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Passionate Tennis by Josh Bates

Passionate Tennis is World Class Tennis Instruction presented by Josh Bates for those who are passionate about tennis. If you’re ready to take your game to the next level, Passionate Tennis will help you get there.

Josh Bates

Josh Bates

Josh is the Director of Tennis at Ocotillo Village in Chandler, Arizona.

He is one of the first professional coaches in the world to earn the distinction of PTR Master of Tennis Performance at all levels. This certification follows the developmental path from a beginning child to the professional player. Josh is also an Adidas Brand Ambassador, Master Racquet Technician, PTR Clinician, and a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff.

Recent Free Video Tips
  • Simple Defense - Understanding the court, where you are, and your opponent are all part of defense. Many players get overwhelmed on defense. Anytime your opponent is coming in to attack or hits a big ball that pushes you out of position, hit the ball high and in the middle of the court.
  • Hit Out of Trouble - To practice hitting out of trouble, practice hitting crosscourt with a ball machine or a partner. The key to hitting your way out of trouble is hit the ball crosscourt. When you hit crosscourt, you buy yourself time to get back into position. But DON’T just stand in the alley and wait for the ball. […]
  • Keep Your Head Down - It’s important to make your mind up about where to hit the ball ahead of time and stick to that plan. When you change your mind, you can lose focus on the ball and pull your head up. Moving your head affects your swing. Make a plan, keep your head down, don’t worry about what […]
  • Backhand to Forehand - For most players, the forehand is their best shot. Some players hug the ad side of the court to try to get more forehand opportunities. This strategy isn’t the best because it leaves too much of the court open. Instead, focus on hitting the backhand then transitioning to the forehand. The key to this transition […]
  • Full Court Game - You have to think about tennis as a full court game. The key is to not wait in one spot. Always gravitate towards the center, look for all the angles, and create an opportunity to begin your attack.
  • Plan the Entire Point - Tennis is like chess. You have to constantly plan out your next move. Planning ahead can be difficult when you don’t have control over what your opponent is going to do. So, you have to think about the entire point and what you’d like to have happen. Even if your opponent hits the ball to […]
  • Playing from Behind - For most tennis players, playing from behind is easier than playing with the lead. When you’re down, there’s less fear of screwing up, because you’re already losing. Follow your instincts. Go for a little more when you are already in a deficit. You can practice playing from behind with a partner. Take turns playing games […]
  • One-Handed Backhand - The most important part of the one-handed backhand is actually your non dominant hand… That’s because you NEED your non dominant hand to adjust your grip.
  • Moving Around the Court - We often think of movements on a tennis court as forward, backward, and lateral. We seldom think about moving on an angle. The lines on a tennis court make this especially hard… You should NEVER follow the lines. Use angles to move around the court quickly. Push yourself backward at an angle first, so you […]