Tennis Coaching Blog
Technique, mental game, strategy, junior development, and equipment — written by a working Indianapolis coach.
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Strength Training for Tennis Players: A Simple Weekly Plan
You do not need to become a bodybuilder to play better tennis. Here is a 2x/week strength plan that fits around match play.
How to Close Out a Match When You Are Serving for It
You are up 5-4 and serving for the set. Here is exactly how to handle the pressure and win the game.
How to Choose the Right Tennis Coach for You
Not every coach is right for every player. Here is how to evaluate coaching philosophy, credentials, and fit before committing.
Tennis Grip Guide: When to Change and Why
A plain-English guide to the seven main tennis grips — when each one is used, and how to switch between them quickly.
How to Warm Up for Tennis (10-Minute Routine)
A quick, injury-preventing warm-up routine used by professional tennis players — adapted for club-level time constraints.
Tennis Drills for Kids 8 and Under
Ball-handling, movement, and stroke-familiarity drills that keep 5-8 year-olds engaged while building real tennis skills.
Best Tennis Shoes for Hard Courts (Indianapolis Guide)
Indianapolis tennis is played almost entirely on hard courts. Here is what to look for in a shoe and which models to consider.
How to Beat a Pusher: The Playbook
The pusher is the most frustrating opponent in club tennis. Here is exactly how to beat one.
Split Step Timing: The Move That Makes Fast Players Fast
The split step is the single most important footwork skill in tennis. Here is how to time it correctly.
String Tension Guide: How Tightness Changes Your Game
Higher tension means more control. Lower tension means more power. Here is how to pick the right string tension for your game.
USTA League Tennis in Indianapolis: A Beginner's Guide
Everything a new adult player needs to know about USTA League tennis in Indianapolis — ratings, seasons, formats, and how to join a team.
Volley Technique for Doubles: Punch, Do Not Swing
Doubles is won at the net. Here is the volley technique that turns average club players into net threats.
Kick Serve Fundamentals: Building a Reliable Second Serve
The kick serve is the safest and most effective second serve in tennis. Here is how the grip, toss, and swing path actually work.
Wrist Injuries in Tennis: Causes, Prevention, and the Grip Fix Most Coaches Miss
Wrist pain in tennis players is almost always caused by grip issues, poor contact points, or overtight strings. Here is how to prevent it.
The 10-Minute Warm-Up and 5-Minute Cool-Down That Prevent Tennis Injuries
Most tennis injuries happen in the first 15 minutes of play or in the 24 hours after. The right warm-up and cool-down prevent both.
Rotator Cuff Injury Prevention for Tennis Players
The shoulder is the most-injured joint in serious tennis players. Here is how the rotator cuff gets injured and the exercises that prevent it.
Return of Serve Footwork: The Three Patterns That Fix 90% of Bad Returns
Split-step timing, the pivot step, and the recovery step — the three footwork patterns that turn returning from a weakness into a weapon.
Reading Your Opponent's Patterns: The Match-IQ Skill That Wins Matches
How to identify serve patterns, return tendencies, and shot preferences within the first three games of a match — and how to exploit them.
Lower Back Pain and Tennis: How to Prevent the #1 Serve-Related Injury
Lower back pain is the most common serve-related injury in adult tennis. Here is how to prevent it with core work, mobility, and serve mechanics.
Tennis and Knee Pain: Causes, Prevention, and When to Worry
Patellar tendinitis, meniscus wear, and jumper's knee are common in tennis players. Here is how to prevent them and when to seek treatment.
The I Formation: When It Wins Points and How to Run It
The I formation is the most disruptive tactic in doubles. Here is when to use it, how to run it, and what returns to expect.
How to Hit a Slice Backhand That Stays Low
The slice backhand is the most underused shot in club tennis. Here is how to hit one that skids low and forces errors.
Doubles Poaching Signals: How to Set Up Poaches Without Talking
The hand signals every serious doubles team uses to communicate poaches, fakes, and formations — and how to add them to your game.
