Life Changing Mindset

What is the right mindset for playing tennis?

I've always thought that I was a good tennis player but some kind of mental barrier just stops me from playing at my best. It's extremely strange, kind of like, I can take on a good player but when I get on the court something in my brain just goes haywire. Do other people have this same problem? If so, how or did you ever overcome it?

Public Comments

1. you just gotta learn to just block everything out and focus. try just calming down for a while before...maybe listen to some music to help you relax...so you can just focus on the match

2. it's just nerves. everyone has that specially during competition. whether a friendly game or an actual tournament.

It's more of a mental problem, it depends if you're a competitive spirit that maybe serious. Try getting a copy of Brad Gilbert's "Winning Ugly"

I try to shake off the feeling during the warm up, or try to imagine myself playing with someone I'm familiar with, to get the nerve outta my system.

3. i seriously have the same problem i freak out rite before getting on the court. and im still a little haywire during the warmup. but the only thing that helps me is just to pay attention to how my opponent is hitting. and once the match starts stick to ur style of play and stay confident. thats wut helps me. i play my game and the match just happens..of course you win some you lose some. but either way it helps to understand ur flaws and focus on them the next time. all i can really say is stay confident and stick to ur strategies and shake off all those nerves!! good luck!
-b-ray-

4. 1) practice. The more court time you have, the more confidence you will have.

2) lessons. again, you build up your court time and confidence

3) eyes on the ball. Once your opponent hits the ball, watch the ball. not your opponent. regardless of what he or she does, your job is to hit the ball. know where your opponent is in the court and know your shot options. decide what shot to hit and watch the ball.

4) think about your shot. knees bent. eyes watching the ball. racquet swings low to high. follow through to racquet butt cap point at the net. head and eyes star at the impact zone between the ball and racquet for a split second after the impact.

5) relax. you're not a pro. Although you may want every shot to be perfect and to win every game, if you miss a shot or lose a game, it's ok. There will always be someone out there that can beat you. Federer lost at Rogers Cup and made 57 unforced errors in a best of 3 set match....

that should do it.

5. this is one of the hardest questions to answer in tennis...as a coach, this is the hardest lesson to each a student...i admit i went thru the same phase as you are going thru now...theres this fear inside...theres this want to impress the ppl watching with some miraculous shot...theres too much thinking going on

what i can advice you would be to stop thinking too much...consider every match as a practice match...consider every ball you return a lesson...

do not fear the opponent, treat the opponent as your friend/trainer and just hit the ball without thinking too much...it is often by over-thinking we confuse ourselves

currently i do go thru the same situation...but instead of panicking...i start to analyse my opponent...look at his most hated shots...and give it to him all night long...dont think bout other things...think bout that shot he hates and give it to him...

also learn to "un-learn" forget bout the last forehand that went some where else...forget the last shot...relax for the next...

cheers

6. Stay in the mindset like you own the court and you're doing a favor by letting your opponent play with them (yes cocky I know). But by treating it like "your house" you can have your opponent play into your secret weapon-type shots.

I trade for fun and I read an interesting study by a psychologist who said sometimes people have a hidden part of them which doesn't allow them to win because they feel they don't deserve it and/or they just like to lose. It's a harsh thing to say but it got me thinking about the way I trade and realized that I did have a sliver of that in my trading practices. You gotta think like a winner..silly yes..but I bet if you overcome this it will help you in a lot of other areas.

7. you need to read the book called The Inner Game of Tennis