What Are your Expectations When Learning a New Skill? Do you expect to see quick results? Learning new skills can be frustrating. Sometimes, it feels as though you take one step forward and two steps backward. Tennis players often expect immediate results, but that is not the reality
What helps an a top tennis player bounce back after being upset in a tournament? Entering a tournament as a favorite puts a lot of pressure on players. They fear they may be viewed as “choke artists” if they lose, especially if they are defeated early in the
Have you ever examined your self-talk? Have you wondered if your self-talk works for you or against you during tennis matches? What you say to yourself matters. When you tell yourself that you are nervous, you will become increasingly agitated. If you tell yourself that you will probably
What is the best way for a tennis player to work smarter? Improvement requires time and effort. However, spending more time practicing is not always the most effective strategy to improve play. In terms of physical effort, there is a point of diminishing returns. Diminishing returns is when
What is your focus when you are playing in a tiebreak? While some tennis players play mentally tough throughout tiebreaks, many players unravel. Most of the time, players who lose in highly contested sets beat themselves by unforced errors, double faults, and cautious play. Why do some players
Your Mindset and Match Conditions Many conditions are not optimal when playing tennis, such as bright sun, excessive heat, swirling winds, high humidity, slippery courts, and poor lighting. Sometimes, players have a predetermined notion they will not win, “I never play my best when the temperature is above