within that system.  Or just because Novak Djokovic enjoys 10 ball rallies with his “patient counter-attacking” style doesn’t mean his style is the best system for your athlete. Customization is key.

It’s the role of the CEO- facilitator parent to make sure that their athlete’s coaches are aware of their child’s unique brain and body design. Their child’s genetic predisposition along with their nurtured environment dictates their ability to maximize potential in the shortest period of time. Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

Is proper nutrition and hydration really that important? Part 2

Posted on February 17, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

1) A Healthy Balanced Diet and the Athlete

A healthy balanced diet refers to a diet that includes a variety of whole foods that are naturally high in nutrients.  An elite athlete benefits from a diet of healthy carbohydrates, lean proteins and good fats 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The competitive athlete must properly fuel their bodies every day and not just during training and competition.

Due to the high demands athletes place on their body, especially during competition, healthy carbohydrates are an athlete’s ultimate fuel. (F.Y.I.: High protein low carbohydrate diets are not a beneficial diet for maximizing athletic performance.)

“Carbohydrates are the preferred source of energy for muscle contraction and brain function.”

When planning a balanced diet, it is important to differentiate between healthy carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, low fat dairy…) and unhealthy carbohydrates (highly refined white sugar and white flour products junk foods). While they both provide energy to the body, unhealthy carbohydrates may steal nutrients from the body, damage brain health and add empty calories; whereas healthy carbohydrates add valuable nutrients and fiber to the diet.

It is important to note that during exercise and/or match play when quick energy is needed, simple forms of carbohydrate are best. This is because the body needs sugar quickly and simple carbohydrates are easiest for the body to break down and provide energy (sugar to the blood stream.) Commonly used simple carbohydrates include easily digestible fruits such as dates or bananas, diluted sports beverages, carbohydrate sports gels and some athletes even use small sugar candies or small bites of high simple carbohydrate bars. The preference of many elite athletes are diluted sports drinks and a banana. (Note: Some athletes prefer energy gels- but be sure to try them prior to competition as not all tolerate energy gels well.) Specific optimum nutrition will vary with each individual.

Healthy Daily Diet Components to Include:

Healthy Carbohydrates
Whole grains, beans, legumes, pasta, whole grain cereals, lean dairy (yogurt, shakes, cottage cheese, cheese and milk), fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Lean Proteins
Chicken, turkey, seafood, lean meat, beans, legumes, eggs and lean dairy (Note: dairy contains carbohydrates and protein.)

Healthy Good Fats
Avocados, nuts, seeds, salmon, olive oil and nut/seed/vegetable oils in small amounts/portion control.

Fluids
Water, electrolyte water, sports drinks, diluted sports drinks (or homemade sports drinks), diluted fruit juice, low fat/ non-fat milk, low fat fruit smoothies, and lean protein low sugar shakes.

Un-Healthy Daily Diet Components to Avoid:

Bad Fats
Such as Trans fats (Partially hydrogenated oils), junk foods, fast foods, donuts, fried foods, creamers, processed foods and excessive Saturated fats (fatty meats, hot dogs, sausage, full fat cheese, ice cream, shakes etc.)

Processed Carbohydrates and Refined Foods
Candy, cookies, cakes, sodas and processed foods made with white sugar, flour and bad fats. (Note: Simple sugar products (not loaded with fats and proteins) may be an appropriate during intense activity.)

Fluids
High sugar drinks or full fat and high sugar ice cream shakes, most blended coffee drinks…

2) Proper Hydration and the Athlete

“Even mild dehydration (1% dehydration) impairs a number of important aspects of cognitive function such as concentration, alertness, headaches, muscle fatigue and short-term memory.  A loss of just over two percent can cause muscle cramping and severe health consequences.”

Simple plain water is the preferred beverage for most athletes during training. Sports drinks with added electrolytes and carbohydrates may be needed for longer workouts/matches (over approximately 90 minutes of intense activity) or for workouts in extreme weather.

