Beyond Repetition: How Intent Shapes Real Progress in Tennis

By Marc Pulisci

Improvement in tennis is rarely just about how many hours a player spends on court. What truly separates growth from stagnation is the way those hours are approached. There is a quiet but powerful distinction between training and practicing, and it begins with mindset rather than effort.

Players, coaches, and parents often use these terms as if they mean the same thing. They don’t. Recognizing the difference can completely shift how a player develops and how that development shows up when the score matters.

So what sets them apart?

Let’s start at the foundation.

Training: Movement Without Meaning

Training is usually physical in nature. It may involve endless rallies, repetitive footwork patterns, or demanding conditioning routines. The body works hard, the heart rate climbs, and the session looks productive from the outside.

And to be clear, this type of work has value.

The problem arises when effort replaces intention.

Within a training-focused approach, the goal is often to complete the session rather than to improve a specific element of match performance. Balls are struck, drills are finished, and sweat is earned, but the mind is not always engaged in learning.

In this state, players may log hours on court without making meaningful adjustments. Movements become habitual. Decisions turn automatic. Progress slows, even though the workload remains heavy.

Training, at its purest, is about showing up and putting in the work. It builds endurance and familiarity, but without a clear purpose, it risks becoming mechanical, disconnected from the demands of competition.

It helps create a base.

It does not guarantee growth.

And without awareness or direction, even the hardest sessions can quietly limit a player’s potential.

Where Progress Is Designed, Not Hoped For

True advancement in tennis doesn’t come from simply spending time on court; it comes from how that time is used. This is where practice separates itself from routine work. Practice is deliberate, thoughtful, and built around a clear intention.

Within a practice-focused approach, nothing is random. Each drill exists for a reason, and every repetition serves a defined objective. Players are not merely exchanging shots; they are learning to place returns deeper under pressure, or to regain position quickly after being pulled wide. The work has direction.

This mindset turns sessions into problem-solving environments. Instead of running patterns for the sake of movement, players refine their transitions between shots. Instead of hitting aimlessly, they sharpen choices, when to attack, when to defend, and how to construct points with purpose.

Elite players and experienced coaches shape practice around the realities of competition. They focus on decision-making, efficient movement, smart shot selection, and consistent mental habits because these are the elements that decide matches.

The late performance researcher Dr. Anders Ericsson captured this idea perfectly when he explained that meaningful improvement comes from practice built on clear goals and constant refinement.

That philosophy mirrors what a true practice mindset brings to tennis: intention over repetition, awareness over autopilot, and progress that translates directly to match play.

Why Intentional Work Outperforms Endless Reps

There is no denying that both structured training and focused practice play a role in a player’s journey. However, athletes who lean more heavily into purposeful, goal-driven practice, especially when those goals mirror real match situations, consistently progress faster and compete at a higher level.

The reason is simple: intention changes everything.

Players operating with a practice-first mentality know exactly what they are developing and why it matters. Their attention shifts from how much they do to how well they do it. Each session demands presence, thought, and accountability.

This approach naturally keeps players mentally engaged. Instead of drifting through drills, they remain sharp and aware, making real-time adjustments. Feedback, whether from a coach or through self-evaluation, becomes clearer and more valuable when tied to specific objectives.

Most importantly, the skills built in purposeful practice carry directly into competition. Decision-making improves. Movement becomes more efficient. Confidence grows because preparation mirrors performance.

Players who embrace this mindset also sidestep the common mistake of equating progress with volume. Rather than piling on extra work, they refine their effort. The result is less wasted energy, sharper focus, and improvements that are not only visible but measurable where it counts most: in matches.

How a Shift in Approach Changes Everyone Involved

The distinction between routine work and purposeful preparation affects more than just performance; it reshapes the roles of players, coaches, and parents alike.

For athletes at any stage, moving from simple activity to intentional practice represents a meaningful step forward. It encourages maturity, accountability, and a more professional approach to improvement, regardless of age or rank. Progress becomes something they design, not something they hope for.

For coaches, this shift is an invitation to rethink session structure.

Effective court time is no longer measured by volume alone, but by relevance. Practices built around competitive situations, clear objectives, thoughtful feedback, and mental engagement create players who are better equipped to meet real-match demands.

Parents play an equally important role. Support is no longer just about applauding long hours on court, but about fostering reflection. Asking what their child is developing, and how that development shows up in competition, helps reinforce purposeful habits and smarter effort.

Closing Perspective

Before stepping onto the court, there is one question worth asking:

Is today about motion, or meaning?

Improvement does not come from striking more balls. It comes from striking them with intent.

In tennis, as in life, direction outperforms repetition, and purpose is what turns effort into results.