Brad Gilbert: The Set Up Point

What's the Set Up point? Learn the secret directly from Brad. For some pros (the ones not making any money) and most recreational players there are two kinds of points: ad points and all the rest. Wrong. I treat the point that can get me or my opponent to an ad point as a major moment because it offers a major reward. That reward is the opportunity to win (or convert) a game. I call any point that precedes an ad point a Set-up Point. The point played at love-30, 30-love, 15-30, 30-15, 30-30, and deuce are all Set-up Points for one or both players. When I'm looking at one of those scores bells are ringing inside me, especially at 30-30 (or at deuce) when we both have a chance to step up and get to an ad point. Those are the points that really get the juices going. Each one is a big swing because it decides who gets a chance to cash in on the game. And if the set or match comes with winning that game the Set-up Point's value is multiplied (I think of those moments as Super Set-up Points). If I win a Set-up Point...