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1. Winners generally walk faster than losers on the court. Always keep your pace in between points and games fast and confident - with your head and shoulders up, never slumped.
Andre Agassi used to be a great example of this, while Roddick is another. Moving confidently between points and games has a powerful effect over your own mental attitude and performance, and shows to your opponent that you mean business.
Avoid slow walking unless you are deliberately slowing down the quick pace of your opponent. Players who losing a match tend to walk slower and slower as the match wears on, and their heads and shoulders begin to drop lower and lower with each game - avoid this at all costs! It will have a negative affect upon your performance and boost the morale of your opponent.
Every time you change ends and pass your opponent at the net, walk confidently and quickly, and also do not show any exertion - breathe normally, not heavily - and show them that you have heaps of energy left (even if you don't!) - as this might start to bother them if they start getting tired themselves.
So, even if you are not winning the match, act like you are. This really confuses your opponent. Basically you need to become - right now - the winning player you wish to be in the future - and you do this by behaving the way this future player would behave, walking the way they this future players would walk, and playing the way this future player would play, etc etc.
2. Become "the machine" in your opponent's eyes. Never show your frustration or annoyance to them in any way whatsoever - hide it in any way possible. Never show your opponent that their game is "getting to you" even if you are not winning the match - and eventually they will begin to wonder just what it takes to get you down.
Let's face it - no-one wants to play "a machine"! By demonstrating a relentless 'Terminator' type of attitude on court, along the lines of "I do not stop until I achieve my goal" - it can psychologically and mentally wear down your opponent, and cause them to make crucial unforced errors at important times in the match. Lleyton Hewitt has won many matches from this attitude.
Of course, it's fine to show positive emotions any time - just keep the negative ones to yourself, or they will boost your opponent's morale, and their game - which is the last thing you want to do.
3. Create a winning feeling inside yourself during your matches, to boost your performance. When you hit a fabulous shot or win a big point, briefly squeeze your hand into a fist and say to yourself "yes!". (You do this purely to yourself, not towards your opponent). This reinforces the winning feeling and help deliver optimum performance.
This is a great little habit to cultivate in your matches, to boost your performance. While some players like to use this as an intimidation tactic towards their opponents (which can sometimes backfire, as it can make the opponent angry and more determined), I am actually talking about using this method purely to strengthen your own performance - as this uses your great shots to help to create a stronger "winning feeling" within your mind and body - which helps to deliver a stronger performance from you as the match wears on.
Remember, no-one even needs to know that you are doing this - this is purely something that you quietly do, and say, to yourself - in order to strengthen your winning mood.
4. Everyone gets nervousness, angry or frustration at times - even the champions. The key is to use it positively by channeling these emotions into your shots rather than using them for self-sabotage purposes, such as verbal self abuse, racket-throwing etc.
This is also along the lines of "not showing any weakness" to your opponent - and something the elite champions seem to have over their lesser opponents - emotional control. This is not to say they don't get angry, frustrated or down - they do - it's just that they know what to do with these feelings, when they occur.
So whenever you are feeling negative, nervous or frustrated in any way, channel this valuable emotion into your shots, rather than using it for self-destruction - leave that to your opponents instead! Emotional energy is very powerful and champions always seem to know how to use it - the right way.
So that's it - bringing these four principles into your game will make a huge difference to your results, and will even allow you to win some matches that you might have otherwise lost, because the "slight edge" they create is often all you need to close out those tight matches. Try it and see!
"The Mind controls the body, and the Mind is Unlimited"
1. The best all-around mental repair tool is the simple phrase, "only the ball." It cures, at least temporarily, most of the big pitfalls. Whether you're upset, angry, nervous, or just distracted, repeat this phrase to block out negative thoughts and return your focus to where it belongs, the ball.
