Overcoming Hot-headedness

[VAmazona]

I just got through playing a doubles match in which I most certianly was not the victor. I did myself in though. I got angry at the trash talking and even the talking in general. At one point, one person on the opposing team congratulated his partner on getting a second serve in. All well and good, HAD THE POINT BEEN OVER. My partner had not even hit the ball when he had done so. I found alot of this to be irritating and yet I know its solely MY reactions that had been to blame. Its much easier to type after the fact than to think this on court. What do you guys do to overcome taunting and trash talking? To quote the Kevin Costner movie "For Love of the Game"...how do you "clear the mechanism"? :confused:

[snoflewis]

try to fix what's getting you so mad...if it's a forehand..fix it...for me, it was mainly other reasons, and when that had resolved, i stopped smashing my racket... also, try to do it less everytime you play...and eventually you won't do it, and also dont think about it...i found out that if i don't think about it..i end up not doing it

[Bungalo Bill]

I just got through playing a doubles match in which I most certianly was not the victor. I did myself in though. I got angry at the trash talking and even the talking in general. At one point, one person on the opposing team congratulated his partner on getting a second serve in. All well and good, HAD THE POINT BEEN OVER. My partner had not even hit the ball when he had done so. I found alot of this to be irritating and yet I know its solely MY reactions that had been to blame. Its much easier to type after the fact than to think this on court. What do you guys do to overcome taunting and trash talking? To quote the Kevin Costner movie "For Love of the Game"...how do you "clear the mechanism"? :confused:

Boy, I feel for you. I completely understand your dilemma. I was once thrown out of a tournament for getting in a fight.

The same thing was going on, I was trying to concentrate and this little guy (I am 6' 2") just could not shut up with his trash talk. Later, they called some shots out that we felt were clearly on the line. More trash talk. Well, after the match was over (we lost), the guy made some sly remark and I turned around and hit him hard knocking him to the ground.

A couple players watching, my partner, my opponents partner grabbed me and held me as I just wanted to kill the guy. the guy that got hit couldnt beleive it. I saw him again at another tournament (I was nto competing) and he seemed a lot more quiet with his opponents. I just winked at the guy.

Anyway, not one of my prouder moments.

It is easier said then done, you got to focus, close 'em out, and stay in the zone. As they keep up their antics, pretend the ball is their face. Hit it.

[x Southpaw x]

As they keep up their antics, pretend the ball is their face. Hit it.
Know what... I'm really going to do that!!

[ATXtennisaddict]

I get angry sometimes but I try to think to myself..."Iceman".

[kevhen]

Relax and just focus on the ball and block out any outside noise or visual distractions. Put in the ear plugs and wear blinders for the ball. Stay focused and relax and ignore your opponents, they are just having fun, and you should try to have fun as well. It's a game.

[TennsDog]

If they are actually trash talking and talking during points, you can ask them to stop, and if they don't you can get a coach or official or whatever over to help out. There is no reason for that if it is bothering you. However, I am also pretty much a hothead and I have no real motivation to eliminate it. One thing that helps is to use the anger and put it back into your game. If I am mad and serving, I will throw in a flat serve out wide with as much pace as possible. If I am returning, I will hit it as hard and low as I can. The important thing here, though, is that this only lasts one (sometimes two ;)) points. After that, I have made my point, I have used up some of the negative energy, then I focus on my game. If they are at net, you can always try pegging them in the stomach too. That is always fun.

[Kaptain Karl]

Wow! This is a tough one.

I've never lost from not being able to "screen out" the trash talkers. (But I've certainly had WAY more trouble beating them than I should have.) I think it helped that I had a big brother who *tormented* me many times as a kid. He was good practice for me to maintain concentration on what I was trying to accomplish.

I suppose the "lesson" for me was ... practice. My big brother helped me practice "maintaining" ... but I dislike recommending you actually get *more* experience in just the type of dynamic you so greatly abhor.

You can still insist they follow the rules. I think I'd have called a Let when the guy congratulated his partner for the good serve before the point was over. (And I've had insisted the Let was only for the 2nd Serve.)

- KK

[kevhen]

Can't you just call a hindrance on them because of the talking and take the point?

[papa]

If talking interferes with you playing the point, you can just STOP and claim the point - period. See "The Code" sec. 33 Hindrance Issues. It says in part "A player shall not talk while the ball is moving toward the opponent's side of the court. If the player's talking interferes with an opponent's ability to play the ball, the player loses the point. .................."