Loosely swinging
Seeing what happens
No outside / inside pressure
Usually the balls go in
Start adding some pressure
Opponent
Target
Obstacle
Things change
So:
Stay loose when it counts?
Or
Better handle the pressure?
Honestly I don't know the answer (yet?)
I do know books etc have been written
About playing freely
Letting things happen
But is that really really possible, at all times?
What about on break point 2nd serve 4:4 3rd set?
Match point for or against?
After getting worked up by some irritation?
Are we ready
Have we prepared
If we end up
In such situations?
It probably won't hurt
To practice
And elevate
Both approaches
The loose, free, see what happens
But also increase chances
To hit the spots
When pressure gets to us
One simple way of practicing the latter
By oneself even
Is to count
For when it counts...
Hitting the doubles alley
Service box for, well, serves
And angled cross courts
Play deeper than service line
For our pursuit here
Of course everything with
The still weaker side as well
To catch up
I'm sure we can literally
Count on
Both sides getting better
Trend line :)