Smarter Shot Selection, Better Positioning, Clearer Match Plans
Know when to attack, where to recover and how to work with your doubles partner. The Tennis Tactics Playbook helps recreational players make better decisions through illustrated match situations, practical drills and separate four-week starting plans for singles and doubles.
Start with a problem that keeps appearing in your matches. Learn what to notice, choose a response you can control and practice it through live points.
Format: 133-page downloadable PDF covering singles and doubles, with court diagrams, drills, session plans, worksheets and courtside references.
Give Your Shots a Clear Purpose
You keep a rally going, then miss when you change direction. You reach a short ball but try to attack from an awkward position. In doubles, you and your partner hesitate over the middle or leave a gap after someone crosses.
These situations require you to connect the incoming ball, your position and the opponent’s options. A useful decision depends on the contact you can reach and what your shot allows you to do next.
The Tennis Tactics Playbook explains that process through situations you can recognize in your own matches. You learn to choose a target, prepare for the reply and adjust when the point develops differently from your original plan.
What You Will Learn
- How to recognize when you are under pressure, in an even rally or ready to attack.
- How to choose serve and return targets with a clear purpose.
- When to stay crosscourt, change direction or protect your weaker side.
- How to handle high and low short balls without treating every short ball as an easy attack.
- Where to recover after your shot and when to move toward the net.
- How to choose between a passing shot, lob and other responses to a net player.
- How to coordinate poaching, middle coverage and lob recovery with your doubles partner.
- How to observe an opponent, test a match plan and make useful adjustments under pressure.
What Is Included
| Inside the playbook | What it helps you practice |
|---|---|
| 6 tactical foundations | Reading the ball, choosing purposeful targets, recovering, constructing points and understanding singles, doubles and match formats. |
| 14 singles situations | Serve and return decisions, rally construction, direction changes, short balls, defense, net play, lobs and drop shots. |
| 10 doubles situations | Starting points together, returning around the net player, poaching, sharing the middle, moving forward and covering lobs. |
| 4 lessons on adapting during matches | Observing opponents, changing an ineffective plan, playing important points and adjusting to conditions. |
| 12 practical drills | Eight two-player drills and four four-player drills, with setup instructions, rotations, variations and live-point practice. |
| 2 practice-match formats | Practicing important points and testing a match plan, each with singles and doubles versions. |
| 8 guided sessions | Four singles sessions and four doubles sessions, organized into separate four-week starting plans. |
| 4 reusable worksheets | Your pre-match plan, doubles agreement, match review and practice notes. |
| 2 courtside references and a glossary | Quick reminders for singles and doubles, plus explanations of the terminology used throughout the book. |
Court diagrams show player positions, ball paths and recovery movement. Linked contents and a problem-to-practice guide help you find the lesson you need.
Turn a Match Problem Into a Practice Session
Begin with the “Start With Your Biggest Problem” guide. Find the situation that sounds familiar, read its lesson and follow the link to the relevant practice.
The drill cards progress from a manageable starting situation to decision practice and live points. You get clear instructions for who starts, when to change roles and what to observe.
Finish by recording one useful finding and your next action. That gives your next session a focus and helps you judge whether a change is working.
Follow a Four-Week Singles or Doubles Plan
Each route provides one approximately 60-minute session per week for four weeks. The sessions include a warm-up, practice blocks, scored play and review, with time allowed for setup, drinks, ball collection and role changes.
| Week | Singles route | Doubles route |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Give your serve and return a purpose, then read the reply. | Connect the opening shot with your partner’s next responsibility. |
| 2 | Build a rally and recognize when to change direction or attack. | Share the middle and support a partner pulled out of position. |
| 3 | Practice approaching, playing at the net and responding to a net player. | Handle net pressure and recover together after lobs. |
| 4 | Test a match plan and decide what to keep or change. | Test a shared plan with clear responsibilities for both partners. |
Choose the route that matches your practice group. Repeat sessions when useful, use their progressions or return to individual lessons as new problems appear in your matches.
Who This Playbook Is For
- Beginner-to-intermediate recreational players who can already serve, sustain a rally and follow the score.
- Singles players who want clearer shot selection and recovery decisions.
- Doubles players who want better communication, positioning and court coverage.
- Players who want structured tactical practice with a partner or regular doubles group.
- Players who finish matches knowing what went wrong but need help deciding what to practice next.
Who It Is Not For
This playbook assumes you already understand the basics of playing tennis. It is not a first introduction to holding a racket or learning every stroke.
It also does not include personalized coaching, video lessons or an advanced tournament-specific training program. The on-court activities require other players, and improvement depends on applying and practicing the decisions.
Instant Digital Delivery
After successful checkout, you can access your PDF through the order confirmation page and the download link in your purchase email.
Save it to your devices, read it on a computer or tablet, or print selected practice pages to take to the court. This purchase is a digital download; no physical book is shipped.
FAQ
Can I use it if I only play singles or only play doubles?
Yes. The book provides separate reading routes, drills and four-week starting plans. Begin with the foundations, then follow the route that matches the tennis you play.
Do I need a coach or practice partner?
You can read the lessons and prepare your match plans independently. The singles drills and sessions require two players in total. The full doubles drills and sessions require four players.
The instructions provide the setup, timing and role changes, so you can organize practice with your regular playing group.
What equipment do I need?
A suitable tennis court, a racket for each player, eight balls and a timer cover the main practice setups. For the guided sessions, also bring drinks, a pen and the relevant worksheet pages.
How long do the drills take?
The standalone drill cards use an 18-minute schedule, with warm-up and initial setup completed beforehand. The guided sessions combine selected activities into approximately 60 minutes, including warm-up, breaks and review.
Are the worksheets and practice resources included?
Yes. The drill cards, session plans, worksheets and courtside references are included within the 133-page PDF. You can print the pages you want to use during practice.
How does this differ from the Technique Fix Series?
The Technique Fix Series focuses on improving stroke mechanics and correcting technical problems. The Tennis Tactics Playbook focuses on choosing shots, positioning, constructing points and coordinating with a partner.
You can use the playbook on its own or alongside technical practice.
Do I have to finish it in four weeks?
No. The four-week plans provide a starting structure. You can work through the book at your own pace, repeat sessions and revisit lessons throughout the season.
Personal-Use License
You may save the playbook on your own devices and print copies for personal use. You may also show the practice pages to your partners and print working copies of cards, session plans and worksheets for practice sessions you take part in.
Beyond those permitted practice uses and uses allowed by law, redistribution, resale and public uploading are not permitted. These terms do not limit consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded.
Educational and Safety Notice
This playbook provides general tennis education. Warm up gradually, keep movement routes clear and adapt practice to your ability and court conditions. Stop if you experience pain or feel unwell, and seek appropriate advice when needed.
Walk Onto Court With a Clearer Plan
Choose a situation that keeps costing you points. Understand the decision, practice it with purpose and take one useful adjustment into your next match.
Get The Tennis Tactics Playbook and start building better decisions into your game.
| Inside the playbook | What it helps you practice |
|---|---|
| 6 tactical foundations | Reading the ball, choosing purposeful targets, recovering, constructing points and understanding singles, doubles and match formats. |
| 14 singles situations | Serve and return decisions, rally construction, direction changes, short balls, defense, net play, lobs and drop shots. |
| 10 doubles situations | Starting points together, returning around the net player, poaching, sharing the middle, moving forward and covering lobs. |
| 4 lessons on adapting during matches | Observing opponents, changing an ineffective |