thien/blog
25

Blog

Notes, essays, and thinking-out-loud — a written record of what I'm working through.

Nov 10, 202401

What Agassi's Open Taught Me About Coaching

He hated tennis. Played it for thirty years. Won everything. That paradox taught me more about motivation than any coaching manual.

booksmindset
Nov 1, 202402

Should You Listen to Music While You Practice?

Everyone has an opinion. Here's mine, and why it changed over the years.

practicemindset
Oct 28, 202403

On Living and Coaching in Connecticut

Why I stayed, what I love about it, and the underrated tennis scene that most people don't know about.

locallife
Oct 20, 202404

Reading the Game Before It Happens

The highest skill in tennis isn't hitting — it's anticipation. How to train the thing that can't be drilled directly.

techniquestrategy
Oct 15, 202405

The Inner Game Is the Only Game

What W. Timothy Gallwey got right about Self 1 and Self 2 — and why I teach it to every student on day one.

mindsetcoaching
Oct 2, 202406

Why Your Serve Is Broken (And It's Not Your Toss)

Everyone blames the toss. The toss is rarely the problem. Here's what I actually see when I watch students serve.

techniqueserve
Sep 20, 202407

How to Practice When You Only Have 45 Minutes

Most people waste their limited court time on unstructured rallying. Here's how to make 45 minutes count.

practicecoaching
Sep 15, 202408

What Drive Taught Me About Stillness

Nicolas Winding Refn made a film with almost no dialogue. It's one of the most useful things I've watched for thinking about presence on a tennis court.

filmmindset
Sep 8, 202409

Footwork First, Always

The shot isn't broken. The position is. Why I spend more time on movement than technique in my early sessions.

techniquefootwork
Aug 22, 202410

What Challengers Gets Right About Tennis (And One Thing It Doesn't)

Luca Guadagnino made a tennis movie that understands the sport better than most documentaries. Almost.

filmtennis
Aug 10, 202411

Coaching Adults vs Kids: The Differences Nobody Talks About

Adults bring ego, history, and real motivation. Kids bring energy, fearlessness, and zero patience. Both are harder than they look.

coaching
Jul 28, 202412

The Physics of Topspin (Simplified)

Why topspin exists, how to generate it, and why most intermediate players produce far less of it than they think.

technique
Jul 14, 202413

My First Year Coaching Full-Time

What I got wrong, what surprised me, and the lesson I had to learn twice.

coaching
Jun 30, 202414

On Nerves: Why They're Good and How to Use Them

Pre-match anxiety isn't the enemy. It's information. Here's how I teach students to read it.

mindset
Jun 15, 202415

The Two-Handed Backhand Is Better Than You Think

Everyone glamorizes the one-hander. Here's a defense of the shot that actually wins more points at every level below tour.

technique
Jun 1, 202416

The Best Public Courts in Connecticut (That I've Played On)

A personal, opinionated list. Not comprehensive. These are the courts I actually return to.

local
May 18, 202417

What Watching Federer Taught Me About Coaching

I've watched a lot of great players. Federer showed me something different — an aesthetic standard I try to hold my teaching to.

tennis
May 4, 202418

Five Drills That Actually Transfer to Match Play

Most drills practiced in isolation fall apart when the game gets real. These five don't. Here's why.

practice
Apr 20, 202419

Grip Pressure: The Detail Everyone Ignores

If I could fix one thing in every student's game without touching technique, it would be grip pressure. It affects everything.

technique
Apr 6, 202420

On Losing Well

Losing gracefully is a skill. It's also underrated as a path to improvement. Some thoughts from years of watching players win and lose.

mindset
Mar 22, 202421

My Morning Routine (For What It's Worth)

I've resisted writing this post for a year because morning routine content is exhausted. But people keep asking, so here it is.

life
Mar 8, 202422

The Return of Serve Is a Weapon. Treat It Like One.

Most players treat the return as defense. The best returners in the world treat it as an opportunity. The gap is mental, not physical.

technique
Feb 22, 202423

What To Do With the Off-Season

For recreational players, the off-season is usually just 'winter.' Here's how to actually use it to come back sharper.

practice
Feb 8, 202424

Patience Is a Tactic, Not a Temperament

Baseline grinding isn't passive. Understanding when to wait and when to attack is one of the highest-leverage skills in tennis.

strategy
Jan 25, 202425

Why I Coach

A question I've been asked many times. The answer has changed. Here's where I've landed.

coaching