What's your favorite swing thought?

[BillyBee]

I find that when I'm playing I can't think of too many swing thoughts at one time. I like to keep it simple --- one helpful swing thought, or two at the very most.

Here is my current favorite swing thought. I'm not even sure I'll be able to explain it adequately (it's kind of a "feel thing"), but here goes . . .

"Where on the ball"

In other words, exactly WHERE on the ball do I want to strike it? For some reason, when I ask myself, "Where on the ball?" as the ball approaches me, I can instantly picture what type of blunt force and angle is required to send the ball back over the net with the pace, spin and location that I'm looking for.

It also helps me see the ball better because I'm looking at the ball intently to see that precise point.

I'd be curious to hear some other swing thoughts that others have found helpful in their own games.

[fishuuuuu]

I learned a technique from the Tennis One website in which you don't focus on the ball but rather predominantly just the contact zone (the linear contact zone?).

When I'm hitting and see the ball far away I think, "Zone out" and as it approaches I think "Zone in" to hit.

Ironically ... this method messed up my head ... and now whenever I play I can get "in the zone" fairly easily.

[Queensryche]

KILL KILL KILL !!!


DESTROY DESTROY !!


CRUSH CRUSH !!!

OBLITERATE !!!


SMASH !!!!!

FLATTEN !!!


MOMENTUM !!!

CRUSH! !!

pick any ^^

[nViATi]

Smooth and relaxed!

[Match Po¡nt]

The Matrix. Mind over matter.

[supersmash]

Try this:

BOOOM SHAKA LAKA LAKA LAKA!

[Rickson]

To the backhand! To the backhand!

[ironchef21]

Don't forget to breathe

[Mr.Groundstroke]

Hit the damn ball!!

[vkartikv]

My favourite swing thought - which couple my gf and I will be swinging with the next time...
JK

[Jonnyf]

I find that when I'm playing I can't think of too many swing thoughts at one time. I like to keep it simple --- one helpful swing thought, or two at the very most.

Here is my current favorite swing thought. I'm not even sure I'll be able to explain it adequately (it's kind of a "feel thing"), but here goes . . .

"Where on the ball"

In other words, exactly WHERE on the ball do I want to strike it? For some reason, when I ask myself, "Where on the ball?" as the ball approaches me, I can instantly picture what type of blunt force and angle is required to send the ball back over the net with the pace, spin and location that I'm looking for.

It also helps me see the ball better because I'm looking at the ball intently to see that precise point.

I'd be curious to hear some other swing thoughts that others have found helpful in their own games.


learned a technique from the Tennis One website in which you don't focus on the ball but rather predominantly just the contact zone (the linear contact zone?).

When I'm hitting and see the ball far away I think, "Zone out" and as it approaches I think "Zone in" to hit.

Ironically ... this method messed up my head ... and now whenever I play I can get "in the zone" fairly easily.


Man i gotta remember these these are immense. Okay on sat im gona try both of these from because as good as the other ones i think these stand out but o each his own

[Ace]

"don't miss....doooooon't miss....."

then, my "follow-through thought":
"aw, crap. i missed"

[Match Po¡nt]

"don't miss....doooooon't miss....."

then, my "follow-through thought":
"aw, crap. i missed"That type of mindset can actually screw you up though. Any thoughts of negativity should be released. That's funny though!

[Match Po¡nt]

"don't miss....doooooon't miss....."

then, my "follow-through thought":
"aw, crap. i missed"
That type of mindset can actually screw you up though. Any thoughts of negativity should be released. That's funny though!

Actually, now that I rethought it through, if you express your results yelling to yourself "aw crap I missed" then your opponent might pick up some of your negativity and that may have a bad effect to his game. :)

[BillyBee]

"Relax and attack" --- that's something I say to balance myself between being TOO relaxed and being too aggressive.

I think it was Arthur Ashe who said that he tried to exert himself "95 percent" because it still assured maximal effort but without being out of control, which is what can sometimes happen on the tennis court when you're trying to give it "110 percent."

[Pomeranian]

On my backhand, stay down. It helps me not to overrotate in my shot. That's my favorite one.

[Match Po¡nt]

On my backhand, stay down. It helps me not to overrotate in my shot. That's my favorite one.If you wanna be less tense and less serious, while you're at it thinking what you normally would be thinking, try to imagine Arnold Schwartznegger yelling, "Gittt Down"! :)

[AngeloDS]

My friend used to do this when we played doubles and it's always stuck in my mind. He'd say, "Hey partner... What are we going to order at McDonalds when we beat these guys." Since after our games we'd head to McDonalds or some fast food place haha. It was cocky heh.

So now when I play tennis I always for some reason think of what I'm going to eat after I win haha.

[Nuke]

Put it deep.

[james_R]

Forehand: Bounce Hit (great help for timing from my coach)

Backhand: Head Still (whenever I keep my head still I hit a naturally quite good topspin backhand, but if it moves, the rest of the stroke can go off.)

[dmvprof]

In general, the less I think, the better I do.

[peter]

When I hit a forehand and hit the ball - "BOOOM!" or "BANG!"
Backhand - "OOOMPF!"

[chess9]

"In general, the less I think, the better I do."

Exactly. It ain't chess. If you want to play chess go to www.chessclub.com.

If I'm thinking, I'm in trouble. I feel my way around the court-intuit, intuit, intuit.

On changeovers, I think about what I've been doing and what my opponent has been doing. If I have to change strategy, I decide at that point. I can't play and analyze at the same time.

-Robert

[james_R]

I wonder though if the question was really asking what you go through in your mind, to try and get you back on track when your playing below par?
I don't think about hitting all the time, not in this way, but if I am off form these 'basic' points can be useful.
I have been told by a leading county player that even some of them think this way if they are off they're game.
And it's particularily useful for those just starting out...

[tennisplayer]

I have to remind myself all the time about different things - preparation, watching the ball, mechanics, stragegy, etc. I don't do it all at the same time, but from time to time, I think of a different aspect to concentrate on. For example, if I dump the ball into the net returning a short slice, I will review the area where I failed - anticipation, footwork, getting low, the swing, etc. Whenever I don't think, I've seen that I repeat the same mistakes over and over again...

[TripleB]

"Hit the ball in!"

[Jonnyf]

Mum I'd Like To Fu**, lots more have been made up now though like Potential I'd Like To Fu**etc.

[jamumafa]

I think "back , back" as i back off the ball (if im at the basline and its heading dep just a normal rally) .... "stock" which means stop and set your feet .... "explode forwards" with a big swing and jump onto my left foot

[hipster]

Actually, now that I rethought it through, if you express your results yelling to yourself "aw crap I missed" then your opponent might pick up some of your negativity and that may have a bad effect to his game. :)

I get in trouble for doing that :(

[chess9]

grimmbomb21:

No! I hope I didn't miss something salacious. It would be the first time. :)

-Robert