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Winning Singles Strategy for Recreational Tennis Players: 140 Tips and Tactics for Transforming Your Game
Winning Singles Strategy for Recreational Tennis Players140 Tips and Tactics for Transforming Your GameAre you winning the points you should be winning?Most recreational players focus on how to hit the ball.
But matches are decided by where you hit it, when you hit it, and why.
Written specifically for 3.0–4.0 players, this book shows you how to win more matches through smarter decisions, better positioning, and clear point construction—without changing your strokes.
What You’ll LearnWhere to hit the ball in high-percentage situationsHow to construct points instead of reacting shot by shotWhen to play safe and when to attackHow to expose your opponent’s weaknessesHow to defend effectively and turn defense into offenseHow to reduce unforced errors and win more “winnable” points
140 Practical Tips You Can Use ImmediatelyEach tip is short, clear, and focused on real match situations.
No theory. No complicated instruction.
Just practical guidance you can apply the next time you step on the court.
Why Strategy Matters More Than TechniqueAt the recreational level, most matches are not lost because of poor strokes.
They are lost because
poor shot selectionbad court positioningunclear decisions under pressureThis book helps you fix those mistakes quickly, often without changing your technique at all.
Built for Recreational PlayersThis book is for you if
Play at the 3.0–4.0 levelWin some matches but feel you should win moreGet stuck in rallies without a clear planWant simple, effective ways to improve your results
Start Playing Smarter—and Winning More MatchesBy improving your decisions—even slightly—you
win more pointsreduce unforced errorsfeel more confident during matchesYou don’t need better strokes to win more often.
You need a better plan.
From the author of Stop Losing Points; 50 Costly Mistakes Recreational Players Make and How to Fix Them and Winning Doubles Strategy for Recreational Tennis Players, this book focuses on one helping you reduce unforced errors and win more matches through smarter shot selection, better positioning, and clearer decisions.
But matches are decided by where you hit it, when you hit it, and why.
Written specifically for 3.0–4.0 players, this book shows you how to win more matches through smarter decisions, better positioning, and clear point construction—without changing your strokes.
What You’ll LearnWhere to hit the ball in high-percentage situationsHow to construct points instead of reacting shot by shotWhen to play safe and when to attackHow to expose your opponent’s weaknessesHow to defend effectively and turn defense into offenseHow to reduce unforced errors and win more “winnable” points
140 Practical Tips You Can Use ImmediatelyEach tip is short, clear, and focused on real match situations.
No theory. No complicated instruction.
Just practical guidance you can apply the next time you step on the court.
Why Strategy Matters More Than TechniqueAt the recreational level, most matches are not lost because of poor strokes.
They are lost because
poor shot selectionbad court positioningunclear decisions under pressureThis book helps you fix those mistakes quickly, often without changing your technique at all.
Built for Recreational PlayersThis book is for you if
Play at the 3.0–4.0 levelWin some matches but feel you should win moreGet stuck in rallies without a clear planWant simple, effective ways to improve your results
Start Playing Smarter—and Winning More MatchesBy improving your decisions—even slightly—you
win more pointsreduce unforced errorsfeel more confident during matchesYou don’t need better strokes to win more often.
You need a better plan.
From the author of Stop Losing Points; 50 Costly Mistakes Recreational Players Make and How to Fix Them and Winning Doubles Strategy for Recreational Tennis Players, this book focuses on one helping you reduce unforced errors and win more matches through smarter shot selection, better positioning, and clearer decisions.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
About the author
Gerry Donohue
40 books5 followersGerry Donohue is a magazine writer and a non-fiction and fiction author living in Washington D.C. He is the author of two books on winning strategies for recreational tennis players and has written the first installment of The Kinsale Trilogy, The Man in the Wall. He is an avid tennis player and bicycle tourist.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 14, 2019
Same as with the doubles version...great book. Some overlap with the doubles version, but not a ton and only things that actually work for both singles and doubles. Super simple (not so much strategic info that you get overwhelmed) and perfect for beginners looking to up their game through strategy vs. technique.
November 20, 2021
This short book provides concise and very helpful suggestions. I played a guy after reading this book who had beaten easily earlier in the year I completely turned the tables and I found the guy super frustrated. I wish this guy would write even more and get into more depth on many of the things because his ideas are really fantastic.
April 26, 2022
Necessary information
This book should be given to every amateur tennis player. Also every teacher should focus on this kind of tips. I've played tennis for many years, and some of my teachers never mentioned any of this information, which is necessary to compete, and specially to stop loosing because of our unforced errors.
This book should be given to every amateur tennis player. Also every teacher should focus on this kind of tips. I've played tennis for many years, and some of my teachers never mentioned any of this information, which is necessary to compete, and specially to stop loosing because of our unforced errors.
March 10, 2024
Strategy is often underrated among amateurs and in this case, recreational tennis players. This book spells out what vast improvements can be made in one's singles game while being reconciled fully with the limits/weaknesses of one's game. It emphasizes choosing the high percentage shots over the flashy point-of-the-day shots.
October 22, 2024
A lot of repetition but not in a bad way
Many of the key strategies discussed were repeated throughout the chapters but I liked that. It keep reinforcing what an attainable game plan is for a beginner level recreational player like myself.
Many of the key strategies discussed were repeated throughout the chapters but I liked that. It keep reinforcing what an attainable game plan is for a beginner level recreational player like myself.
November 24, 2019
Short and to the point with many good tips on dos and donts. Simple illustrations would make the reading experience better!
March 11, 2023
Lots of repetitions, could be shrank into 10 pages.
September 20, 2025
Good book...a few really good tips to incorporate into my game. The book was incredibly repetitive, but maybe it was done on purpose to hammer home the key points.
May 21, 2026
Adorei prático e objetivo
September 8, 2015
Solid basic strategy
This book is a great resource for basic strategy at the recreational level. It is an easy, quick read and serves both as instruction for the beginner as well as a refresher for the seasoned player.
This book is a great resource for basic strategy at the recreational level. It is an easy, quick read and serves both as instruction for the beginner as well as a refresher for the seasoned player.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews