Story of the Week
When I was in elementary school, I loved completing mazes.
I had countless books filled with intricate puzzles that I would eagerly devour, maneuvering from start to finish as quickly and accurately as possible.
Once I finished those books, I started making my own mazes and filled the backs of my school notebooks with this confusing, winding graffiti.
Some of my creations became so complicated and convoluted that I couldn’t even remember the safe path through.
Determined to conquer them, I eventually found a solution: by approaching these difficult mazes from the finish and working my way backward, I could navigate them successfully.
On the tennis court, we’re constantly faced with ever-evolving challenges. And just like with mazes, sometimes you need to look to the end to know where to begin.
Approaching challenges from the opposite perspective often brings clarity, making it easier to troubleshoot your game.
Inside the Academy
This week at Colossal Tennis, in our first Mental Skills & Drills session of the summer, we explored this idea of “starting with the end” in the context of goal setting.
I began by asking the students: “If you could wave a magic wand and improve one aspect of your tennis game this summer, what would it be?”
This helped them focus on the most impactful area for improvement—and transported them mentally to a future where that goal had been achieved, positively impacting their competitive tennis journey.
Next, using SMART goal-setting strategies (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), we clarified their goals with more precision.
Then we zoomed all the way back to the beginning.
I asked: “What’s the single most important step you can take today to move toward that goal?”
This gave each student a laser-like focus on what needed to happen in the present to reach their future self by the end of the summer.
By breaking a big goal into small, actionable steps, the process becomes more manageable. Like dominos, one move leads to the next (hat tip to Pat Flynn and his book Lean Learning for the inspiration here).
Crafting the Environment
One of the most overlooked challenges in tennis training lies in how coaches structure individual and group sessions.
This isn’t a criticism of professional preparation or lesson plans—but rather a reflection on how deep, lasting skill acquisition is achieved.
Often, I see lessons organized in a “closed to open” structure: start with a technical or tactical drill (closed), then apply it in a live ball or competitive game setting (open).
There’s nothing wrong with this—it’s often necessary.
However, I’ve found learning is deeper and more lasting when we flip this structure: start with a game-based or live scenario (open), narrow the focus to address specific skills or challenges (closed), and then re-integrate that skill into the original open environment.
Starting with the whole helps both coach and student identify which skills and tactics are actually working—and which aren’t.
That insight allows us to spend our time more wisely and target improvements that will have the biggest competitive impact.
Even more powerful? Students often recognize their biggest weaknesses without being told. This creates tremendous buy-in when we do need to break things down technically or tactically.
In my experience, how you train is how you compete. That’s why I want my students to feel a sense of competition from the first minute of a session.
Closed-to-open environments prioritize skill acquisition over application, which can lead to over-analysis and tunnel vision.
Yes, strong technique is critical—but technique is a means to an end, not the end itself.
I want my players to see the bigger picture of their competitive tennis game, then understand the purpose of the techniques we train.
By starting with the end in mind, we create a symbiotic relationship between skill acquisition and application—helping players become sharper competitors, thinkers, and ball strikers.
Final Thoughts
Competitive tennis offers endless challenges, and how we view those challenges shapes the solutions we create.
As players and coaches, it’s essential to flip our perspective sometimes and look at the game from a new angle.
Because every tennis labyrinth has a way through—and sometimes, the end is exactly where you need to begin.
Before you go: Hit reply and tell me—what’s your #1 struggle when it comes to tennis? I read every response, and your input helps me tailor future newsletters to serve you better.
Once you’ve identified your biggest challenge, figure out the first step you can take today to start moving toward your goal.
Good luck—and I’ll see you on the court!
