You don’t have to hit the perfect shot to win the point. Sometimes, you just need to make the better decision.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from playing tennis as I’ve gotten older, it’s that trying to hit the perfect shot can get you into trouble.
You know the feeling.
You get a short ball and think, This is it. I’m going to crush this one.
You go for the line.
The ball sails just wide.
Or you try to hit a little harder than you need to, and suddenly your easy opportunity has become an unforced error.
I’ve done it plenty of times.
The older I get, the more I appreciate something that sounds simple but can be surprisingly difficult:
Play the shot you have—not the shot you wish you had.
What Does That Mean?
It doesn’t mean playing it safe all the time.
It doesn’t mean giving up on winners.
And it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t attack the ball.
It means recognizing the situation you’re actually in and choosing a shot that gives you a good chance of keeping control of the point.
Sometimes that’s a winner.
Sometimes it’s a deep crosscourt shot.
Sometimes it’s a high, safe ball that gives you time to recover.
And sometimes the smartest shot is simply getting the ball back over the net.
Think about three things before you go for too much:
Where am I?
Are you balanced and in good position, or are you reaching, running or hitting from an awkward spot?
Where is my opponent?
If they’re already out of position, you may not need to hit a spectacular shot. A good placement might be enough.
How much margin do I have?
If you’re trying to hit a two-inch target beside the sideline, you’re giving yourself very little room for error.
Give yourself some space.
The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Difficult Ball
One of the biggest mistakes recreational players make is treating every ball that looks attackable as an automatic opportunity to hit a winner.
But there’s a difference between a short ball and a good attacking ball.
You might receive a short ball while you’re still moving.
Or the ball might be low.
Or you might be well behind the baseline.
Or your opponent might already be waiting for your obvious down-the-line shot.
The ball may be short—but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should try to end the point.
A better choice might be to hit a controlled shot to a good target and keep the advantage.
Give Yourself Some Margin
One of the easiest ways to reduce unnecessary errors is to stop aiming so close to the lines.
You don’t have to paint the corner.
You just need to make your opponent work.
Imagine giving yourself a little more room:
- A few extra feet inside the sideline
- A little more height over the net
- A little more space above the baseline
That extra margin can make a huge difference.
You may not hit as many spectacular winners.
But you may also stop giving away points you didn’t need to lose.
And that’s a pretty good trade.
Why This Matters for Players Over 50
When we’re younger, we can sometimes make up for poor decisions with speed.
We can chase down another ball.
We can recover from an awkward position.
We can swing harder to get ourselves out of trouble.
As we get older, playing that way can become more expensive.
We may still be perfectly capable of playing aggressive tennis—but we have to be a little more selective about when to be aggressive.
That’s not a limitation.
It’s an opportunity to become a smarter player.
If you can win a point with placement instead of power, why make it harder than it needs to be?
If you can force an opponent into another shot instead of trying to hit a winner from a difficult position, why not?
The “One More Ball” Mindset
Here’s a simple mindset I really like:
Make your opponent hit one more ball.
You’re not trying to win every point with one amazing shot.
You’re making your opponent earn the point.
Hit a solid ball.
Recover.
Get ready.
Make them hit another one.
Then another.
Eventually, they’ll have to make a difficult decision or hit a difficult shot themselves.
And that’s where errors start to appear.
Try the Three-Ball Decision
Here’s a simple exercise you can try the next time you’re hitting.
When a ball comes toward you, don’t automatically think:
“Can I hit a winner?”
Instead, ask:
1. Can I attack?
If you’re balanced, inside the court and have a good opportunity, go for it.
2. Can I pressure?
If it’s not quite a winner opportunity, hit a solid shot to a good target and put your opponent in a difficult position.
3. Do I need to defend?
If you’re stretched, off balance or well behind the baseline, give yourself some margin and get the ball back.
That’s it.
Attack. Pressure. Defend.
Learning to recognize which situation you’re in can make your tennis feel much easier.
You Don’t Have to Stop Being Aggressive
I want to make this clear.
I’m not suggesting that players over 50 should stop attacking.
Quite the opposite.
There’s nothing wrong with hitting a big forehand, taking a ball early or going for a winner.
The key is choosing the right moment.
An aggressive player who makes good decisions can be much more difficult to beat than someone who simply hits hard all the time.
Sometimes the smartest aggressive play is the shot that gives you the next opportunity.
From Patrick
I’ve definitely been guilty of trying to do too much with a tennis ball.
You get a good opportunity and your brain immediately says, Hit it!
Sometimes that works.
And sometimes you’re picking the ball up from the fence a few seconds later. 😄
As I’ve gotten older, I’m finding that I enjoy the strategic side of tennis more.
I’m not trying to prove that I can hit the hardest ball on the court.
I’d rather make a good decision, keep the point going and make my opponent deal with another shot.
Maybe that’s one of the benefits of getting older as a tennis player.
We may lose a little speed or power along the way, but we can gain something else:
experience.
And experience can help us recognize when to attack—and when to simply keep the ball in play.
Final Thought
The next time you get a ball that looks like a chance to hit a winner, take a split second before you swing.
Ask yourself:
Am I in a good position?
Where is my opponent?
How much margin do I have?
Then choose the shot that makes the most sense.
You don’t have to hit the perfect shot.
You just have to make a good decision.
🎾 Play smarter. Give yourself margin. Make your opponent hit one more ball.
That’s tennis you can keep enjoying for a long time.
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