How to lose graciously

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Did you know that if you play this game you are going to have to learn how to lose? There is a difference between losing vs. taking a loss and finding a purpose. In order to improve when you're beginning to play tennis, you are going to have to accept so many losses that it seems like there is no end to it.

Nobody says they like losing but you have to be able to enjoy the process, which is more important than a particular win or loss. You have to learn how to overcome the setbacks and see that progress comes over a period of time. You also have to learn how to be a gracious loser and congratulate the winner, while always keeping in mind that there will be another day and another meeting that just might have a different outcome.

So how do you learn to lose and like it?

• Your losses reveal your true competitiveness. After a loss, are you ready to throw in the towel or get back in the ring? Champions like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have short memories of every loss and are ready to return to the arena with a more determined attitude and will.   

• A loss can reveal your weaknesses (even if you don't want to admit to having any). But this can embolden you to work on those holes in your game and avoid making the same mistakes.

• A loss can challenge you. You win alone, you lose alone. Take responsibility for the reasons that you lost, and look at how you can change them in the future. 

• No tears in tennis. You have to go onto the court knowing it's not the end of the world if you lose. The score is only one small measure of the outcome for your effort. 

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What is shadow stroking?

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Have you watched players such as Maria Sharapova, NovakDjokovic, or Marion Bartoli shadow stroke? They step back from a point they've just played and they practice a forehand or a backhand, sometimes to an excessive amount. But does this practice of shadow stroking actually work or are they just wasting energy?

               

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I think for any top player, we should never assume they are simply wasting energy. What these players are actually doing is a “computer reset” for their muscles to remember a stroke they practiced hundreds of thousands a time. Tennis and stroke production comes down to a collection of movements that add up to a finished dynamic product. That product is your tennis game, so when you play every movement counts. The more times you shadow stroke your forehand for instance, the quicker it’ll be to find your groove.  When you’re confident about your strokes, you allow yourself to be loose and agile where you won’t easily fall victim to breaking down under pressure. You know exactly how you should feel on the court. There’s a reason they call it muscle memory. 

However, please note that your stroke is dynamic. There is no such thing as a ‘finished’ forehand or backhand. Your game is a never-ending experiment so when you find the right groove, try to capture it by practicing shadow stroking. The more you do it, the less likely there will be a breakdown of a shot. Remember, it was Djokovic against Federer who hit the loosest, most fantastic forehand to change the outcome of the 2011 U.S. Open finals. Now do you think shadow stroking is a waste?

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The first step to getting better at tennis

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

I had recently gotten a call from my son Alex, who is playing at Duquesne University, and he wanted to alert me about a Davis Cup match being played against Serbia vs Canada. This summer Alex had a chance to rub shoulders with quite a few ATP ranked players after competing in the $30,000 Cleveland Racquet Club Invitational. He and his partner played four matches and finished 1^st in the 2^nd back draw consolation (which as a collegiate player, he didn't claim the prize money).  But what was interesting to him is that he was one round away from playing one of the men from Serbia's Davis Cup team, Ilija Bozoljac, who lost in the semifinals of the final round in the Davis Cup. I could sense my son thinking, 'Wow I'm not that far off from this level.'

Alex Aleman (left) with doubles partner Pete

Carpentar (right) at the $30,000 Cleveland

Racquet Club Invitational. 

This is one of the most pivotal points in any young person’s tennis career--the thought and belief that you can get that good. What seemed so far away is not impossible. That mindset is what makes the difference between champions and mediocre players. It's what elevates a player to the next level.

However, the thought does not come from just being on the court. Playing against really great players can be intimating until you realize that they too make their share of errors (maybe not as many as you at the moment), but nevertheless it proves their human. That 'what if' becomes a reality when you work hard, play competitive matches, and see not only can you improve but that you can earn a couple of points (baby steps) even against the best. The thing is, you won't know how good you can be until you put yourself in the arena with champions and venture into their territory. Swim in their water and see that there is a way to climb that mountain. The challenger will believe; the meek will give up.

So the question is, do you want to get better? Are you willing to believe? Even though he didn't express it, I could tell my son is fired up thinking I can climb to the next level. What is it going to take for you?

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The benefits of a short memory

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Rafael Nadal stuns at Wimbledon
with a loss in the first round

After watching Nadal go down in the 1st round at Wimbledon, it just proves that everybody (even the best) can have an off day. The question is, can he recover quickly after such a disappointing loss? A player may have the fastest serve, most powerful forehand, and be the best in the world, but if you can't learn to forget and move on, you're no better than the next player.

Having a short memory might be one of the most valuable assets a player can have. Bad shot--move on, double fault a whole game--move on, lose 6-0, 6-0 to somebody you normally can beat blindfolded--move on!

The fact of the matter is, if you're drowning in self-wallow over some bad shots, you're giving yourself no hope in improving and getting back into a positive mindset. In fact, you begin inviting more errors by not allowing yourself to recover from those crummy experiences. Remember, when you make a mistake it's not the end of the world, so train your mind to brush off the negatives by starting with a blank slate.

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Getting vs. Taking

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru


Participants of Towpath's Game On weekend where
players committed to a series of clinics and play.

When it comes to tennis players who are bent on improving, there's a difference between how they motivate themselves during lessons and how they view the improvement process itself. We call this getting vs. taking.

There are players out there that spend some time and money to get lessons as the 'be all and end all' of improving. They come ready and willing for the pro to give them something of value to make their game better, and they wait for the pro to mark a course of improvement.

Then there are those players that take the best of any program or lesson available. They push more, ask more questions, explore opportunities, and invent new ways to work on their game. Basically they do more than the minimum. These players are eager to learn and take the time and do the work.

We commend everyone that takes the initiative in taking private lessons and programs to improve their game, however it is the player that takes the extra step that will see a leap of improvement in no time.

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How to handle a bad line call

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

Although the Hawk Eye system is not available
for everyday play, it has made a vast improvement
on line call verifications amongst the pros.

Anyone that has played some sort of competitive tennis can relate to a bad line call. Whether it's intentional/ unintentional, occurring on the next court over, or you're the one being interrogated, you have to learn how to handle it with some etiquette. The last thing you want to be known for is "that guy" or "that girl" that cheats or flips their lid over a line call.

Handling your opponent:   
"Are you sure that was out?" If you like to avoid confrontation like we do, this is the easiest way to question a bad line call without completely throwing your opponent into defense mode. If there's more than one doubtful call, then taking a long hard look will suffice--sometimes that alone will get your opponent to question himself. However, if it appears your opponent is blatantly making bad calls, then not only call them out on it but call over a coach, captain, or an offical (whatever the situation calls for) to resolve any future disputes.

Handling as a spectator: You might be watching from the bleachers or the next court over, but if you witness a bad line call can you do anything about it? When it pertains to the actual match, no officially there is not much you can do. We advise you to tuck it away and make a note to watch this player in the future, but getting involved in somebody else's match is just a bad idea and poor sportsmanship.

Handling when accused: Whatever you do, hold your ground! Point to where you saw the ball hit the ground to really emphasize your confidence in your line call. Afterward, really watch your lines and be absolutely positive before you make a call to avoid any further conflict.

Handling your partner: When playing doubles the partner closer to the line should be making the call, although sometimes your partner can make an honest mistake. In that situation, gently tell them after you thought the shot was good. However, if your partner makes a blatant bad call, then good sportsmanship will urge you to overrule it.

Most importantly, keep your cool! You may be one of those players who play great under fire (we envy you). But if you're like the majority of us, anger only invites errors so take a deep breath and focus on the next point while aiming inches within the line.

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