Singles Strategy for Young players

I get many great questions from my book owners. Here is another one that I thought may be of interest.

Do you by any chance have any suggestion to good strategy books software that is really good for younger players.(teen and younger)?

I do not know of any books on good strategy for younger kids. However, from my way of thinking good basic strategy for kids (or anyone) is not difficult. I think that too many people try to make strategy too complex and therefore difficult. Here is what I know works and what I tell my all my students. Even the very advance ones.

When serving, hit all balls to the backhand. First serves and second serves. Once you are able to do that, start mixing up the first serve but 85% to the backhand and 15% to the forehand. If you have a fast serve you can try hitting right at the person. Hit 98% of second serves to backhand. Have you noticed where Roger Federer serves his second serves almost 100% of the time?

When returning serves, hit the returns like I talk about in my book (Lesson #32).

After the serve and return of serve, hit all the balls to the backhand. I do mean all. Once the student can do this, I have them hit at least the first 3 or 4 balls to the backhand, then keep hitting to the back hand until they get an easy forehand then hit that forehand crosscourt to make them run. If the opponent returns it, go back to hitting to the backhand.

The basic strategy I have in my book describes this strategy more formally.

The important thing that I don’t see very many players doing is hitting the first ball (after the serve and return of serve) to the backhand. And this applies to advance players.

As an example as to how well this can work, I was coaching a young 15 year old who pretty much wins all the tournaments here in Seattle area. After telling him to hit most balls to the backhand, he still didn’t do it. In his next match, I told him I wanted him to always hit the first 2 or 3 balls to the backhand and it was amazing (even for me to see) how many times he won the point on the first 2 or three hits just by going to the backhand side.

There are many variations to this, of course, but this basic strategy works big time at all levels. I use it unless I discover that my opponent’s forehand is truly weaker.

Do you by any chance have any suggestion to good strategy books software that is really good for younger players.(teen and younger)?