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Thursday, September 5
Tip of the Week: Practice strengths, too




Ever had one of those days when your best strokes aren't working as well as they should, but your normally weaker strokes are performing better than usual? It doesn't mean you're living in a Seinfeld-esque bizarro world; it could just be due to your practice habits.

It's easy to bias practice time toward our weaknesses, but our strengths also need regular workouts. Even if a certain level of competence is maintained without much investment -- just like when you swim or ride a bike -- the finer points of stroking the ball must be honed regularly, even on your best shots, or you'll lose your edge.

Remember these tips for your next practice:

Don't neglect your strengths: You need to spend as much time practicing your strong shots as you spend on the weaker parts of your game. If your forehand is your weapon, make sure you do drills designed to work on that side. Don't make the mistake of concentrating so much on your weaknesses that you forget to polish your strengths.

Improve your weapons: No matter how strong your game is now, there's always room for improvement. If your ground strokes are steady and accurate, try to improve your touch and power. If your service placement is consistent, work on different spins.

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