Diluted sports drinks are usually recommended over full strength sports drink. High sugar sports drink may cause cramping during exercise. It is best to experiment with hydration levels and hydration products on the practice court. It is important to hydrate throughout the day, not just during a match.

Note: While it is essential to maintain proper hydration, the athlete must also be cautious not to over- hydrate.

General Hydration Guidelines: 

Short Workouts of Low to Moderate Intensity
May simply require staying hydrated- water is usually best.

Short Intense Workouts
May require both hydration and carbohydrate replacement- diluted sports drinks work best for most athletes. 

Longer Intense Workouts
May require hydration, carbohydrate replacement and/or electrolyte replenishment. Individual need (exercise intensity/weather) will necessitate the specific type of hydration.

Post Workout Hydration:

Proper hydration after an intense workout will help the bodies heal and recover more efficiently. The best way to determine the amount needed to replace is by the athlete weighing themselves before and after exercise. For every pound of body weight lost, consume about 3 cups of fluid. Weighing before and after a workout just a few times will give the athlete an idea of their typical water loss during a workout.

Another measure of hydration is checking the athlete’s urine color. If their urine is dark yellow in color- it may be a sign of dehydration. The athlete’s urine should be relatively clear or pale yellow in color. (Note: If supplements are taken, especially B- vitamins, a false dark yellow urine may be the result of the vitamins and not your hydration level.)

3) Proper Nutrition Timing and the Athlete

Proper timing of food and fluid intake will enhance performance. Obviously, a lack of proper fuel will impair performance. Match time nutrition is especially important and special attention should be given to food volume, fiber, fats, and proteins – as these may cause abdominal distress during exercise.

Carbohydrates, such as low fat dairy, breads, potatoes, pasta and rice, are the quickest to digest. Meals/snacks should be athlete specific- considering food tolerances, work out intensity and duration.

General Guideline for Nutrition Timing:

The general guidelines for peak performance are to maintain proper hydration and avoid a full stomach just prior to performance. A delicate balance of food and fluid is based on individual need. Studies have generally found that it doesn’t matter whether you get your pre-­workout calories from solid food or fluid.

Pre-Workout Meal (several hours before exercise)

Include easily digestible foods high in complex carbohydrates, such as pasta, yogurt, breads, sandwiches, easily digested fruits and vegetables.  Avoid large amounts of fat, protein and fiber the closer to your workout- digestion of fats, fiber and proteins require longer digestion times and may impede performance. (See following question.)

Thirty Minutes Prior

A small meal or snack just prior to your child’s workout will help engage their brain and muscles.  Sample small meals or snacks include:  yogurt, fruit smoothie, a banana, a low calorie granola bar, peanut butter and whole grain crackers or a small sandwich for a workout lasting approximately 60 or 90 minutes.

During Workout

The greater the workout intensity, the greater the need for quick energy carbohydrates such as bananas or diluted sports drinks.  For most athlete’s a few hours of sustained, vigorous activity will deplete their stored carbohydrates, resulting in fatigue. So it’s important to eat/drink a small quick acting carbohydrate snack to maintain blood sugar and fuel your muscles and brain.

Post Workout

Current research suggests that for the best muscle repair and recovery- consume a good source of lean protein and complex carbohydrate within one hour after a long intense workout in order to replenish and repair muscle tissue.  You may choose liquid or solid foods.  Liquid food such as a healthy smoothie is often an easy option after a workout.  Examples of solid food choices may be yogurt with fruit, turkey and grapes, or a hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit or a lean protein sandwich.

Is proper nutrition and hydration really that important?

Posted on January 28, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: Is proper nutrition and hydration really that important?

Frank: Year in and year out, I witness the results of players choosing to ignore proper nutrition and hydration- both on the practice court and in tournament play. Nutrition and hydration (healthy lifestyle) are critical components in maximizing athletic performance. An athlete’s nutrition and hydration directly influence their physical, mental and emotional game. As parents, we have to insist that our players fuel properly before, during and after battle.

