Story of the Week
At Colossal Tennis, adaptability is a core skill we teach. We design daily training puzzles and scenarios that challenge students to find their own solutions while developing all-court skills.
We often create “bad luck” rules—adding pressure or removing favorite shots—to force adaptation. In nearly 30 years of coaching, I’ve seen how these environments foster powerful growth.
So, when rules change or adversity appears, I ask: How can we adapt better than the competition and use this to our advantage?
Here are three opportunities I see in this no-ad scoring shift:
💰 #1: A Higher Premium on Serving & Returning
The most important shots in the game just became even more valuable.
At Colossal, we’ve always emphasized opening sequences—serve +1 and return +1 patterns—as they often decide the point. With no-ad scoring, these sequences can now determine the outcome of an entire game.
We’ll be doubling down on serve and return development. If you double fault often or have a weak second serve, you’ll get broken more. If you can’t consistently start points with a solid return, you’ll struggle to gain footing.
Players in programs that don’t think this way won’t adapt, giving our athletes a clear edge. Colossal kids will hold more often—and break more often too.
🧠 #2: Playing With Certainty
When a single point can decide the game, it’s crucial to embrace high-percentage tennis.
I call this “playing with certainty.” It means hitting your favorite shots to large targets, with solid net clearance, and often directing play to your opponent’s backhand.
This is a core principle at Colossal: Make your opponent prove it—while you stack the odds in your favor.
Even if you lose the point, you force your opponent to prove they know the right plays. That’s a win in itself.
And if they beat you by making the correct play, you’ve both played quality tennis.
As I often say, “You either get the result you want or the lesson you need.”
😌 #3: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
At Colossal, we’ve trained with no-ad scoring for years, well before this rule change. Why? Because Division 1 college tennis—our students’ target level—has used this format for some time.
But beyond that, no-ad scoring simulates pressure.
One sudden-death point increases intensity and focus immediately. If our players can thrive under that pressure, they gain a mental edge.
We call this: “Learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable.”
By training in high-pressure environments, students develop both mental and physical skills. They’re ready with a plan, calm under fire, and confident in their training.
As Billie Jean King famously said:
“Pressure is a privilege.”
At Colossal, we teach our students to embrace the mess: Play in bad weather, adjust to tight or loose strings, shake off a bad call.
The same goes for no-ad scoring. If our players like the pressure more than their opponents, we gain a massive edge.
🧐 Final Thoughts
This debate reminds me of another common tennis challenge: cheating, which I discussed in Issue #4 of Aces and Faults.
Whether cheating is real or perceived, competitors have two choices: Be the victim, or be the victor.
The victim struggles and loses focus. The victor uses the challenge as a spark to gain control over their mind and skills.
Again, I’m not writing this essay to sway opinions about the new rule change. The call has been made—the no-ad rule is here.
Just like I teach my students, it’s time to put that decision in the rearview mirror and move forward with purpose, strength, and clarity.
At Colossal Tennis, we specialize in navigating messy moments—and turning them into competitive advantages.
Onwards!
