Aim HERE for Easy Tennis Wins!

[@l_p.tennis]

These basic principles in the past 2-3 weeks has taken me from 5-6 games off a very strong player to taking 1-2 sets everytime we play and my technique hasn't changed at all

[@EssentialTennis]

Not surprised at all, Luke. CONGRATS on applying what you've learned, good for you! Keep up the good work.

[@melfox215]

I will have my first testing playing vs no. 2 of our club where I am like no. 5 or 6. My main concern is precision of specific shots. For example, my one handed backhand is very good long line, but mediocre for the cross ball. Forehand is good for both ways. So estimating a classical long spinball to my backhand, I have to decide if I play the inefficient long line ball that I trust more or play the more efficient cross backhand as it offers my opponent less opportunities. Won't feel natural, but I will try.

[@melissabeckham6917]

Wow, that WAS me, Ms. Random Shot. I can't wait to get back out there with better sense. You're a wonderful teacher, thank you!

[@paytonortiz5984]

Thank you for the feedback! That first rally error at 5:05 I instantly regretted (as you can see). The 2nd rally at 7:02 was pure luck, a result of me being lazy. Thank you for featuring my video and the constructive criticism given during this video series! I am reviewing most of my recent footage seeing all these mistakes. For sure, these are the items I will work on moving forward. Excellent channel!

[@EssentialTennis]

LOVE hearing your perspective on the analysis, Payton! Thank you so much for being brave enough to post your point play online for others to see. The world needs more tennis players like you! 🙏

[@paytonortiz5984]

@@EssentialTennis I am just trying to improve my game so I can go from being featured as "what not to do" to "a good example of the correct steps" haha

[@EssentialTennis]

@@paytonortiz5984 Love it! Good for you!

[@samuelpell2673]

My high school team always jokes about taking AP Tennis Theory...we'd like to thank Ian for writing our textbook.

[@EssentialTennis]

😆🙏

[@raphaelfarinelli]

Hey Ian. I went to court last night with this video in mind and decided that I would keep my strategy as simple as possible - following the principles you showed here. I usually beat my tennis mate, but this time the win came much easier - I almost didn't run at all. The same didn't happen to mate. I caught myself smiling during the points noticing how many times my mate put himself on a running situation. All I had to do was to punish his bad shot selection. Naturally I made some unforced errors, but they were not stupid mistakes. They were poorly executed shots - and I was totally fine with that because I had a clear picture of my strategy and my intentions on the court. Thanks for the tip.. It was really helpful and now I can hope I can keep the patterns against higher level players

[@EssentialTennis]

YES....that's a perfect example of how powerful these principles are. I'm proud of you for applying what you learned, Raphael! Good for you! Keep up the good work 🙏

[@douglasmetal]

Hi. I realy enjoyed the examples with normal players... This is our real life. Thanks so much.

[@ksubchallengebeforeends-nw7sg]

Thank you so so much Ian. This clarified so much for me. I now win more, run less and have more confidence when I play.

[@adamm8170]

@Morgerror Yep. Same her. Thank you Ian for being the best tennis coach on yt and teaching all so much

[@xtargetx5070]

THANK YOU IAN (Essential Tennis)

[@meganfernandez733]

Love that you are using examples at the recreational level! Please keep doing this! Thanks!

[@EssentialTennis]

Thank you! Will do!

[@jeffs2295]

Ian - THANKS! To me these "strategy" videos have a greater immediate positive impact on my game than stroke mechanics that take hours of effort to fix. In essence you're giving my "way less than perfect stroke mechanics" a giant boost making tennis more fun overall! Jeff, New Jersey

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad to help!

[@DillPlays]

THANK YOU for featuring my channel again really appreciate it

[@EssentialTennis]

Keep making high quality videos and I'll keep featuring them, Dillon! Love your stuff!

[@DillPlays]

@@EssentialTennis More content coming soon!!!

[@logintech]

I was just about to message you about this. congrats man! 0:51 for anyone wondering

[@shnara]

All these years, I've been playing 'Somehow send the ball back to the other side' tennis. I knew about high percentage shots, but I've never thought about my court position or setting up myself for easy shots. I was too focused on the shot I'm about to hit. This series has taught me a lot. Thanks Ian! As always, great content! Now, lets all hope the situation improves and we get to play outdoors safely this summer.

[@dr3534]

You're an excellent instructor! I'm relatively new to the game, and this is so helpful! Thank you!

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome

[@familyccms]

Ian your videos are just the best! I am the captain of a local league team and have shared your videos and tips with my team . They are very easy to understand and much appreciated! Love how you don't take yourself too seriously but are slaying it with the knowledge you provide!! Thank you!!!

