How to Keep Concentration ?

[samdwaney1]

I am a pretty good player but when i start to lose in a match i lose concentration completely and find it almost impossible to regain it.Does anyone have any tips in which to keep concentration when losing.

[joe sch]

I am a pretty good player but when i start to lose in a match i lose concentration completely and find it almost impossible to regain it.Does anyone have any tips in which to keep concentration when losing.
I highly recommend reading "Inner Tennis" or "Zennis"

There are many proven ways to increase focus and concentration :
- bounce hit practice
- trajectory watching
- spin, net clearance, and bounce spot watching
- sound and feel observing

You basically want to keep your mind focused on events in the game so that outside thoughts (past & future) and other external distractions (pretty ladies, next court events) do not take away from your focus on the ball

[samdwaney1]

thanks but what is bounce hit practice

[polea]

i suppose "bounce hit" is a technique as described here, in one of the Ron Waite´s articles at Turbo Tennis.

it consists in say outloud or in your mind only 4 words.

"hit" when your opponent strikes the ball
"bounce" when the ball bounces in your court side
"hit" when you strike the ball
"bounce" when the ball bounces in your opponent´s side

but all this words must be sayed focusing your eyes on the ball all the way.
also when you strike the ball, not moving your eyes from the contact point.
you must see the blur of your racquet striking the ball.

but the "master" is Ron, so read his article: "see the ball!"


http://www.tennisserver.com/turbo/turbo_96_10.html


i´m trying to apply it without the words, only seeing all the path of the ball but i forget it sometimes. I think i´m keeping my eyes on the "blur of the racket" 60% of the time. But i´m sure 80% of this moments i do a right stroke with no mistake.
I´m sure it works!!!

[samdwaney1]

thanks a lot i will try these techniques in my next match

[theace21]

I have used bounce hit in warm-ups to get my timing, but never during an actual match. One of my college coaches had us say "only the ball", between points. Kept your mind from wander into the crowd, who was watching, what friends were there, how your teammates were doing, etc. I used it a few times when I felt like the distractions were getting the best of me...

[donnyz89]

KEEP YOUR FEET MOVING. if you are having an off day, keep your feet moving, it could flip your game around.

and have a goal, hit your more comfortable shots to build some confidence.

another one, try to read the label on the ball. it will get you to watch the ball better and focus on something else that wont distract you too much.

and try reading brad gilbert's "winning ugly", its a great book on things like this.