Just because athletes expend so much energy, does not mean junk food calories are okay. Improper nutrition and hydration will guarantee poor decision making skills as a result of low blood sugar levels to the brain, increased fatigue, headaches, nausea, cramping…etc.

“Poor nutrition and hydration can ruin any real chance of an athlete staying in their optimal performance state. Remember, to win a 64 draw event, a player has to perform at their peak level for
approximately 15 sets in 5 days.”

The following true story illustrates the importance a proper diet.

It is 7:00 am at the Riviera Tennis Club in Palm Springs, California.  The top tennis players from around the country arrived last night for the first round of the prestigious National Championships.

Walking through a hall of the west wing of the hotel and I can hear Leslie through their door, “Mom…STOP!!! I’m not hungry. Stop forcing me to eat! I’m too nervous. I don’t feel hungry!” This has been an on-going pre-match battle for Leslie and her mom Carol and this time would prove catastrophic.

Trying her best to avoid an emotional battle right before Leslie’s match, Carol gives up on her job of making sure Leslie is prepared for a three hour battle in the blazing Palm Springs heat. “So much for your nutrition and hydration requirements… I give up”, cries Carol.

The first match on Court 7 went to three tough sets so Leslie begins her scheduled 9:00 am match around 10:00 am. Leslie, being a top seed and a far superior athlete jumps out to a commanding 6-2 first set lead. Midway through the second set her wheels fall off. Leslie can’t seem to focus; her body feels uncoordinated and shaky. She complains of feeling dizzy, like she’s going to faint.  Leslie begins to make unforced errors left and right. She drops the second set 4-6. At the start of the critical third set the time is now 11:30 am. Leslie hasn’t fueled her body since last night’s dinner at 6:30 pm, which was 16 hours ago.

Guess who goes down in flames losing the third set 1-6? You got it-Leslie! Her disappointing first round loss was directly related to her stubbornness to fuel her body properly.

“Improper nutrition and hydration can destroy proper technical, mental and emotional training.”

Athletes employing improper nutrition and hydration can expect:

  • Lethargic play
  • Decreased strength & reaction time
  • Low physical, mental & emotional endurance
  • Impaired concentration, reduced court awareness & problem solving skills
  • Emotional break downs
  • Delayed muscle repair and recovery
  • Serious risk of dehydration and possible heat stroke (with as little as 1-2% dehydration)

Nutrition and the Athlete

Due to athletes’ individualized nutrition and hydration needs, specific individualized recommendations should be prescribed to maximizeperformance. (For more information visit the USTA/ITF websites or see a qualified sports nutritionist.)

Because I’m not an expert in the field of nutrition, I will highlight the basic nutrition and hydration fundamentals of a competitive athlete: a healthy balanced diet, proper hydration and nutrition timing- in the next post!

Nutritional Myths Surrounding Tennis

Posted on January 25, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: Can you clarify the nutritional myths surrounding tennis? I hear other tennis parent’s talking about special supplements or high protein diets for their athletes. I’m confused?”

Frank: As a tennis coach, I hear a lot of so called magic formulas or competitive advantage must haves… unfortunately, nothing replaces sound nutrition. Below are a few of the nutritional myths that I continue to hear weekly.

1) Athletes Need Full Sugar Sports Drinks

Consuming one or more full sugar sports drinks during a short training session or during an easy match is not usually necessary and may be dangerous.  Full sugar beverages can cause severe cramping and lethargy.  Professional athletes usually dilute sweetened sports beverages and use as needed.

NOTE: Many of my students, especially teen age girls trying to lean out or lose weight make the mistake of drinking full sweetened sports drinks during and after workouts- thinking the sports drink are healthy.  Unfortunately, most full sweetened sports drinks are too high in calories and actually may contribute to weight gain. Again, it is usually better to drink water or electrolyte waters or diluted sports drinks as needed.

2) Carbohydrate Loading

For years and years, many athletes speak about “carb loading” before a big event.  Research has found it is not necessary if a balanced diet is followed- including healthy carbohydrates, lean proteins and good fats. A well-balanced diet is optimal for a high performance athlete 24/7- that means eating healthy carbohydrates, lean protein and good fats every day. Again, it is best to experiment on the practice court with pre-workout meals.