[@josephbruno8698]

Ian PLease please please create an equivalent series of videos for the doubles game...You would be doing a world a of good for so many tennis players Thanks JoeB.

[@chasebagherieh3869]

I want to thank you Ian for your informative i'm a 3.5 level player. Tennis tutorials. Books and KZbin was the main source of my learning about tennis. Specially your tactical gudes on where to place the ball and where to position ourselves, according to the opponent and the ball location, was extremly usefull in order to improve my game to have much easier wins and putting much less effort. Now I'm confident to match with players around 4.0, half a level higher than me, and still winning the match. Thank you Ian, you are awesome

[@keshavahuja6359]

Ty Ian sir I really appreciate the fact that u are regularly uploading videos for us. Again ty very much. Hope to see these types of videos in the future too.👍🏻

[@EssentialTennis]

You're so welcome, Keshav!

[@mrskayks]

Ian I absolutely love your instructions. They make me feel like I really improve my game. I’ve only been playing 18 months and I’m a senior citizen that’s a little embarrassed to take “official “ lessons but I love this game and I love your way of analyzing things. Keep up the good work.

[@avitamol7157]

Hello, I am French and I discovered your videos recently. I really like your presentations. Once seen it seems so obvious but we still had to enlighten us! It's really very interesting and I find this concept much more suitable for videos than technical lessons. In 4th series like me, we especially need to have tactical fundamentals. Thank you and I hope there will be more!

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome, David!

[@4seasonsbibleasmr63]

Completely agree. I do think there are times when you might hit down the line though-either if you are on the stretch and can't get the ball crosscourt or just to mix it up (like 5% of the time)

[@TennisTrollChannel]

Thanks for doing this series. This was quality stuff. Wish I had this info when I was younger.

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ReidVV]

I have learned what you're teaching all the way back from Kevin when he ran Total Tennis Domination. To watch and to play with opponents that make the same mistakes proves you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it think. What is it that makes players not want to hit a rally ball, or a defensive, higher shot to a larger target to get back into a point? Rick Macci said it best, "When you're out of position, don't try to be a magician." That one sticks with me. Thanks for all the work you've done covering this topic so thoroughly. I really do think that covering Wardlaw's Directionals would help your viewers to not fall into these wrong shot choice traps.

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks so much for your support, James!

[@fixit.makeit.buildit.1926]

Really great stuff. To me, maybe 95% of the time I don't take the easy shot is because I have convinced myself it's "too easy" and that there is somehow no honor in it. I hope that makes sense. After watching this video I will tell myself: keep it simple and, as much/often as possible, get in the right position and hit the easiest shot you can.

[@HKDAVIS]

I watched the other video you guys posted about the new "middle" point, really surprised i didn't know that before, and i will be taking your advice from now on. At age 57, learning every day by watching your video, keep going guys !

[@mikaeljacobsson4729]

You are great man! Thanks for coaching me all the way from the US to Sweden :)

[@Roni10mm]

I love the summary. Your videos are just awesome. Learning so much !!!❤

[@rafaelmattos9373]

I’m beginner from Brazil. Your videos are really helping me out! Keep up with the good job man!! :))

[@michaelpizzo6467]

Ian, I appreciate all of your input and expertise. These drills are very practical and can help all players

[@user-fg6be8gr1e]

a suggestion for new content: where should we serve the ball in different scenarios and also the position of the player returning serve. thanks!

[@EssentialTennis]

Great idea!

[@SantiagoBallester-yg7vj]

thank you your a great coach i cant wait to get back on the court Im reading essential tennis right now

[@patrickwu2630]

this was uber helpful!!! thank you :0

[@dallaskj]

I haven't seen this vid yet but the first two were brilliant, and I've now subscribed Thank You!

[@mohannadelhakim323]

This type of videos is very helpful and your explanation is just a piece of cake.. thanks a lot Ian..

[@kav1187]

Thanks Ian, great advice. Seems obvious when watching it on the screen but it's amazing how many times I find myself going for the 'space' rather than the percentage shot. I recently made a conscious effort to play percentage shots against a friend who is much better than I am and found myself winning those points with relative ease. Thanks for your videos!

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome, Kav!

[@antonboludo8886]

This is very well explained. Thank you! :D

[@brothersinthehouse6075]

Love this guy. I am getting better by the video. Good tips!

[@larrymilask8729]

Excellent and simple presentation!

[@eddiemac9577]

I'm so looking forward to implementing these patterns the next time I get on court. We just need to get out of lockdown here in UK. Jeez I'm going mad without tennis.

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope you can play soon!

[@pinnacletennisacademy6375]

Great Insights into Mental Part

[@PlazaMoon]

Really great videos lately. We can all watch endless videos on the perfect forehand etc, but basic tactics is way more important. Thanks!

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you like them!

