135 Assist – Adding Depth to Tennis Player Analysis
At 135 Tennis Intelligence, the foundation of our work is the 135 Framework – a system that breaks down the start, middle, and end of every point to create a detailed player profile. But sometimes, to understand the full picture, you need to go deeper.
That’s where 135 Assist comes in.
Beyond the Start and End of a Point — What Happened in the Middle?
The 135 Framework already captures a wealth of information:
- Start of the point: “Who was serving” is the main one? Was it a first or second serve? What was the score? Was the player serving from the deuce or ad side?
- Middle of the point: How long was the rally?
- End of the point: “Who won the point” is the main one here? Was it a winner/forcing pattern or an unforced error? Which shot finished the point? Where were the players?
This gives us a rich tactical snapshot. But the rally – the story in between – often holds the answers to why a point, or group of points, played out the way it did.
135 Assist Tracks the Hidden Patterns
135 Assist is a specialized add-on service that fills in the middle of the point with advanced tactical insight.
We record and measure:
- Shot Type: serve, forehand, backhand, volley etc
- Shot Direction: Cross-court, down the line, inside out or inside in?
- Player Position: Was the player in an attacking, neutral, or defensive position when they played the shot?
These details matter. A player who regularly plays Shot 3 from a defensive position likely has an ineffective serve. A player who hits Shot 5 from an attacking position is likely building the point well from the serve through Shot 3.
135 Assist doesn’t just describe the result — it explains how the point was constructed.
Understanding the Final Shot — and What Came Before It
In addition to the final shot, 135 Assist introduces the concept that is common in sports like Basketball and Football – that of the “Assist” – the two shots that came before the specific shot we’re looking at, most often the final shot of the point or group of points.
For example:
- The final shot is a winning smash.
- Assist 1 (shot before the smash): Forehand volley cross court from attacking position.
- Assist 2 (2 shots before the smash): Forehand down the line from attacking position.
Ask yourself this question: “Which do you care about more: knowing that a player hit 10 smash winners in a match or knowing how they set up the smash on those 10 occasions?” As an Analyst, I know which of those pieces of information is more important. If all 10 smashes were errors, that might be different!
A Tactical Add-On — When More Insight Is Needed
135 Assist is not required for every player or every match. It’s an add-on service, used when a deeper level of analysis is needed – typically during specific development phases, match reviews, or before key competitions.
It’s ideal when:
- A player is plateauing and needs greater depth of analysis.
- A coach wants to dive into shot selection and positioning.
- A training plan needs more targeted insights.
- Players are preparing for a specific opponent or tournament.
From Point Summary to Tactical Storytelling
135 Assist turns every point into a story of choices, not just outcomes. It provides clarity on how points are built, how patterns develop, and how success is being created – or lost.
If you’re already using the 135 Framework and want to go deeper, 135 Assist is the next step in understanding a player’s game in full tactical detail.