3) Athletes Can Eat Whatever They Want

Many amateur athletes assume they can “get away with” eating more junk because they work out so much.  Sports nutrition experts argue that sugars, bad fat and excessive calories have the same destructive effects on the body whether you exercise or not. Note: Many junior athletes think peanut butter full fat and sugar smoothies, blended coffee drinks and frozen yogurt loaded with candy toppings are healthy. Unfortunately, these foods are usually full of excessive sugar, bad fats and calories.

4) High Performance Athletes Need a High Protein Low Carb Diets

This is one of my favorites- just before the 3rd set, the athlete frantically woofs down a high protein low carb bar.  Of course, they believe that it will give them the added energy boost they need. High protein fuel (food or drink) takes the body too long to digest. The role of protein is to build and repair –not to provide energy. If an athlete’s carbohydrate storage has been depleted, consuming a 20 gram protein bar with little or no carbohydrates is not going to provide them the energy they need in the third set. (Carbohydrates provide quick energy.) Note: A snack high in protein is perfect after a workout- to re-build and repair.

5) Dehydration is the Sole Cause of On-Court Cramping

Although muscle cramping is a sign of dehydration, exercise related muscle cramping is often a result of stress and anxiety.  Researchers have found muscle cramps to be a result of neuromuscular fatigue and occur more frequently in athletes who over stress and worry throughout their competition. 

6) Supplements are Necessary for Peak Performance

Nutritional supplements are often marketed to athletes with claims of enhancing performance, but no nutritional supplement (food or pill) has ever been proven to enhance performance significantly without being refuted by other studies showing no benefit. If you want to maximize performance, you are better off with a solid training program and healthy diet. Besides, supplements are not regulated by the FDA and as such, you really do not know what exactly is in your supplements- they could contain very harmful ingredients!

Tennis: Benefits of Physical Training

Posted on January 17, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

Question: What are the benefits of physical training?

Frank:  Throughout my travels conducting workshops, both nationally and internationally, I ask parents of top ranked players an interesting question: “When was the last time your child competed hard for 15 practice sets in any given week?”  The most common Answer: Never!

Parents, is your child fit enough to compete at their peak performance level for fifteen sets in a week? If they’ve never done it in practice, do you truly expect them to be able to come through under those stressful, demanding tournament conditions?

To insure that they can compete week in and week out under those conditions, serious off-court tennis specific training is mandatory.  The successful high performance players train off court an average of 6 hours a week. In most cases, this is done before school.

The Following is a List of the Benefits of Being Fit:

  • Increased Confidence: A physically fit competitor has stimulated brain chemicals that encourage a calming state of mind.
  • Elevated Physical Energy
  • Enhanced Endurance
  • Reduced Fatigue and Soreness
  • Improved Flexible Skills Movement
  • Increased Acceleration and Deceleration Levels
  • Strong Bones and Strengthened Ligaments, Tendons and Muscles
  • Reduced Risk of Injury
  • Increased “Intimidation Factor”
  • Improved Cardiovascular Fitness: Facilitates proper breathing by increasing lung capacity which aids in improved cardiovascular function.

Now that you understand why tennis specific, off-court training is beneficial. Let’s look into the fitness components found in a skilled athlete who just happens to be a tennis player.

Example of Tennis Specific Skills to Develop:

  • Up and back movement
  • Lateral movement
  • Aerobic fitness
  • Ability to accelerate
  • Ability to decelerate
  • Speed and agility
  • Stamina
  • Recovery time (between points)
  • Recovery time (between matches)
  • Strength (upper body, core, and lower body)
  • Body coordination (gross motor skills)
  • Eye-hand coordination (fine motor skills)
  • Flexibility and stretching
  • Anticipatory speed

Signs of an Unfit Athlete

Being unfit actually affects more than the athletes physical performance. It has serious consequences within the player’s mental and emotional state of play. Parents, if you’re not sure if you’re athlete is fit or not, let me just say that if they aren’t training off-court a minimum of 6 hours a week, then they are most likely not fit enough to win whole tournaments at the high levels of junior tennis.

