Setting simple performance goals can be beneficial to your training sessions. Here are some suggestions.

Balance: Awareness of balance is a simple technique to get you started. It can be used in training or playing a practice match. Balance can be observed as static (being still) or dynamic. (in motion) You must try to not be critical of how well you balance in given situations, try only to be aware of how you move.

Posture: Training an entire session with awareness of how your spine is aligned in different positions requires much focus. Some optimal positions may be awkward like the lunge position, however this can be corrected in time if the intent is to align the spine on low balls.

Spaghetti arms: If legs are the springloading force driving rotation of the torso, then the arms must do their part in producing enough speed. If arm muscles are supple and loose then they should be very whip like. The best way to get started on this is through co-operative mini-tennis. You can practice serves, ground-strokes, volleys with different spins whilst only tapping the ball nicely to your opponent who is on the opposite service line.

Ground Force: Most of you probably remember one of Newton’s laws. “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. Most force comes from the ground. Awareness of ground force can help develop leg mechanics in all situations. If you feel that your arm motion is a product of your leg motion then you have linked an important chain for perfection in stroke efficiency. Try to feel how much your legs drive your arms on serves, slice or topspin strokes and in all areas of motion.

Breathing: Breathing keeps muscles relaxed so the ability to do this optimally is helpful. Try breathing out fully on the forward motion of every ground-stroke and feel your shoulders and arm muscles relax on the out-breath.

I suggest try training one skill at a time as it is easier for an athlete to focus on one clear goal. These goals can also compliment one other in some way. For example, if you breathe correctly, it helps relax your arms or if you have well aligned posture, it can increase  balance and power.