2. Probably the hardest time to concentrate is when you're getting ready to return serve. Your opponent has the ball, so your mind seems to sense that this is an opportunity for a little time off. The next thing you know, your musings about which movie to watch tonight are rudely interrupted by a chunk of rubber and fuzz coming in at 180 k.p.h. A combination of three devices can help keep your mind on the job:
· While your opponent is preparing, try to focus on something undistracting, like your strings. (Strings get readjusted a lot more than needed because of this little trick.)
· As she tosses the ball, try to watch it come out of her hand and say to yourself a long, drawn-out, "baaalll."
· As she hits the serve, say "hit," followed by "bounce," then on your return swing, "hit."
The "baaalll" device seems to work well for most players without much of a downside. The "hit, bounce, hit" phrase is also popular, but for some players it distracts more than it helps.
3. It's possible to become too analytical in the middle of a match, which will keep you from letting your strokes take their natural flow, but you don't want to shut down your analytical abilities, either. If you miss a shot you shouldn't have, you'll dwell on it less if you take a moment to figure out what you did wrong, then say to yourself, "Okay, I won't do that again." It's usually a good idea to repeat the stroke right away with the correct motion. You might very well make the same error the next time the stroke comes up, but just go ahead and apply the same process. Eventually you will get it right, and in the meantime, a little extra optimism won't hurt.
4. Learn versatility. If you have only one playing style, and it's not working, your lack of strategic options also creates a shortage of mental safety valves. A key factor in psychological health in general is feeling empowered to choose different courses of action. If you have a Plan B, C, and D on the tennis court, the failure of Plan A is unlikely to cause despair. Tennis players often lose because at least a part of them secretly gives up. You won't give up while you have something else to try. Learn to play every part of the court and hit every kind of shot with every kind of spin. You'll likely uncover a weakness in a seemingly invicible opponent. Variety makes the game more creative and interesting, too.
5. Look alert, energetic, confident, and happy. Looking so will actually help you be so to a significant extent, and it will keep you from giving encouragement to your opponent. If your opponent is at all prone to choking, your look of ready confidence on the verge of seeming defeat might keep just enough doubt in her mind to make her cave under the pressure of closing out the match.
Andre Agassi used to be a great example of this, while Roddick is another. Moving confidently between points and games has a powerful effect over your own mental attitude and performance, and shows to your opponent that you mean business.
Avoid slow walking unless you are deliberately slowing down the quick pace of your opponent. Players who losing a match tend to walk slower and slower as the match wears on, and their heads and shoulders begin to drop lower and lower with each game - avoid this at all costs! It will have a negative affect upon your performance and boost the morale of your opponent.
Every time you change ends and pass your opponent at the net, walk confidently and quickly, and also do not show any exertion - breathe normally, not heavily - and show them that you have heaps of energy left (even if you don't!) - as this might start to bother them if they start getting tired themselves.
So, even if you are not winning the match, act like you are. This really confuses your opponent. Basically you need to become - right now - the winning player you wish to be in the future - and you do this by behaving the way this future player would behave, walking the way they this future players would walk, and playing the way this future player would play, etc etc.
2. Become "the machine" in your opponent's eyes. Never show your frustration or annoyance to them in any way whatsoever - hide it in any way possible. Never show your opponent that their game is "getting to you" even if you are not winning the match - and eventually they will begin to wonder just what it takes to get you down.
Let's face it - no-one wants to play "a machine"! By demonstrating a relentless 'Terminator' type of attitude on court, along the lines of "I do not stop until I achieve my goal" - it can psychologically and mentally wear down your opponent, and cause them to make crucial unforced errors at important times in the match. Lleyton Hewitt has won many matches from this attitude.
Of course, it's fine to show positive emotions any time - just keep the negative ones to yourself, or they will boost your opponent's morale, and their game - which is the last thing you want to do.
3. Create a winning feeling inside yourself during your matches, to boost your performance. When you hit a fabulous shot or win a big point, briefly squeeze your hand into a fist and say to yourself "yes!". (You do this purely to yourself, not towards your opponent). This reinforces the winning feeling and help deliver optimum performance.