Doubles Communication: What to Say (and Not Say) to Your Partner
The four communication moments in a doubles point, plus the between-point conversations that keep a team winning together.
Chip and Charge: When to Use It and How to Execute It
The chip-and-charge return is a lost weapon in modern tennis. Here is when it wins points at the club level and exactly how to execute the technique.
The 90-Second Changeover Routine That Wins Tight Matches
How to use every changeover to reset physically, mentally, and tactically. The pros do this — most club players just sip water.
Building a Match Game Plan: The 15-Minute Pre-Match Ritual
How to build a simple, executable game plan for a league match — what to identify beforehand, what to script, and what to leave flexible.
The Australian Formation: The Doubles Tactic That Kills Crosscourt Returns
The Australian formation puts the net player on the same side as the server. Here is when it wins points and how to run it.
Attacking Second Serves: The Free Points Most Club Players Leave on the Table
How to identify, position for, and attack a weak second serve. The single fastest way to win more league matches at 3.0 through 4.5.
Your First Tennis Lesson: What Actually Happens (Beginner Guide)
A minute-by-minute walkthrough of what happens in a beginner tennis lesson, written by an Indianapolis coach who has taught thousands of first-timers.
Tennis Elbow: How to Prevent It (And Fix It Fast If You Already Have It)
The technical, equipment, and physical causes of tennis elbow — and how a coach diagnoses and prevents it before it becomes chronic.
Singles Strategy for 3.5 Players: The 3 Patterns That Win Matches
Three proven singles patterns that convert USTA 3.5 rallies into won points — from an Indianapolis coach who's coached hundreds of league players.
One-Handed vs Two-Handed Backhand: Which One Should You Learn?
A coach's honest breakdown of the one-handed and two-handed backhand — including who should pick which, and when it's too late to switch.
Mental Toughness in Tennis: The 20 Seconds Between Points
The between-point routine used by pros — and how club players can build the same mental reset in a week.
Junior Tennis Tournament Preparation: A Parent and Player Guide
How to prepare a junior player for a USTA tournament — the two weeks before, the morning of, and the match itself.
How to Return a Big Serve (Even When You're Not the Athletic One)
Practical returning tactics for club and league players — how to block, redirect, and neutralize a serve that's faster than yours.
How to Improve Your Forehand Fast: 5 Fixes That Work in One Practice
Five specific forehand fixes an Indianapolis tennis coach uses in lessons — each one takes 15 minutes and produces a visible change.
How to Hit a Topspin Forehand (Step-by-Step, With Drills)
A step-by-step guide to hitting a modern topspin forehand — grip, swing path, contact, and finish, plus the drills that build it.
How to Find a Tennis Coach in Indianapolis (Without Wasting Money)
A coach-written guide to hiring a tennis coach in Indianapolis — what to look for, what to avoid, and the questions to ask before your first lesson.
How Much Do Tennis Lessons Cost in Indianapolis in 2026?
Real 2026 pricing for private, semi-private, and group tennis lessons in Indianapolis — plus what you actually get at each price point.
8 Tennis Footwork Drills You Can Do Alone (No Partner Needed)
Eight tennis footwork drills that build court speed, split-step timing, and recovery — all doable solo, in a driveway or on a court.
Fixing a Second Serve That Lands Short (Or Doesn't Land At All)
A second serve that lands short is the biggest weakness in recreational tennis. Here's how to fix it in three lessons, from an Indianapolis coach.
Doubles Positioning Basics: Where to Stand and When to Move
The two doubles rules that fix 80% of club-level mistakes: how to position at the net, how to move as a team, and when to switch sides.
The Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players (2026 Guide)
A coach's guide to picking a tennis racquet as a 3.0–4.0 intermediate — weight, head size, stiffness, and the specific models worth demoing.
The Best Age to Start Tennis Lessons (From a Coach Who Has Started 500+ Kids)
When to start your child in tennis lessons — the honest answer from an Indianapolis coach, by age, format, and personality.
Welcome to the Indy Tennis Blog
A short note on what this blog is, who writes it, and how to use it to actually get better at tennis.