“The actual cause of a child’s emotional breakdown is often lack of fitness.”

If you have not done so already, consult a fitness expert for evaluation and/or add one to your entourage of coaches.  In modern tennis, it’s essential that your child is an athlete first and tennis player second.  The top college coaches are looking for experienced gifted athletes that they can mold into champion tennis players.

High Performance Tennis Roadblocks Part Two

Posted on January 14, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: What are some of the hidden roadblocks and myths found in high performance tennis?

Cramming Last Minute for an Event

Cramming in training days before a national event will lead to your child’s “batteries” half full come match time. Also, their millisecond decision making skills won’t be sharp. They will likely hesitate with their judgments and often over think under stress. Lastly, last minute crammers usually end up playing sore or injured.

Mistake Management

It is essential that your child understands the difference between a “good” mistake and a “bad” mistake. Also, did the mistake stem from technical form, inappropriate shot selections or poor movement? Mentally making the appropriate corrections without emotional condemnation is important.

Anger Management

Poor preparation is the source of the problems that cause the anger. Plans and patterns should be nurtured months before an event. Tools are sharpened and the rust is buffed out.

“It’s not the opponent that causes the actual anger issues in a match. It’s the fact that the opponent has exposed a weakness that wasn’t fixed
before the match began.”

Blame Management

Blaming is a common excuse many juniors prefect. Changing string tension, racquets, coaches, and academies is a short-term feel good fix. However, designing a strong personalized developmental program and sticking to it is the solution to their problems.

“Intermediates spend most of their time working on the strokes they already own. Advanced players also spend time perfecting the strokes and patterns they wish to add to their tool belt.”

Lack of Pre-Match Routines and Rituals

Essential routines and rituals are used by professionals and often overlooked by junior competitors. Teens are often too cool to prepare properly. Champions act like champions long before they become champions.

To review, I highly recommend taking a bit of time to communicate the above player accountability issues with your athlete and their entourage of coaches. Plan on organizing solutions to the common roadblocks and de-bunking the myths. Again, if you, as a parent, are not comfortable with the developmental process, please hire a high IQ tennis professional to oversee not only your child’s strokes but their mental and emotional training components.

High Performance Tennis Roadblocks Part One

Posted on January 9, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: What are some of the hidden roadblocks and myths found in high performance tennis?

Frank: It fascinates me how some junior athletes will hold on to crazy-beliefs. They would rather live in their “altered state of reality” and continue to get poor results than simply be accountable to their deliberate customized developmental plan. Below I have compiled some of the most common myths coming out of the mouths of your kids!

When I Become a Pro …Then I’ll Train like a Pro 

Professionals have to “live the life” for years before they actually win a single match on tour. The typical formula is approximately 20 hours a week for 10 years of customized training to compete on the ATP or WTA level. Quality of training always trumps quantity of court time. Begin by challenging your child to train about 20 hours a week for a month.

I Need More …More is Better

In matches, most juniors think about too many things. Their body is off balance at contact as opposing force vectors fly in all directions; their racquet head is rolling through the hitting zone and their running through four segment swings. The key is to simplify. Most often, improving is about “trimming the fat” not adding more.

I Will Just “Wing It” Later

Planning reduces stress. Often we see players begin to pack their racquets, find a new outfit, clean their water bottles, search for their over grips, print out the directions to the site, look up their opponent record, make breakfast, take a shower, brush their teeth all within the last 10 minutes before they are scheduled to leave. Hum…no wonder they’re angry and stressed.

I Played a Set Last Week …I’m Fine

To win major events you must be a good finisher. Building a tract record of closing out matches is the key. Exchange playing a set with playing 2 out of 3 sets and finish the match. The most important stage of any set is the end! If time is short, start each set at 2-2 but close out sets. On practice days, professionals routinely close out 2-4 sets a day.

