Summary of 'Winning Ugly' by Brad Gilbert

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Here is a book summary of a tennis strategy book I just read called 'Winning Ugly' by Brad Gilbert. Brad Gilbert is Andy Murray's current coach and has coached Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to victory. He himself has beaten John McEnroe in a major open.

Main idea: Don’t need better shots than the other player. Can be a lesser player than the opponent and still win. Only just have to lock them up into playing their weaker shots and to get our stronger shots in, into their weaknesses.

Coping with Nervousness

1. Move feet more which is the opposite to nerves, can also bounce on feet on the spot
2. Sing a song
3. Stick to game plan and always have one

Strategy

1. What’s his weakness
2. What’s his strength
3. What’s my own strength and how to win most points with it
4. What do I want to happen
5. What do I want to prevent happening
6. Whose doing what to whom

Grab an early lead

• Start well rather than at end
• Start to get into rhythm – not power, work your way up
• Set the pattern of consistency = no unforced errors
• Don’t slack off when winning
• At change over, review strategy

Winning

• Maximize own strengths and minimize own weaknesses = consistently in a position where I’m hitting a shot I like rather than one I don’t like.
• Try to flip this for your opponent
• Hit own strengths to opponent’s weaknesses. Also minimize own weakness and minimize opponent’s playing their strengths. Very important. Sounds like common sense but actually works. For example, if I have a strong forehand loop and opponent has a weak backhand, I would try to get my forehand loop in as much as possible into their backhand. This can be done by pivoting a lot. If opponent also has a strong forehand, try keeping it out of there as we are also trying to minimize their strengths. If they also try to keep on pivoting what we could do is get them to play a wide backhand, then place it to their wide forehand, forcing a weaker than usual return, then put it back to their backhand so then they cant pivot around. Somewhere in that rally we would get our forehand loop in too. I guess template strategies would pop up for different styles.
• Who’s doing what to whom
• Why points are being won/lost

Destroy their game plan

• There is always a way to win, we just don’t see it.
• It’s not up to the opponent if you win or lose, its up to you
• Don’t change you game when winning, e.g. hitting harder/riskier shots, stick to what’s winning points at the moment
• When need to change some thing in the game, change shirt or something too
• At pressure points do steadier shots not flasher
• Make opponent work for points

Other

• If own backhand sucks for example, lower expectation of that shot, just get it back over the net
• Foot work affects all strokes
• It’s ok to be angry at a missed shot, but just don’t dwell on it several points later
• All games shouldn’t be played for fun, but played so we have a tournament tough mentality, even practice games. Basically, always have a winning strategy.
• Talk to yourself like a doubles partner. Keep yourself calm and motivated.

A third ball attack strategy

Photo by spalbird

This is assuming they are right handed.

Serving forehand short gives them more angles to play it away from you making you lunge for the ball and be out of position for the next shot. So, serve backhand short or long. This will make the ball come back towards you. This gives you the chance to pivot and 3rd ball attack. This seems so simple but I had just figured it out after years of playing.

You could experiment with what spin you put on the ball to make the ball pop up or forces them to chop it back long for your chance to attack or loop with your forehand. A no spin or a low topspin serve usually works. When you do a fast long topspin serve to their backhand, make it surprising and do it at a time that isn’t predictable. This stops them from being comfortable on receiving. Keep them guessing. A long fast serve to their backhand will make the return come back long so be prepared for it. After you serve, jump into a ready position that is a bit further away from the table.

Attacking the ball before your opponent does gives you the heads up on the game, putting them on defence and giving you the confidence you need to win.