Bringing Playbook by Colin Beecher to Life

The Playbook is a deeply personal project by Colin Beecher — a former professional player and one of Britain’s most respected tennis coaches. Over a lifetime spent working at the highest level of the sport, Colin has built up an extraordinary body of knowledge, from on-court drills to hard-earned insights shaped by years on tour with some of the world’s best players.

The idea behind Playbook was simple, but ambitious: to capture that knowledge in one place and make it genuinely useful for coaches and players looking to gain a competitive edge. For Colin, this wasn’t just about creating a coaching resource. It was also about legacy — a way of documenting a life in tennis for his family, who have supported him throughout his journey.

From the outset, the project was intentionally open-ended. There was no fixed structure, no agreed title and no sense of how long or detailed the book might be. Instead, the early focus was on tapping into Colin’s energy, passion and instinctive understanding of the game. Working closely with Colin and memoirist Nick Shepley, we spent time exploring hundreds of drills, stories and ideas, gradually identifying what truly belonged in the book.

Our role was to help shape and structure this material into something clear, focused and usable. We began by defining the overall experience of the book, creating a clean and uncluttered design framework that always kept coaches and players in mind. The aim was to ensure the book felt practical and digestible — something that could live on court, be revisited regularly, and support real learning.

As the content developed, we worked collaboratively to refine each drill, ensuring it was communicated clearly and delivered genuine value to the reader. As the structure became clearer, we refined the editorial design further, tightening layouts, selecting imagery carefully and allowing space for the content to breathe. The design was deliberately restrained, acting as a solid foundation rather than a distraction, so that Colin’s voice and expertise could take centre stage.

In the final stages, we developed a visual identity for Playbook itself. Using a monochromatic palette, we created a simple, confident lock-up that feels familiar to the target audience while reflecting Colin’s warmth and personality. The identity helps the book stand out without overshadowing the substance of the content.

Since its release, Playbook has been very well received, with strong demand from its limited initial run and positive feedback from coaches and players working at a high level. What began as a personal ambition has become a respected coaching resource, already finding its place on courts and in kit bags.

Playbook now stands as both a practical tool and a lasting record of a career spent at the top of the game, capturing a lifetime of experience and sharing it with the next generation of coaches and players.

If you would like to discuss a project with Wood & Ham, just get in touch below!

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