DID THEY WIN OR DID YOU LOSE?
I know, I know, during normal every day life, at home or in the office you are a tower of mental strength. Nothing much bothers you, you are in total control. But when you step onto a tennis court, you barely know which end is up! Sound familiar? Trust me, you are not alone, and whoever said “Tennis is 90% mental” knew what they were talking about. I have several conversations every week with players who have just had a “Tennis Mental Break Down.” Although I wish I’d paid more attention during those psychology classes in college, I’ve become somewhat of an expert over the years by observing hundreds of tennis matches.
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that the outcome of a tennis match is generally determined one of two ways:
1) By overpowering your opponent with winners and forcing them to make errors.
2) Allowing your opponent to lose to you through unforced errors.
In most instances players enter a tennis match with strategy #1 as their primary plan of attack, but soon, one of the players realizes that their opponent is much better at that strategy than they are, and if they’re a savvy player, they change to plan #2. One of the most important mental steps a player can make is in understanding these two distinctions; learning to recognize which is happening to them and then how to counter.
By far the most depressed players I see following a tough match are good players who like to overpower their opponents but drop a match to the “please lose to me” player. This is when players talk about choking, having an off day, saying “I play better against stronger players” or complaining that their opponent was a “pusher”. The more accurate, technical explanation for this type of loss is simply that their opponent was more consistent. Big hitters don’t like to speak about consistency - it’s not in their vocabulary! But being consistent doesn’t mean that you have to be able to keep the ball in play for 100 shots . . . if you can make three shots in a row, you are adequately consistent. Most points don’t last more than four shots total. To develop more consistency, try these simple tips:
1) Choose a target for every shot; stroking toward a target leads to accuracy. Accuracy opens the door to consistency.
2) The smaller the target, the less consistent you’ll be. Choose a larger target to improve your chances of hitting it.
3) Increase your net clearance. Net errors are a common mistake of over-hitters, cut down your net errors and you are well on your way.
4) Shorten your swing. Compact strokes are naturally more consistent.
5) Make it your goal to hit three shots in a row every point. You can’t become a successful player by hitting one in a row.
6) Consistency is impossible if you are off balance. If you are off balance, hit the shot you know you can make.
7) Expect the ball to come back after you hit it. You know you’ve arrived when you’re a little disappointed when it doesn’t come back
Remember, “Tennis is 90% mental.” Seeing yourself as a consistent player is a huge step in becoming a consistent player and the first step in putting those bad losses behind you.
Ron Steege, USPTA
