Pressure Tennis

216 pages published: 2000

About the Book

If you are looking for a training system that prepares tennis players for the pressures of competitive match play, look no further than Pressure Tennis. This instructional book shows you how to raise the level of intensity of your practices, increasing their effectiveness and mentally toughening up your players.

Tennis coach Paul Wardlaw has created and refined his extraordinary training program through his 14 successful seasons at the college level. Through his system, you will learn how to design and implement effective practice sessions using pressure drills that simulate match-like conditions. Pressure Tennis will also demonstrate how you can help your players develop

• high-percentage tactics; • aggressive court position; • varied, intelligent shot selection; and • better court coverage and anticipation of the opponent’s shot.

Within the first week or two of use, the system improves concentration, motivation, confidence, and conditioning. More important, players develop a resilience to match-play pressure and welcome the challenge of even the toughest opponent. To help evaluate progress, Wardlaw has included a novel Performance Index that provides coaches with a more objective measure of each player’s execution, effort, and ranking on the team.

Whether you’re a player or a coach, you’ll want Pressure Tennis for the blueprint it provides for enhancing mental toughness.

About the Author

Paul Wardlaw has worked his way up to the top of the tennis coaching ranks. In the early 1990s, he turned Division III Kenyon College into a national powerhouse, leading them to three NCAA National Team Championships. In recognition of his outstanding coaching skills, Wardlaw received the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Coach of the Year Award.

Wardlaw then turned his attention to the University of Iowa women’s tennis program. In only two short years as head coach, he increased the team’s standing to its highest ranking ever and led them to their first NCAA tournament bid and a trip to the Sweet 16. Wardlaw has written “The Wardlaw Directionals,” which appeared in the book Coaching Tennis and will be featured in the upcoming Human Kinetics video High-Percentage Tennis. He resides in Iowa City with his wife and two daughters.

Words of Praise

“Paul Wardlaw has done some of the first truly innovative work in tennis research in a long time. The real meat in this book has depth, substance and many things never before written about by other tennis authors.” Chuck Kriese Men’s head tennis coach Clemson University

“A coach’s dream! Paul’s unique approach is clear and very powerful. We will definitely use his principles. A truly brilliant work!” Bob Hansen Men’s head tennis coach University of California, Santa Cruz NCAA team champions 1989, 1995, 1996, and 1998 NCAA doubles champions 1994, 1996, 1998, and 1999 NCAA singles title 1999

“Pressure Tennis articulates a system of training that prepares players for match play conditions. Most players look great in practice. Paul Wardlaw’s players perform at an extraordinarily high level in matches!” Jeff Moore Head women’s tennis coach University of Texas NCAA team champions 1993 and 1995

“Pressure Tennis will make you a better coach. The book clearly explains the why and how of a proven system that works with college teams, high school teams, or any other group of players. I have used Pressure Tennis to create a winning high school tennis program and a successful summer camp program. If you want to teach players to compete better, this is the book you need. Pressure Tennis gives you a proven system for running a successful tennis program at any level. Players learn by competing in a variety of games and drills that keep players focused, learning, and having fun. Coaches at any level can use the book to develop players who know how to play under pressure.” Al Slawson Varsity Tennis Coach Shaker Heights High School (Shaker Heights, Ohio) Member, United States Professional Tennis Association

“Brilliant and rich in content; simple yet comprehensive in its approach. Coach Wardlaw offers a master plan for all coaches who aspire to raise the bar and have fun taking their athletes to the next level.” Jerry Lynch Director Taosports Center for Athletic Development Author, Working Out, Working Within and Running Within