Can Anyone Teach Me How To Play Better Under Pressure?

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
I tend to overhit and make ue too much. Or miss my first serve. Or miss the sitter I've fought so hard to create at the net or short ball. When the score is tight, or the opponent is a real a__hole cheater, that's the hard time. How can you relax when the meaning of a match goes up and the pressure's on hard? Just saying, "Relax.", doesn't cut it. Any tricks of the trade, routines, special yoga poses, diets, stretching, drugs (just kidding), habits that induce smoothness and confidence under mortar fire?

There have been some interesting well thought out comments in this thread. Also, I noticed that no one tried to hijack the thread, or make neg. comments about the defect under pressure, except for a notable few.

This is a good example of what we can do here, actually have a pos. dialogue that can be reference by anyone, and that is the real reason I started this thread, not because I really have a bad problem with pressure, but because I didn't see anything like it up on the board, and it's such a common problem with any tourny player, and anyone honest will admit to, the occasional choke, and buckling under the pressure of our great desire to win these matches. It's just for fun in the end.
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
ask1ed said:
I tend to overhit and make ue too much. Or miss my first serve. Or miss the sitter I've fought so hard to create at the net or short ball. When the score is tight, or the opponent is a real a__hole cheater, that's the hard time. How can you relax when the meaning of a match goes up and the pressure's on hard? Just saying, "Relax.", doesn't cut it. Any tricks of the trade, routines, special yoga poses, diets, stretching, drugs (just kidding), habits that induce smoothness and confidence under mortar fire?
I thought you had all the answers. Just do what Serena does when she's under pressure, hit all the balls to the middle and get conservative. I've seen her pull out of some touch situations just by doing that. Yes, it's a form of pushing, but it'll cut you back on unforced for sure.
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
I only have the answers I have. The great pressure players, Laver, SAmpras, Federer, Mcenroe, all are able to both dial down and dial up under pressure, according to the resistance of their opponent, whether they sense the up or down dial will win the point.
 

penpal

Semi-Pro
Just keep playing, eventually, after you have played enough matches and faced enough different situations, you won't feel the pressure anymore.

Beyond that, try to be single minded in your focus on the moment. I think people often feel pressure on the court because of expectations ("I should be able to beat this guy," or "I shouldn't have missed that shot," or "How is this going to affect my ranking?"). Before each point in a pressure situation, conciously focus on your strategy for that particular point and don't worry about all the repurcussions that might come with failure.
 

badmice2

Professional
i think you said it yourself....routines...

Get into the routines of playing under pressure regardless if you're up 40-15 or 5-0. Play with bricks on your shoulders, give yourself pressure.

Also, practice those shots that you're missing...the put-away forehands, backhands, etc. Have a friend feed you those shots and hit 500 of them, when you're done drilling, play points out and make sure you can hit it in point situation.

With serves, dont "cop-out"; serve the ball like you mean it. I notice a lot of my friends have problem serving at important points; most of the time they let up thinking that they wont/shouldnt double fault. Play practice matches serving ALL second serves, rip them hard every single time, get into the ROUTINE of serving at regular pace.

You get the idea.
 

chess9

Hall of Fame
Rickson's right on the money. On serve, hit your first serve well within yourself. Most 4.0 and lower players blast their first serve then hit a moonball for the second. If you can't hit the first serve in at least 50% of the time, then you need a better strategy, including slower serves and topspin (American Twist) serving.
Regarding nerves, the best solution I've found is to never care whether I win or lose but treat each match as a journey. Your opponent is there with you in this moment in space and time and the two of you will have a non-reproducible moment in each other's history. Savor it because each match is unique, like you.

Good questions, btw. Those are common errors.
-Robert
________
Vaporizers
 
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jtan

New User
I read an old book (60s? 70s?) written by an australian - he contended that there is no such thing as pressure ... only the knowledge that certain strokes you own are mechanically unsound. In other words - If your backhand was your favorite stroke - you would want to hit it in the same exact situation rather than the forehand you know that tends to break down under stress.
 

TennisAsAlways

Professional
Get your mind out of the situation for a moment and let out any knots in your stomach or tension (mental tension as well). When you step back into the game, maintain a quiet mind. Avoid complicated thinking. Keep things simple. Don't over-analyze. Remain flexible yet solid.
 

Geezer Guy

Hall of Fame
First of all, if there are certain shots you're not confident in, work on those shots. You should be reasonably sure you can hit ANY shot the majority of the times you attempt that shot.

Each of us deal with pressure differently. What works for one person won't work for another. Here's what works for me.

Practice under pressure so you'll be used to playing under pressure. Whether you're just doing drills with a pro, hitting against a ball machine or wall, or playing a practice match with a friend - put pressure on yourself to do well. Do not accept errors. If you learn to deal with pressure in "practice" situations, you'll be better able to deal with pressure in "live" situations.

