Carlos Goffi was a coach of a young left handed player from Douglaston, New York who became the number 1 player in the world.
Can you name him?
Goffi wrote the book Tournament Tough and is credited with using a stoplight concept to assist players in shot selection and point play.
Many coaches have, like System 5, heard of these ideas but forgotten them over time.
Many of our players still overcook approach shots, serve returns, overheads, and low volleys…prompting me to think the traffic lights could help in all of these situations.
Let’s start by recognizing that low approach shots and volleys are yellow and should be placed rather than pummeled.
As Goffi wrote…play these with the word ‘penultimate’ (next to the last) in mind.
Perhaps a recognition drill could help players make quicker…and wiser decisions. Have the player call green or yellow in a four ball forward drill based on the height of the approach and/or volley feed.
Try a drill where the player is fed a juicy, strike zone green backhand and then a high deep red ball to the forehand where they hit the highest lob possible to buy some time. The player calls out the appropriate color before the ball bounces.
Goffi’s color scheme also applies to point construction and the highlight match of Sampras vs. Kuerten on you tube can lead one to consider how color driven these amazing players are. Sampras was truly a green machine. In the same breath, love 30 or 15-40 in club doubles requires a more measured first serve and return when behind.
Let me know your application of the traffic light concept as I could use some new drills.
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