Why You’ll Never Beat a 5.0 Player Unless You Master This
- Tom Kiat
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
If you're not drilling the right way, you’re not getting better. You might feel good after an intense open play session. You might even win a few games against stronger players. But if you want to actually beat a 5.0 consistently, not just once in a while on a lucky streak, then you need to start practicing like one.
I'm not just talking about working hard. I’m talking about working smart. Intentional. Deliberate. Focused.
Because here’s what the top players are doing when no one's watching.
The 5.0 Secret You’re Ignoring
Every 5.0 I’ve ever trained with or coached has one thing in common: they master the "boring stuff". You know what I mean, the repetitive drills that most players skip because they’d rather be playing games.
Games don’t make you better. Drills do.
You want to beat a 5.0? Then you better be drilling your third shot drop, your block volley, and your reset until you can do them in your sleep, under pressure, with a fire-breathing banger at the net.
This is the part no one wants to hear, and it’s exactly why most players plateau at 3.5 or 4.0 and never get further.
Real Talk: What My Best Doubles Partner Taught Me
I remember playing with my buddy Nico, a legit 5.0 grinder with hands like lightning and patience like a monk. We were drilling one afternoon, and I was gassed. I wanted to switch to games.
He looked at me, sweat pouring down his face, and said:
"If you’re not willing to suffer in practice, don’t expect to shine in the final point."
That line stuck with me. Because we weren’t just hitting shots, we were preparing for war.
We practiced cross-court dinks for 30 minutes straight. Then we reset 100 balls each in the transition zone. Then we worked on attacking foot faults and reading paddle angles. Not one of those drills felt sexy. But you know what? That weekend, we torched a team of 4.5s and upset a couple of 5.0s.
That wasn’t luck. That was sweat equity.
The One Drill You’re Probably Not Doing (And Should Start Today)
Here’s a drill I make every one of my serious players do:
“Chaos Dinks”
You and your partner dink crosscourt at medium speed. Randomly, one of you speeds it up. The other must reset and return to dinking instantly, no rally breaks, no excuses. The drill teaches you:
Control under pressure
When to counter and when to reset
Recovery from off-balance shots
You want to dominate in doubles? Learn to stay calm in chaos. This drill gives you that superpower.
Final Word: Winners Drill, Complainers Play
I’m not here to coddle. I’m here to coach.
You want to be the player that partners beg to team up with?
You want to walk into open play and have people whisper, “Oh man, he’s here…”?
Then start drilling with obsession.
Stop wasting reps. Start building a game that breaks opponents down.
Because if you’re not practicing like a 5.0…
You’ll never beat one.
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