Psych Yourself Up to Play Better Tennis

You want to play better tennis, right? You want to improve that weak area of your game (probably your backhand) so it's more consistent and you want to be able to hit winners off your strength (probably your forehand). You want to hit forcing serves and put-away volleys. Your want to play well whenever you step out onto the court and you don't want to have to go through one of those depressing bad days. So what is holding you back? Why are you stuck at your particular level and unable to make a breakthrough up to that next higher level? Maybe the answer isn't so much in your physical ability as in your head.

In Tennis Tip No. 11, I discussed the need to calm down to play in the zone. How it is necessary to block out emotions and distractions to play your best. But how do your go about fixing those faulty strokes in the first place? Lessons, of course, will help you define and practice a good stroke but many fail to carry this over into actual game play. There seems to be a natural reversion back to bad habits once a game starts. Eventually this leads to a frustrated resignation that there is no way to overcome this dilemma.

The simplest way to break free of your constraints is to remember that learning anything is a matter of constant trial and error. You try a certain swing, you see the result, and then you make an adjustment. Gradually you get a feel for what works and what doesn't and you continue to improve as long as nothing hinders this process. Unfortunately it is very easy to become distracted so that you stop sensing your strokes. Instead of reaching out to the ball smoothly you tighten up and start swatting. You lose your awareness for what if feels like to properly stroke the ball.

So next time you are out on the court try to dedicate yourself to stroking the ball the way it should be stroked. Keep your balance and follow through correctly no matter what, even if it means missing the ball. Also take note of any excessive tightness, particularly in your shoulders and arms. You should be able to generate all the pwer you need while staying loose and relaxed. Evaluate each of your strokes not by where the ball goes but by how close you think it came to your ideal motion. It is only by staying aware that yo can make the real stroke come close to the ideal one. This is the only way to reinforce good habits; this is the psychology of improvement.

Arthur Ashe once said that all the great players he had known had gone through a stage in their lives when hitting the ball properly meant more to them than winning or losing. Vic Braden calls it a "win-win situation"; when you execute each shot properly you win no matter what the score. So if you are unsure of your stroke consult your Pro, but once you have it, use it no matter what the situation.