The Transition and Net Finish

A varied all around transitional game can be the key to victory. I believe that the all around game is the key to success in modern tennis. We see it time and time again at the pro level. You have to know how to do everything, and do everything well. In today's game "everything" means a lot more than it used to. There are many, many ways to get to the net and win points. How much should you come in? That depends on the difficulty of the transition sequences you face, and your success in executing them. The fact is that a few successful transition points are the key to winning many close matches. It's true at the pro level, and it can be true in your game as well. We know that in almost all matches the player who wins the most total points usually wins. This difference is often surprisingly small. Close matches can be settled by two or three points. The margin can be surprisingly small even in routine, straight set matches. How important, then, are those few additional points you win in transition to determining the outcome? A five point advantage in transition points yielded...