This is a great little habit to cultivate in your matches, to boost your performance. While some players like to use this as an intimidation tactic towards their opponents (which can sometimes backfire, as it can make the opponent angry and more determined), I am actually talking about using this method purely to strengthen your own performance - as this uses your great shots to help to create a stronger "winning feeling" within your mind and body - which helps to deliver a stronger performance from you as the match wears on.
Remember, no-one even needs to know that you are doing this - this is purely something that you quietly do, and say, to yourself - in order to strengthen your winning mood.
4. Everyone gets nervousness, angry or frustration at times - even the champions. The key is to use it positively by channeling these emotions into your shots rather than using them for self-sabotage purposes, such as verbal self abuse, racket-throwing etc.
This is also along the lines of "not showing any weakness" to your opponent - and something the elite champions seem to have over their lesser opponents - emotional control. This is not to say they don't get angry, frustrated or down - they do - it's just that they know what to do with these feelings, when they occur.
So whenever you are feeling negative, nervous or frustrated in any way, channel this valuable emotion into your shots, rather than using it for self-destruction - leave that to your opponents instead! Emotional energy is very powerful and champions always seem to know how to use it - the right way.
So that's it - bringing these four principles into your game will make a huge difference to your results, and will even allow you to win some matches that you might have otherwise lost, because the "slight edge" they create is often all you need to close out those tight matches. Try it and see!
"The Mind controls the body, and the Mind is Unlimited"
1. The best all-around mental repair tool is the simple phrase, "only the ball." It cures, at least temporarily, most of the big pitfalls. Whether you're upset, angry, nervous, or just distracted, repeat this phrase to block out negative thoughts and return your focus to where it belongs, the ball.
2. Probably the hardest time to concentrate is when you're getting ready to return serve. Your opponent has the ball, so your mind seems to sense that this is an opportunity for a little time off. The next thing you know, your musings about which movie to watch tonight are rudely interrupted by a chunk of rubber and fuzz coming in at 180 k.p.h. A combination of three devices can help keep your mind on the job:
· While your opponent is preparing, try to focus on something undistracting, like your strings. (Strings get readjusted a lot more than needed because of this little trick.)
· As she tosses the ball, try to watch it come out of her hand and say to yourself a long, drawn-out, "baaalll."
· As she hits the serve, say "hit," followed by "bounce," then on your return swing, "hit."
The "baaalll" device seems to work well for most players without much of a downside. The "hit, bounce, hit" phrase is also popular, but for some players it distracts more than it helps.
3. It's possible to become too analytical in the middle of a match, which will keep you from letting your strokes take their natural flow, but you don't want to shut down your analytical abilities, either. If you miss a shot you shouldn't have, you'll dwell on it less if you take a moment to figure out what you did wrong, then say to yourself, "Okay, I won't do that again." It's usually a good idea to repeat the stroke right away with the correct motion. You might very well make the same error the next time the stroke comes up, but just go ahead and apply the same process. Eventually you will get it right, and in the meantime, a little extra optimism won't hurt.
4. Learn versatility. If you have only one playing style, and it's not working, your lack of strategic options also creates a shortage of mental safety valves. A key factor in psychological health in general is feeling empowered to choose different courses of action. If you have a Plan B, C, and D on the tennis court, the failure of Plan A is unlikely to cause despair. Tennis players often lose because at least a part of them secretly gives up. You won't give up while you have something else to try. Learn to play every part of the court and hit every kind of shot with every kind of spin. You'll likely uncover a weakness in a seemingly invicible opponent. Variety makes the game more creative and interesting, too.
5. Look alert, energetic, confident, and happy. Looking so will actually help you be so to a significant extent, and it will keep you from giving encouragement to your opponent. If your opponent is at all prone to choking, your look of ready confidence on the verge of seeming defeat might keep just enough doubt in her mind to make her cave under the pressure of closing out the match.
