Kwong Young, USPTA Tennis Professional, IronOaks Tennis Club
What’s the ultimate reason a tennis player loses a point? We often blame footwork, timing, poor shot selection, excessive power, a lack of fundamentals, or even racquet strings and tension. While all these factors play a role, the truth is simpler: You lost the point because your opponent sent a ball back into play—and you didn’t.
That’s Tennis 101. Funny things happen when you keep the ball in play. By doing so, you give your opponent the chance to make a mistake and hand you the point. There’s never a guarantee you’ll win a rally, but keeping the ball alive ensures you don’t give away a free point. Compared to a 0% chance when the ball goes out, putting it back in play at least gives you 50/50 odds—or better. That’s the power of playing the percentage game.
At the core, there are only three ways to lose a point:
1. Unforced error: You gave the point away.
2. Forced error: Your opponent pressured you into a mistake.
3. No attempt: You didn’t make a play at all.
So, make your opponent earn it. Don’t hand them free points. Instead, sharpen your footwork, stay disciplined with your fundamentals, and focus on controlling your shot placement rather than over-hitting.
When you master consistency and force your opponent to keep performing, you dramatically increase your chances of winning—not just the rally, but the match.