Why Every Serious Tennis Player Should Keep a Journal
- Paul Pisani
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
Most tennis players practice hard.
They hit balls.
They sweat.
They compete.
And then… they forget everything they just did.
That’s the problem.
The Truth Most Players Don’t Realize
If you’re not reflecting, you’re repeating.
The same missed forehand.
The same tight service games. The same mental lapses in big moments.
Day after day.
Not because you’re not working hard…But because you’re not tracking anything.
The Hidden Skill: Awareness
The best players in the world don’t just hit better.
They see more.
They recognize patterns:
When their serve percentage drops
When their footwork slows down
When their focus disappears
That awareness is what allows them to adjust.
And that awareness doesn’t magically appear…
👉 It’s built.
When I traveled on tour, each morning, before anyone woke up, I would find the closest coffee venue and sit down with pen and paper. There I would map out the entire day's sessions. The two tennis practices, the fitness session and even notes on recovery and nutrition.
Each tennis practice would be dialed into the minute. I wanted to take any of the guess work out of the training session and be able to improvise as I needed to.
I have come to realize that the daily journal is something not only helps Maximus, but myself become a better coach and trainer, and the athletes I train and coach.
There are apps that are out there that track...but in my opinion, it's taking that pen to the paper...that's where the magic happens.
The Simple System We Use
With my son Max, we’ve started something simple.
After every practice or match, he writes things down.
Nothing crazy. No long essays.
Just the important stuff:
Rate his shots (forehand, backhand, serve, return)
What worked
What didn’t
How his body felt
What he ate and drank
How focused he was
That’s it.
But over time… something powerful happens.
Patterns Start to Show Up
When you write things down daily, you stop guessing.
You start seeing:
“My serve drops when I rush”
“I play better when I stay low and move my feet”
“I lose focus when I get frustrated early”
Now you’re not just practicing…
👉 You’re adjusting with purpose
Confidence Comes From Clarity
Most players think confidence comes from winning.
It doesn’t.
It comes from knowing:
what you’re doing
why you’re doing it
and what needs to improve
A journal gives you that clarity.
And clarity builds confidence.
This Is What Separates Players
There are a lot of kids who hit balls.
Very few actually think about their game.
That’s the difference.
The player who reflects… improves faster.
The player who tracks… stays accountable.
The player who understands their patterns… becomes dangerous.
Final Thought
You don’t need anything complicated.
You don’t need a perfect system.
You just need to start.
A small notebook. A pen. A few honest thoughts after each session.
That’s it.
You won’t see this on Instagram. You won’t see it in highlight videos.
But behind the scenes, the best players in the world are tracking, reflecting, and adjusting constantly.
You can download a printable TENNIS JOURNAL sample sheet below.
You can download a printable TENNIS FITNESS JOURNAL sample sheet below.
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