Play Patterns that tell a Story

There are many different types of patterns of play in the game of tennis. How can we improve the efficiency with which we recall and employ different patterns of play? Many of the patterns of play that I have seen from others and taught previously myself are not altogether logical or easy to recall. We as players begin with good intentions to stick to our patterns of play, but then there are many factors that cause us to forget our plans for play.

One of the most important factors are the feelings of pressure we experience when we compete. Yes, pressure, that ugly word that creeps into our minds and ruins the calm demeanor we want to maintain throughout the entire match. In the spirit of play patterns that work, we can bridge a sometimes overwhelming gap between the ability to make decisions in the moment and pre-planned decisions that happen before the first ball is played.