[@allenbuice3133]

Thank you! I love the higher order thinking about tennis. I've spent the time to get the technical aspects, so this takes it to a new level by leveraging my mind to outsmart my opponent even if their technical skills are better than mine.

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad to help, Allen!

[@konstantinpatroev8130]

This is great advice and simply explained. After watching it I realized how many of my opponents (who are low level) try a very difficult low percentage down the line shot and mostly make an unforced error while I kept hitting securely cross court and won more matches

[@EssentialTennis]

🙏

[@zatterene1189]

Love these series Ian, but could you do them aswell for doubles :)

[@noshortcutsful]

I've just started playing tennis and these videos are beyond helpful. You provide such clear and concise instructions, with a-lot of examples that really help make sense of the game. Thanks so much!

[@EssentialTennis]

Great to hear!

[@tomberry2221]

Wonderful series of videos Ian! I have been enjoying these dissections very much. I have had several Ah-Ha!! moments. Please keep posting. Thank you for your hard work!

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome, Tom!

[@IgorGaldona]

Thank you so much from Spain for these incredible lessons!

[@EnricoRossignoli89]

wow, this is the best tennis lesson ever!

[@EssentialTennis]

❤🙏

[@samuel8eaton]

You are amazing! One word.

[@joel1902]

Very clear concepts with great examples. Thanks.

[@dionisis11]

Thank you for this really meaningful, educatory, explanatory and effective video (worth watching every second). I look forward to getting the release date of your textbook. Have you considered a paper version (book, pdf, etc.)?

[@danielr8662]

Very smart teacher. Bravo!

[@EssentialTennis]

🙏

[@pranavkumar734]

Hi Ian can u make a video to help with having a good tennis mindset

[@mrogeriobr]

Great lesson. Thank you

[@robertclimie7460]

For a perfect demonstration of the principle try the practice drill where one player has to always hit down the line and the other always cross court ( as sadistically suggested in one of Brady Hiete's Daily Tennis Lessons) I can guarantee that after about three rallies as the 'down the line' player you will be completely exhausted, will have lost the majority -if not all - the rallies and will be begging to swap over !

[@leebr2010]

Thanks for posting this Ian. Your channel is one of the best on KZbin. These kinds of videos have helped me tremendously in getting more consistent wins, easier wins, instead of having to hit superman shots and hope for the best. Please post more strategy videos like this!

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching and for supporting, Brian!

[@zaidaffandi]

Good Analysis & informative video.. keep up the great work.. thanks

[@oceanle]

Stud! Thank you thank you! What a brilliant mind you have.

[@EssentialTennis]

🙏

[@rafamericano]

Thanks!

[@pierredaher9590]

Great Ian simply great videos.

[@audreolenick2677]

Thanks! That really helped me.

[@lorinjohnson637]

This was super helpful Ian!

[@marinaa4767]

You are so great, OMG🤗🤗 just realized something, thank you!

[@jaimegut11]

Thannk you so much! This has been really useful. Looking forward for the textbook tennis

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@khoathienle3494]

Thank you so much!

great stuff! Thank you so much Ian for doing these videos! Vamoooooos!

[@elanadanzer9432]

Can you do videos like this for doubles strategy?

[@wolfgangpetry6624]

These tactical insights are easy to understand but very, very effective. Last weekend I won two championship matches against players, I 've never won before. - Just playing with a clear idea of the game. Thank you.

[@EssentialTennis]

So happy to hear that, Wolfgang!

[@MainsandCrosses]

Brilliant vid!

[@DracMastah]

YES

[@alangoudie2299]

Another excellent,particularly helpful video.Thank you.

[@Squaredot01]

Can't wait for textbook tennis program!

[@EssentialTennis]

Coming soon, Squaredot. Stay tuned!

[@danieltran4186]

I am looking forward to textbook tennis

[@K4R3N]

Love these strategy/mental videos!👍

[@5karmatt]

Huge thanks Ian... extremely extremely grateful for this lesson. This is exactly what I wanted. I tried it today at the courts and it really helps. I will build further on it. Really really appreciate your coaching. God bless.

[@EssentialTennis]

Fantastic!

[@liubovarista8133]

brilliant and very easy to comprehend! thank u so much❤

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome!

[@juanrojano7966]

Good tip thanks

[@michaell3790]

great stuff.

[@avleenkaur3008]

Great video sir One thing though, in scenario one the cross court was a great choice but can't we also hit down the line and catch the opponent on their wrong foot?

[@donnang4440]

Thank you, this was great! Can you share the same for doubles

[@EssentialTennis]

Absolutely!

[@Alan-xh2dt]

Excellent

[@EssentialTennis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@davidballou8693]

Ian, Love you analyses on you magic board. These are really clear. Now if I can translate them to the court.

