Mind
Training for Tennis Tip
7
Winning
When You Are NOT Playing Well!
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The
sure sign of a good player is one who
can win when they are not playing
their best. The
champions do this several times each week,
as they play so many matches are rarely at
the very peak of their form for most of them.
While
it's obviously better if you can play
your best most of the time, it's also important
that you have backup plans in place so
you can succeed when your A-game deserts
you.
The
first thing is not to panic when
you are not playing well. Know that
you can still win the match without necessarily
playing at your best, and that it is
also a distinct possibility that you
will be able to play yourself in and
raise your game as the match wears on.
It's
also important that you do not waste
the entire match abusing yourself for
the shots you are missing (that you would normally make)
as this is only going to drag you down
further mentally and give your opponent
a big psychological lift. The very last
thing you want is for your opponent to know that
you are frustrated with yourself, insead
let them wonder just what is going
on in your mind - so keep your frustration
inside and instead channel it into your
game plan.
Remind
yourself that you are willing to stay out
there as long as it takes to win
the match, and that you have the ability,
cleverness and mental strength to win regardless
of whether you are playing your best or
not.
This
is definitely a good time to use some positive
self-talk in between points, or even
a mantra that you repeat over and over
between points (eg.'powerful and
consistent') - definitely better than
tearing yourself down with a barrage
of self-abuse as most players do in this
situation! (and a much more impressive
image you are projecting down the other
end to your opponent as well).
You
may also need to make some tactical changes
if your A-game is not firing. Of
course, often it is only particular
shots which are not firing, while
the others are going fine - so this might
just mean taking some a slightly different
approach to these particular areas
of your game that you left at home.
For
instance, if your huge first serve
is simply not landing into court that day,
you might choose to take 20% off the serve
and add more spin, to increase your first
serve percentage. Then maybe you can use the
big serve as more of a surprise that
you blast down at given times, rather than
trying to rely on it throughout the entire
match.
Or
if your big forehand is not firing that
day, possibly you might need to keep the
ball rallying more consistently and further
inside the lines on the day, rather than
going for the accurate line shots that
you usually go for when you are at your
best - or just waiting a little longer
before you go for that big shot.
Needless
to say, it is quite possible you may play
these shots in as the match wears on,
and you may find these particular shots firing
on all cylinders by the end of the
match!
Last
of all, try to relax between points
and especially when you are hitting your
shots - as one of the biggest reasons for players
not being in the zone is due to
mental and physical stress (or nervousness)
which tightens up the body and prevents
the possibility of fluid, free-flowing
hitting.
Some
deep breaths in between points and even
closing your eyes for a moment to center
yourself (eg. at the change of ends) can
help you to click back into a powerful
mindset that will lift your game. You often
see this happening on court in the pro
game.
So
from now on, you know it is possible for
you to win any match regardless of
how you are playing. Never give up on
yourself during a match and you will
pull out some surprising wins.
