👋

I just arrived in Newport Beach, California, to compete in the APP tournament.

This is a historic tournament for me because last year, I went from qualifying in men's doubles all the way to fourth place.

Only one year later, I am now the #3 seed overall for men's doubles.

Exciting how so much can happen in just 365 days!

Now, let’s get to this week's video:

Should you practice with a ball machine?

Ball machines can be a great tool.

However, they can also lead to some bad habits. Discover if YOU should be using a ball machine to practice in Under 60 Seconds.

My main focus going into this tournament is controlled aggression.

I have been adding new weapons to my game to make myself a threat. The most eye-opening addition is this: Depending on my opponent's actions, it will dictate the decisions I make.

I've put a TON of time into this.

For example, if I'm dinking cross-court and I see my opponent leaning in, taking most of my balls out of the air, that is a green light for me to lob.

Example #2, If I am dinking aggressively cross-court and see my opponent not returning back "home" to cover the middle, but cheating out wide in anticipation of my next shot. That is a green light for me to speed up through the middle.

This is the evolution of my game, because the old me would set my mind on a specific shot or speed up before the point even started.

If you find yourself doing the same right now, consider what you might look for during your next match to help you make better decisions in the moment.

If my matches are streamed, I'll be sure to share them with you!

-Tanner