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad to help, David!

[@yuyifu]

Hi Ian, Great videos about strategies and positionings in double and single games. They are really eye-opening for me. I am wondering if you could make some analysis videos about playing against leftie players. Thanks.

[@CaocaoXI]

Thanks

[@EssentialTennis]

No problem

[@humbertomena65]

Ian, thank you for give me these insights, I did not realize how important it is. I started to put in practice and it is amazing how works. Looks like right now, as chess game and very funny to chase the opportunities

[@ravishankerb1649]

Hey Ian, i understand the positioning, cross court and when to hit down the line. You've done a good job on breaking down the points. You've done quite a few videos on percentage shots and positioning. Can you do some videos on approach shots, volley positioning and how to pass? One of the biggest problem for intermediates is to pass a person on the volley

[@liubovarista8133]

approach shots my biggest Question too

[@davidli7642]

Hey Ravishanker, I play #1 singles for my high school (going to play in college when I graduate) I’m about a 4.5 NTRP level. In my opinion, approach shots should be hit mainly down the line (reaches opponent faster and doesn’t allow for a done the line window to pass which would happen if you approached cross court) and occasionally a sharp angle to keep them honest or if they’re really out of position. Most approach shots are directed toward the backhand since it has less versatility than a forehand. Ian has some nice volley positioning (after hitting an approach) videos but as a generality “follow you shot”. I tend so cover line a bit more since this pass is “easier” and the cross court pass is harder in my opinion. Many players (including myself) try to go for an outright winner when getting approached, this results in a ton of errors. Try a two shot pass instead. The guys over at PlayYourCourt have a good video about this. Main ideas are to keep the first one low(make them hit up, easier to accomplish since the opponent hasn’t had the chance to completely close yet) and try to pass on the next shot. Hope this helps, Dave

[@EssentialTennis]

Great topics, Ravishanker!

[@ravishankerb1649]

@@EssentialTennis when somebody is at the net, 9 out of 10 times i end up hitting straight to him. I have no idea what to do on those. Another topic is: when my opponent hits a drop i get to the ball. But i end up giving an easy ball back to him. What to do on drop shots

[@DJJayQ]

This is gold

[@nikhilgaba5640]

Hi Essential Tennis, What if you find the cross-court shot harder? Should we slow things down to get back in the point?

[@cherijackson2454]

Great examples !! Will you be doing doubles play or just singles? Would love to see the doubles examples!

[@EssentialTennis]

Definitely more doubles coming soon!

[@Gidoza]

On point #3, I feel like that where I have a sitter and I hit the ball long lol. That’s just low level tennis where all the strokes are inconsistent even on their stronger side. But yes the better way to miss would have been cross court. At least it would be the right strategy and just fix the stroke mechanics to actually win the point.

[@jeffbeck2890]

Great info. Now we need to see this analysis with doubles.

[@EssentialTennis]

Great idea, Jeff!

[@rbraxley]

Love these breakdown videos, and this particular series is really worthwhile. I'm an experienced rec player with solid strokes, but I know that I often rush myself when those "magic" targets open up. Conversely, in an effort to not rush, I play too neutral a ball and don't take advantage of the big target. Grrrrrr. Anyway, these days I see a lot of players shading to their backhand side to try and hit more forehands (and fewer backhands), but that still leaves the cross-court ball open. I'm going to try to attack those openings a bit more now.

[@marie-bernadettemccarthy8102]

Please do some more doubles lessons to apply these ideas.

[@ethanwarring4472]

If I was to hit the shot you consider a mistake at 4:22 and I have very good court coverage to get back to center is that okay? I'm thinking what if my opponent is a lefty or they dont like their forehand. Plus I am a lefty so I have my forehand down the line there

[@oliverp8338]

Hit cross court always. got it!

[@MrEsray]

Great video, keeping it simple. One issue is my opponent will often bait me into hitting to the open court to get on his stronger side, forcing me to go for more than I'd like when trying to dictate the rally. Any tips in your tutorials would be great.

[@sympaticus_9433]

Does Someone know which app/programme he uses for the videoanalysis ?

[@yogawithdenise]

I NEED that book NOW!:)))

[@EssentialTennis]

Coming later today, Denise!!

[@connorbrown1895]

Hey Ian! Loved the video! Could we see some doubles point play strategy sometime soon?

[@EssentialTennis]

For sure!

[@maxpower7803]

Textbook tennis OMG yes please

[@EssentialTennis]

Coming soon, Tej. Stay tuned!

[@Gvarsovie]

I love this one ... just realised why I have lost a match I should have won everyday ! Thanks for your videos

[@ruhmaarif2300]

Thanks, but how does one think through everything about their shot selection in such a short amount of time?