I Can’t Control My Anger or my Drifting Mind

Re-programming these dominant thoughts takes about four to six weeks of serious focused attention. It’s often the same program as rebuilding a flawed stroke. Re-tooling your emotions and thoughts on court are learned behaviors.

To be Great, I Have to Play at My Peak Everyday

Peak level and peak efforts are two different elements. It is too taxing to be physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally ready to battle every day of their lives. After a tournament you should “unplug.” That’s right, recharge the batteries. In the practice phase strive for peak effort and let go of peak performance.

If You’re Laughing, You’re not Working Hard Enough

When you laugh, dance, smile or even hug someone you get biochemical surges of positive energy. Neuroscience studies clearly show that when you smile and laugh you stay in the correct (right) side of your brain. This is where muscles flow effortlessly and great decisions are made quickly. When you’re mad, judgmental or over analytical the right side of your brain shuts down and you are toast!

Believing If You’re a Better Athlete, Then You’ll Win

Being a better physical athlete is only one third of the battle. If your child is weaker mentally or emotionally they will struggle. Another way to look at this issue is if an opponent looks physically superior to the rest of the field then there is most likely something missing or something broken in their mental or emotional components. If they were superior in all three, they wouldn’t be in a local junior draw.

Procrastination

Big time national titles are won by the champions because they accept the fact that they will be shedding serious blood, sweat and tears months before the event begins. Procrastinators often do everything else except focus 100 percent on improving. As long as they do not actually give 100 percent on the practice court, they will have a built in excuse… “If I had the time to practice, I could have beat her…etc.”

Thinking that Practicing for One Hour is Good Enough

Top tournament play often requires that your child compete in two, best of three sets, single matches daily. Since doubles play results count for their overall ranking, throw in a doubles matches as well.

Under Training Off-Court

If your child “thinks” that they are mostly in shape…they are most likely not in shape. Players that are in great shape “know” they are in great shape. Getting past the third day of a big event is going to be a challenge for every junior who only “thinks” they’re in shape.

“Solid fundamentals will get them in the draw. Being crazy fit keeps them in the draw. But being mentally and emotionally stable under stress wins titles.”

Hidden Skill Sets of Champions

Posted on January 7, 2026 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: What are the hidden skill sets of champions?

Frank: Evan Wilson has the Babolat Pure Drive, strung with natural gut on the crosses and polly on the mains… just like the pros. He sports the latest “Nadal” Nike shirts, shorts and shoes. His 12-pack racquet bag even says “TOUR TEAM” on it. Man, he even goes to an $80,000 a year tennis academy. At first glance, he looks like a sure bet for the pros.

Now let’s look at Evan’s regiment a little deeper as it pertains to player accountability.  Evan loses early almost every event in an implosion of negative behavior. There is nothing more common than young, talented athletes that are weak competitors. This is a prime time example of player accountability. After reading the below Ten Essential Hidden Skills of a Champion ask yourself, are there any similarities between Evan and your little tennis phenom?

Ten Essential Hidden Skills of a Champion

1) Champions face their fears versus avoiding them.

 If you ask Evan to play a practice set against a younger retriever he has 100 excuses why he can’t and won’t play.

2) Champions have swagger which is truly different than fake, empty confidence.

Evan willingly practices his primary stroke production and then routinely SKIPS his weekly regime of off-court training sessions, rehearsing closing out sets, match play video analysis and his required mental/emotional classroom sessions. His empty confidence shatters under the slightest bit of pressure.

3) Champions are strong competitor’s not just good athletes.

Set up a great sparring session for Evan and he’ll tell you “No thanks…I’m good! …I already rallied with Kenny today.”

4) Champions do everything to prepare properly.

Evan often stays out late the night before a big event, leaves no time in the morning for a real breakfast, neglects to organize his tournament bag, hits for 10 minutes before the match and actually believes he is ready to compete.

5) Champions know that they will lose more than they will win.

Evan and his parents believe that he should win every match he plays.

6) Champions develop problem solving skills, confidence, perseverance, determination and work ethic.

Evan chooses to focus on stationary strokes, week in and week out.

7) Champions have self-belief and a positive outlook.

Evan wears his ball cap backwards and twirls his racquet confidently at the start of each tournament, until the umpire yells “2 minutes gentlemen.” Then like clockwork, he loses focus and morphs into an “Emotional Basket Case” every weekend. Evan only has one game style- hard hitting baseliner.

8) Champions develop several game plans, emotional solutions to common problems, agility and brain speed.

Evan is brain washed into believing that if he perfects his primary strokes every day, he will go pro.

9) Champions understand that controlling their adrenaline and concentration wins matches.

Evan believes that he is the one and only gifted, athlete out there and that should be enough to sky rocket him to success. When his opponents begin to challenge his game, he folds emotionally.

10) Champions spot tendencies and control the energy of the match.

Evan simply hits the shots that feel good to him versus hitting the shots that feel uncomfortable to the opponent.

In conclusion, it’s important to understand that there is nothing more common than extremely athletic individuals with weak competitive skills. This is why, to the untrained eye, it appears that the better “looking” athlete should win. As you all know, it is often not the case.

Although it is essential to develop solid fundamental, once fundamentals are developed, the art of winning stems from developing these hidden skill sets.

Tennis Training Off the Court

Posted on December 19, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Check out the Now Available Audio Versions of Frank’s Books: Click Here

QUESTION: What is drive time training?

Frank: In Southern California, I’m seeing most top juniors that I train spending upwards to two hours a day driving to coaches, trainers, practice sessions, their academy and/or tournaments. A solution is “Drive Time Training”- the training strategies of educating, strength training, motivating, and visualizing while held hostage in that comfortable passenger seat. Taking advantage of the time spent traveling is a great way to handle the frustrations of downtime spent in the car. Below are a few meaningful exercises your junior player will enjoy in the car.

Benefits of Drive Time Training:

Educating

There is a huge variety of tennis CD’s and instructional DVD’s available on the market. (Visit: USPTA.org) Topics include stroke production, tactics and strategies, movement & fitness as well as our favorite the mental/emotional sides of competition. (www.MaximizingTennisPotential.com offers a series of junior tennis workbooks.) And of course, YouTube is a wonderful place to seek free advice on almost any topic.

Strength Training

“How do they strength train in a car?”  Most junior players lack upper body strength. Building the upper body will assist them in enjoying more powerful serves, stronger slice backhands and crisper volleys. Remember the old formula for power is: Mass x Acceleration = Power

More importantly, training the upper body will help prevent injuries. Prevention of injuries is a critical factor in high performance tennis. Consider leaving bands under the passenger seat and/or light dumbbells stored away in the trunk and check with your athlete’s trainer to customize your routines.

Motivating

Listen to motivational iTunes/YouTube/CD. Some are so powerful they are literally life changing! My favorite motivators include Jack Canfield and Anthony Robbins. Check the Internet and read the reviews.

Visualization Exercises

Take their head phones off and ask your player to close their eyes and visualize perfect primary and secondary strokes. Then visualize the variety of their flawless patterns used to beat the different styles of opponents. Lastly, visualize walking through changeover and between point rituals. If your child has difficulties beating retrievers here’s a visualization exercise. I call it mental imagery: Ask them to visualize “mock” rallies to 20 with you as you drive. Again, turn off the radio, iPods, video games…etc! The goal is to rehearse focusing on a single topic for a set period of time.

Try this exercise as you drive to your child’s next tournament. They say hit, they then visualize a slow, high arching stroke leaving their racquet, crossing their service line, crossing the net, crossing the opponents service line, landing deep into the opponents court,  bouncing high,  pushing the opponent back. Now, the parent says hit and they repeat the visualization of the slow, high arching ball passing the opponents service line, passing the net, passing their own service line, bouncing deep on their child’s side. Next, they say hit as the slow moonball rally continues up to twenty. If they can’t focus on a pretend moonball rally, cut them some slack. My bet is that you can’t either. (You’ll laugh because, your mind will wander all over the joint).

