Between-Point Routine
Also known as: between points, between point routine, between-point routine, between points routine, routine between points, reset between points, focus between points, green routine
Between points, use the same short routine every time. Turn away from the court, take a slow breath to calm down, choose a simple plan for the next point, then settle into your serve or return ritual. A common four-step version is respond, recover, refocus and ready. ITF rules allow up to 25 seconds between points, which is enough time for all four.
Most of a tennis match is the time between points. What you do in those seconds decides whether the last point follows you into the next one. A routine gives you a set pattern, so you act the same whether you just hit a winner or a double fault.
USTA mental skills specialist Dr. Larry Lauer describes four steps. Respond: react calmly, turn away and walk back with positive body language. Recover: take deep breaths to slow your breathing and heart rate. Refocus: use the towel or collect the balls, then picture and commit to your plan for the next point. Ready: bounce the ball a set number of times, take a breath and play.
When things go wrong, slow down. After a bad miss, or on a big point such as 0-30 on your serve, take a little more time within the limit. Breathe, let the mistake go and pick one simple job, such as moving your feet or hitting deep crosscourt.
The rules set the pace. ITF Rule 29 allows a maximum of 25 seconds between points and 90 seconds at a changeover. Practice your routine in training so it fits comfortably inside that time.
Tips by skill level
Pick a simple routine: turn away, breathe out slowly, decide where the next ball is going, then go. Use it after every point in practice.
Build the planning step in. Choose your serve or return target and your first pattern before you step to the line, then commit to it.
Example
After a double fault, Leo turns to the back fence, takes two slow breaths and adjusts his strings. He decides on a safe serve to the backhand, bounces the ball three times and serves.
Why it matters
Points are often lost before they start, when frustration or nerves from the last one carry over. A steady routine resets your body and mind and helps you play each point on its own.
Common mistakes
- Rushing into the next point while still upset
- Replaying the last mistake instead of planning the next point
- Changing the routine depending on the score
- Taking so long that you risk a time violation
Frequently asked questions
What should I do between points in tennis?
Turn away, breathe slowly, pick a simple plan for the next point and then go through your serve or return ritual. Do the same routine after good and bad points.
How much time do you get between points in tennis?
Under ITF Rule 29, up to 25 seconds between points, 90 seconds at a changeover and 120 seconds between sets. After the first game of each set and during a tiebreak, players change ends without a rest.
How do I stay focused between points?
Use the same steps every time: respond calmly, recover with a deep breath, refocus on one plan, then get ready with your usual bounce or ritual. The routine gives your mind a job besides the last point.
Sources
Related terms
- Serve RoutineA serve routine is the consistent pre-serve sequence — bouncing the ball, breathing, positioning the feet — that helps players enter a calm, focused state before every delivery.
- Match NervesMatch nerves are normal, and the aim is to play well with them, not to make them vanish. Use a between-point routine, breathe out slowly and pick one simple target for the next ball. When you feel tight, keep a relaxed grip, swing through to a full finish and play shots with margin instead of going for the lines.
- Handling Mistakes and FrustrationExpect to miss, and decide in advance how you will respond. After a mistake, turn away, breathe out slowly and use a quick reset, such as the towel or touching the back fence, to let the point go. Then replace it with one simple job for the next point, like moving your feet or hitting deep crosscourt.
- Momentum Shift in a MatchA momentum shift is a clear change in which player controls a match. Breaks of serve, long games won on key points, and runs of games often trigger it.
- Time ViolationA time violation is a penalty for taking too long between points or at a changeover. Under USTA rules the first one is a warning and each one after that costs a point. Pro tours set their own shot-clock penalties.
- Practice-to-Match TransferMany players hit well in practice but not in matches because practice is too predictable, with fed balls, no score and no pressure. Make practice more like a match. Play live points that start with a serve or return, keep score, mix shots, and add pressure such as starting games at 30-40.
Related guides & benchmarks
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