Momentum - the hidden force in tennis

[Cypo]

That's the title of a book I ordered sort of bytheway once (it was cheap, but enough to get over the free shipping limit). It's horribly written (not to my taste anyway) and I thought it was kind of dorky and after reading it, didn't think much about it.

More and more though, I find find it coming back to me in play and that paying attention to the momentum in a match is really helping my win/loss ratio.

In some ways it all seems really obvious, but while everyone probably feels momentum while playing, it's something we're often not aware of, and something we do little to influence, although it's possible.

Any one else heard of this, think it's useful (think it's BS ) ?

[kevhen]

Momentum is something to be aware of. If you opponent has it, you have to start making changes to get it back on your side. Sometimes you have to step up and hit biggers shots and other times you just have to rally, but you need to keep momentum on your side until your opponent breaks down and stops trying to beat you.

[TennsDog]

I recently played a match in my high school regionals where my partner and I lost the first set and then got rain delayed shortly into the second set. We were about to win the second set and I gave a little speech to my partner about how all we had to do was to win the game, and then after winning the second set we would have all the momentum and then they would start trying to make things happen and make more mistakes so all we had to do was continue to play consistant to win. It worked, we won the third set and the match. Momentum and confidence, I think, are the two biggest non-physical factors in determining a match.

[Frank Silbermann]

Perhaps more fundamental is the momentum of the racquet head as it approaches the ball.

[Cypo]

... you just have to rally, but you need to keep momentum on your side until your opponent breaks down and stops trying to beat you.

Wish my opponents would do that !

Frank, I don't know if thinking about the momentum is only for players with 'developed strokes'. I mean in a match, your strokes are not going to improve, you take the tools you have on the court with you. Sure, you play some shots better and some shots worse, but playing above or below you level are relatively seldom occurences (if you have realistically estimated your level - I used to ALWAYS play below mine :-)). If two players are about equal though, you can turn the momentum in your favor. I can imagine that it would apply to all levels where players can play a match, but it's new to me, so....

What this book made me aware of are the pivots points - or potential pivotal points in the momentum, for example when one player has hit a great shot, or someone comes and watches the game, or a game with a lot of deuce-ad points. And that you can gain momentum on a rally or game which you lose. It's not magic, but it helps.