SPECIAL NOTE: If they can’t focus intently on a few pretend 20 ball rallies how are they ever going to apply the actual focus skill to do it for a three hour match?

As tennis parents, it is your job to select how and when they program their minds and bodies. Positive programming to and from tennis will lead to increased knowledge, increased power, increased motivation, increased enthusiasm and increased calmness on court. Use drive time training as you enjoy secretly preparing better than all of your child’s rivals.

The Secrets Behind Nadal’s Success

Posted on December 16, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

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QUESTION: Should my son copy Nadal?

Frank: Before I answer this question, let’s review some of the facts I love about Rafael Nadal…and you should too.

His Uncle taught him how to play. They’ve stuck together as a team. That’s respectful. At 14, The Spanish Federation invited him to train in Barcelona, essentially, taking over his training.  He already had a great team so he declined. That’s loyalty.

As a youngster, his emotions were like a volcano, so his uncle made him play with dead balls and inferior gear to teach him how to deal with adversity. That builds character.

Nadal has an entourage: His coaches, trainers, hitters and agent has been with him for the long haul. That’s smart!

Nadal has a pre match routine that he uses before every match: He gets to the site a few hours early to warm up on a side court; he showers, eats, then gets taped up; he plays the match in his head (visualization) a half hour before it begins; he puts on his favorite Spanish pop music and then The Phantom of The Opera on his iPod; he jogs, jumps in place and builds a sweat while visualizing his performance goals. Great preparation- that’s admirable!

Nadal’s focus is on the need to improve versus the need to win. Rafa was quoted as saying “To improve you have to make mistakes.  That’s the problem with improving, you have to accept this.” That’s intelligent!

In early 2008 at #2 in the world, Uncle Tony decided that Rafa needed to improve his offensive court position to win major hard and grass court events. For months, they worked on positioning on the baseline, taking balls early and stealing volleys.   He went from being a retriever to a counter puncher, to an attacker. Rafa’s insight, knowing he could still improve, yielded him an Olympic gold, a Wimbledon Championship and the world’s #1 ranking. That’s brilliant!

Rafa has had more than his share of injuries yet comes back stronger than ever.  That’s character!  (2004- A stress fracture took him off the court for 3 months; 2005- a mysterious foot injury sidelined him for months; 2009- knee tendentious took him out for 2 months… the list goes on.)

Rafa is a well-rounded person who has outside interests and hobbies. He can be found enjoying golf and fishing on his days off. He also champions his own charity foundation called Fundacion Rafa Nadal.  That’s honorable!

Rafa is disciplined. The next step after motivation is discipline. He does what he has to do when he has to do it.  No excuses, no procrastination. That’s commitment!

So, should your son copy Rafa? You Bet!

Below are tips your child can implement to attain Champion Skill Sets like Rafa Nadal:

  • Hit the gym to gain tennis-specific strength.
  • Commit to improving with unrelenting determination.
  • Develop the mental side of shot selection to master offense, neutral & defensive skills.
  • Schedule time to strengthen their speed, stamina, and agility.
  • Revise their between point rituals to enhance their “clear headedness” of shot selection on big points.
  • Upgrade their ability to apply spin.
  • Cultivate the competitive attitude. Do this by adding simulated stress with every drill. We call them “stress buster drills.”
  • Perfect the ability to live in the moment (producing precisely what the moment calls for) by rehearsing closing out sets. Replace the need to win with the love of the battle.
  • Reform their calmness under stress, by simulating those intense moments.

FUN FACT: Average ball rotation off Agassi’s forehand: 1800 rpm’s, Federer’s forehand: 2500 rpm, Nadal’s forehand: 3200 rpm’s

The mental and emotional strength of being a fierce competitor and a respectful human being is a learned behavior and is a factor in player accountability. 

SPECIAL NOTE: No one can outperform their self-image. Due to their work ethic, perseverance and consistent discipline, athletes like Rafa, have inner strength and inner excellence. They truly believe in themselves and their abilities because they’ve earned the belief.