G
guitarplayer
Guest
Advise"..............
RF20Lennon
Legend
Usually i just try to keep my focus. The jitters are there till you get on the court and start hitting so i just try to keep my focus on the gameplan and execution. And its always important to have belief. You can try to calm yourslef by closing your eyes that helps me sometimes
mightyrick
Legend
Focus on the ball. Focus on your game. Focus on breathing. Play the game almost as if you aren't even consciously there. Play as if you're almost observing.
Let your body do all the hitting. Let your mind just watch.
And as always... have fun.
Let your body do all the hitting. Let your mind just watch.
And as always... have fun.
G
guitarplayer
Guest
Thanks. It's the waiting. Match isn't until 9pm tonight.
roman40
Rookie
Plenty of sleep, no morning coffee 
, and extensive/challenging warm-up, 30-45min at least. For warm-up, you need a consistent partner, and those are hard to come by, even at 4.0 level. In my league, people come too late to get a good warm-up going, and most don't take it seriously enough. Not even sure what people do at tournaments.
, and extensive/challenging warm-up, 30-45min at least. For warm-up, you need a consistent partner, and those are hard to come by, even at 4.0 level. In my league, people come too late to get a good warm-up going, and most don't take it seriously enough. Not even sure what people do at tournaments.
maggmaster
Hall of Fame
I listen to music, preferably mindless music with a catchy tune that I can sing in my head while I play. There is some science behind hitting better when you have music playing in your head.
tennis-kid
Rookie
Don't forget prayer. That will do
5th Element
Rookie
What's the cause of the jitters?
T
TheMagicianOfPrecision
Guest
I always go to the bathroom 5 minutes before it is action time, i put some cold water on my face. I also always text my girlfriend that its time , makes me feel secure for some reason.
A couple of guys on my team have a beer during their leauge doubles match. One guy may even have a couple. It seems to improve their play, but I don't drink while I play.
I cannot remember her name, but there was a woman who played Wimbledon before the open era, and she had a small glass of sherry before her matches.
Maybe a Xanax would be the modern equivalent of alcohol.
Seriously, I have found that playing lots of leauge matches reduces anxiety in competitive situations. I still get a bit of nerves from time to time but it is a much lower level than when I first started playing leauge matches. I am 54 yo and have been playing competitive tennis for 30+ years. It is like public speaking in that you have to suffer through the experience a few times before you get acustomed to it and begin to relax. I hated leading business meetings or presenting in business meetings when I first started working, but now it is no big deal because I have done it a 1,000 times.
I cannot remember her name, but there was a woman who played Wimbledon before the open era, and she had a small glass of sherry before her matches.
Maybe a Xanax would be the modern equivalent of alcohol.
Seriously, I have found that playing lots of leauge matches reduces anxiety in competitive situations. I still get a bit of nerves from time to time but it is a much lower level than when I first started playing leauge matches. I am 54 yo and have been playing competitive tennis for 30+ years. It is like public speaking in that you have to suffer through the experience a few times before you get acustomed to it and begin to relax. I hated leading business meetings or presenting in business meetings when I first started working, but now it is no big deal because I have done it a 1,000 times.
Last edited:
mightyrick
Legend
I actually do this sometimes. I might have a little scotch or even a beer before a match.
Honestly, I don't think the alcohol has much of an effect as much as simply taking the time to relax and enjoy a good hit of scotch or a nice beer. The way we generally drink alcohol is actually very laid-back and relaxed. That can only help set the tone for the upcoming match.
USERNAME
Professional
Shake'em out, literally. While waiting bounce around and stretch out, breathe deep, maybe listen to some music, and just keep thinking "I got this". When you start up keep a clear head, no thinking of what your doing after or what happens if you win or lose, think only of the task at hand. Go point by point.
Fuji
Legend
I actually don't get the butterflies that often. Normally I just go out and think of just hitting the ball where I want and that's about it!
-Fuji
I find this attitude curious. Why do people assume it is generally 'a good thing' to care deeply about winning at a recreational game?
I don't care about winning very much with tennis, but there are plenty of other things that I do. In most cases I enjoy them less than tennis because of that preoccupation.
Caring about success is great if the result matters in an objective sense. A pro player needs to care about winning or losing because his livelihood depends on it. But if you're only there to have fun - why tie that enjoyment to something as nebulous as winning or losing?
Dr Allen Fox talks about forgeting about winning and just play toward objective targets such as reducing unforced errors or hitting forehand aggressively. Chris Evertt used to talk about the ability to forget the score at ad-out and just play the point like any other. I think reducing the thoughts about score and winning and losing can help but it is easier said than done.
Also, simple things like "keep feet moving" and "accelerate through contact on all shots" may pull you through as most people slow down their feet and slow down their racket speed when they get tight or nervous. I literally will think "up on balls of feet - happy feet" and "accelerate thru" before the point starts in crucial situations.
Also, simple things like "keep feet moving" and "accelerate through contact on all shots" may pull you through as most people slow down their feet and slow down their racket speed when they get tight or nervous. I literally will think "up on balls of feet - happy feet" and "accelerate thru" before the point starts in crucial situations.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Focus on executing your shots, one at a time. It also helps to know what the high percentage shots and plays are and go in to a match with that game plan already settled so you don't have to think too much about that during the match.
Last edited:
