Tactical and mental tricks that work for me

by Dany Urriza
(Ushuaia, Argentina)

I am 45, from Patagonia Argentina and started to play tennis 3 years ago. Soon tennis became an important part of my life. Soon I started to play and lose often.

Since I take lesson 2 times a week and play one/two days more I am getting better but also started to use tacticts and mental tricks. I started to win even to players I am supposed to lose.

Here goes my favorites, tell me if works for you.

I serve with slice or topspin, not hard looking for placement, trying to put my first serve always in, and keep my serve. I try to put lot of spin instead of pace. Is easy to control and most of the time seem and easy shot ( for my oponent) and goes to the net.

I developed a good return of serve, that was easy to improve than my serve.

So the trick is when I receive the serve: I try to take my oponent out of his zone, trying of make him think of me rather than in his game.

I hit some backhands in the air first, (and make sure that he sees me) and then I move more towards the backhand side, making my opponent think that I am going to receive with my backhand.

The response is always the same, my opponent thinks: "So you are going to recieve with your backhand, and you think my serve is not hard enough!".

When he tosses the ball in the air, I move to the correct place to receive the serve. Usually the server send the ball out or in the net.

Then I go almost to the service line. He gets angry. I pretend I am going to attack the serve. He usually gets nervous and double faults.

When the server tosses the ball you have to move back a few steps, to a correct receiving place.

Some times you are going to be aced, that will happen. That trick worked for me several times, because your opponent gets angry and gets out of his comfort zone, making a lot of unforced errors.

Yes you are going to be hated, but that is another thing. ;)