An inscription in the temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece says “Know thyself.” Although those words were written with spiritual matters in mind, they’re equally applicable to less lofty endeavors, including the improvement of your tennis game.
While you probably feel that you already have a good handle on your game, you might be surprised to learn that others see your strengths and weaknesses on the tennis court differently. That big flat serve that you’re so proud of? It may not be as hard to return as you think. That defensive slice backhand that you have to keep in play because it has no power? It may be one of the most effective shots in your arsenal. Rather than base your impression of your game entirely upon self-analysis, consider enlisting others to help you out.
Try to:
Ask a partner to give you feedback: Chances are you have several players whom you hit with regularly. They can be a great source of insight. For example, I recently asked two such people to give me their impressions of my game. Interestingly, they both said I should come to the net more. I have pretty good hands and solid enough volleys, but I don’t go in as much as I could. After hearing the same thing from both of them, I’ve decided to make an extra effort to move in more frequently.
Get a pro to critique your game: Whether it’s technical or tactical, sometimes a trained eye can see things that you might not notice. Even if you’re an advanced player it doesn’t hurt to have a good teaching pro take a look at your game once in a while and give you some advice–even the pros have coaches.