Help! Lost in Translation!

[Pisolino227]

Hey Guys,
Lately a disturbing phenomenon has been occuring with me. I play great tennis during practice. Then, when it's match time, especially with a new face, I have this psychological reaction that turns into a physiological response. The other day I was hitting the ball with a player I've never hit with before. My arms become heavy, I couldn't move, my hands actually started shaking, my heart beat sky rocketed.......pathetic, I know........my first serve dropped to about 10 percent. It was a disaster. What's my problem?? Why so nervous? If I could play as loose and as freely in practice as I could in matches I'd be a much much better player. Help, this issue is making me depressed:confused:

Thanks as always guys!

[emo5]

This happens to the majority of tennis playres who play hteir first competetive match, you'll get used to it after a year.

[skuludo]

The simple answer that sounds so damn corny is just "believe in your abilities".

This belief should not go towards winning a match, but know that you've got the weapons to start and hang in there in a battle. This battle may go either way and it is up to you to use your weapons to decide the outcome.

[Sagittar]

why don't you try some relaxation exercises before your matches , some breathing ecercises also may help , and don't think about it too much it will most likely disappear after a while and try to look high at yourself more ..

[Bagumbawalla]

Skuludo, above is correct. If you are not totally confident in your shots, if they are not so automatic that you can hit them in your sleep, if you do not feel that you can hit virtually any shot from any position-- then you start to fear and to rethink yourself. This lack of confidence is a mindkiller. It freezes you up when you need to be free and in the zone.

There are lots of techniques to get over this. They are all mental tricks, except for one. Practice until you have total confidence, til you have a kind of mental swagger, you feel nothing can embarrass you.

Yes embarrassment is really what we fear most. Everybody, except one player loses in every tournament. What you fear is not playing well.

So, your game is going to tank, anyway, and you are going to slink off the court even more embarrassed than normal. You might just as well loosen up and go for your shots, play as if it were practice, as if you were giving a lesson, as if your opponent was naked and helpless, as if he/she did not exist, as if you were just playing the ball and that's all there is-- you and the ball and nothing really maters, not even you, really, just the ball.

Good luck, merry Christmas,

B

[looseswing]

see if any of the tips here help: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=99293

[Fedace]

Hey Guys,
Lately a disturbing phenomenon has been occuring with me. I play great tennis during practice. Then, when it's match time, especially with a new face, I have this psychological reaction that turns into a physiological response. The other day I was hitting the ball with a player I've never hit with before. My arms become heavy, I couldn't move, my hands actually started shaking, my heart beat sky rocketed.......pathetic, I know........my first serve dropped to about 10 percent. It was a disaster. What's my problem?? Why so nervous? If I could play as loose and as freely in practice as I could in matches I'd be a much much better player. Help, this issue is making me depressed:confused:

Thanks as always guys!

Read Brad Gilbert's book, winning ugly. Find a way to relax like sing a song or focus on your racket strings and so on. and way to get pumped up at match time is to think you want to destroy or kill the guy across the net from you like you want to send him to the cemetary or something. that sound harsh but that is ok, as soon as the match is over, you can be buddies and be friendly.

[Pisolino227]

I've read both Winning Ugly and the Inner Game.........Imho The Inner Game of Tennis is way better.........has anybody tried hypnosis?

[booky]

I used to be like you a lot of times when it comes with matches but after quite awhile, I notice that i didn't try my best out there during the match when i did for the practice rallies and volleys stuff. Just like yesterday, I played this person that i don't even know and he was much, much better than me but somehow, I mention to pick up my rallies with him and got 2 games from him. ended up 6-2. I was doing great out there but my first serve and backhand was kinda like "dead" cuz i was somewhat injured from a basketball game a few days ago. Just remember, do the same thing that you did out there when you're like rallying!! It feels the same but more pressures and i kinda like it when the pressure comes onto me. =D good luck

[SocalTennis]

I used to have the same problem. The best way to overcome that is to pay attention to your breathing. Lots of time, when people are nervous, they take smaller breath, that will lead to the lack of oxygen in your blood neccessary for your body to function properly, that's how people "choke".

Mentally, think to yourself that if that guy want to beat you, he has to earn it and you're not going to give any freebies. Stay focus on the point and game level, not the match. Even if you're down 1-5, think to your self that every game, you have equal opportunity to win that game so being down doesn't really affects the outcome of the match, it's just affect you mentally and lead to tentativeness and "choke". I personally tell myself that I would lose but walk out as a hero not a sissy.

Also, play a lot of matches with different people, the problem would slowly go away

[Bottle Rocket]

I've read both Winning Ugly and the Inner Game.........Imho The Inner Game of Tennis is way better.........has anybody tried hypnosis?

They are TOTALLY different books, opposite aspects of the game. Both are extremely useful, in my opinion. I think Brad's book should be read by anybody even partially serious about tennis. I continue to go back and read chapters all the time... As you improve, things in the book take on more meaning.

As far as getting over your nerves for a match... You need to play more matches. Practicing all the time with no pressure on you can really leave your game lacking. You must put yourself into situations where the pressure is on you, that is something that just be practiced as well. Play as many matches as you can, things will improve.

I think if you're getting real nervous for a match, a good solid warm-up can be beneficial. Jog for 10 minutes or so and then do some stretching... Get your body loose.