Shrinking the court is a strategic adjustment you can make when your tennis game is a little bit off. It allows you to build confidence and raise the level of your play.

All tennis players have experienced the following: You aren't playing well and, as a result, you lose confidence in your shots. That loss of confidence causes you to play even worse, and so on.

Shrinking the court is a strategic adjustment that allows you to break this cycle. Pretend the boundaries of the court are moved in slightly and continue to play your normal game. This will cut down your unforced errors without simply "keeping the ball in play," and will help you regain confidence and, eventually, raise the level of your play.