When you're practicing under pressure, really go for your shots. Don't get tentative. HIT that ball. Don't go wild and crazy, but hit with purpose and authority.
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
Very few players can say they play better under pressure consistently. (Everybody does sometimes.) Almost all of us play as we ususally do under pressure. I know it helps to have a large reservoir of conditioning, speed, desire, ability to drink from when thirsty and in great need of an answering break.
I don't think we need to put each other down for most any reason, as comments are often misinterpreted, and offense taken where none exists, esp. those on drugs or meds or hurting with an injury, or those emotionally touchy types who always seem to create a battle and an opponent as a normal condition of life.
Routine, practice, mental toughness, read a book, play lots of matches, any serious player does these things and almost all of us still do not play better under pressure. Nerves or a basic lack of self belief have taken many a match from many a player, all over the planet. Maybe my reservoir just isn't big enough to drink more speed, more power, more consistency, more relaxation under fire. The winner doesn't have to be ten feet away. It can be 1/10 of an inch away.
It's the fire of the sun, the fire of our minds that burns us. Where's the fire department when you need them? In California, the heat is always there, burning you on the court, burning your chair when you sit down, frying your reservoir of conditioning. Lodi, Sacto, Modesto, Davis, Fairfield, Reno, wherever. The sf city was even 98 degrees last year. The court surface can fry an egg. For those of us with cramping problems, it's almost impossible to win these drawn out tournament battles, grinding it out two matches a day, and the same the next day, only harder.
 

HappyLefty

Professional
I've read a very interesting book about and some chapters explain how to deal with pressure. Winning Ugly from Brad Gilbert.
But reading a book is not the answer, just the begining.
As stated by others in this thread, only the time gives you enough background to deal in a smart way with pressure. Play lot of tournaments and practice advices related this point. Identify which one fits your needs and incorporate it in your mind.
 

35ft6

Legend
Play the ball, concentrating on the shot patterns you'd like to execute, and not on the opponent.

And when I'm really tensing up, I remind myself that it's only a tennis match, and that one day I'll be too old to run around on the tennis court all day, and that I'm not in prison, and my parents are relatively healthy, etc. Lose a match? Who cares.
 
Be willing to lose. Don't put too much expectations on yourself.

A funny thing happened to me recently. I used to play this certain guy a lot. We were pretty evenly matched. Winning was important to me and the resulting pressure would make my arm "freeze" on key points.

One day, I got sick and couldn't play for 3 months. My physical fitness also dropped and I gained a few pounds. When we finally played again, I had no expectations to win. I was saying to myself, "Just have fun and play smart". Guess what? I ended up beating him in straight sets.

Moral of the story: Getting fat makes you play better. :)
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
I should play great now that I'm 228 lbs. Fighting weight is 172, and was for 20 yrs. Then I met my wife. Sad story of lots of dinners and large portions of delicious food. Gained 5-10lbs/yr. ever since. Nothing like divorce to lose weight. (Just kidding, snogga.)
 

fan_of_reds

New User
When I'm in a pressure match, I tend to think only about the point at hand. I don't think about the score, or trying to avoid a certain shot, etc. I think only about the ball and what I want to do for each shot...Keeps my focus on the "small stuff" instead of winning/losing the match.
 

joe sch

Legend
You need to eliminate the thoughts.
When you tighten up, the thought are usually stressful.
Let yourself just relax and not think of past or future.
Some of the techniques you mentioned are helpful for relaxing and staying in the moment.
 

PM_

Professional
Just smile. Smiling has proven to reduce stress (and in your case: pressure).

Here, maybe this piece by Chaplin will help:

Smile tho' your heart is aching,
Smile even tho' it's breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by,

If you smile
thro' your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun come shin-ing thro' for you

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev-'ry trace of sadness,
Al -'tho a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time,
You must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying,
You'll find that life is still worth-while,

If you just smile...
 

Kaptain Karl

Hall Of Fame
ask1ed said:
Routine, practice, mental toughness, read a book, play lots of matches, any serious player does these things and almost all of us still do not play better under pressure. Nerves or a basic lack of self belief have taken many a match from many a player, all over the planet. Maybe my reservoir just isn't big enough to drink more speed, more power, more consistency, more relaxation under fire.
This makes me wonder if you've missed the admonitions to practice pressure. Just getting on the court and hitting isn't good practicing. You have to practice with purpose.

(Most of the rest of your -- elevator music -- post was so "out there" I'm not sure how to to respond....)

- KK
 

TommyM

New User
If you want to learn how to play under pressure you must first know what is going on in your mind and how that affects your play. When you realize that your mind is just running too fast - in overload - and that it prevents you from thinking clearly and executing cleanly, then you must find out ways of dealing with your mind.

Tips and ideas from experienced players and some techniques from mental tennis books really help.

The next step is knowing what to do in the certain situation and then PRACTICE it. Theory doesn't work, you have to practice these situations and solutions to become better at them.

In time some of them become automatic and some you have to perform always to get back in ideal mental state.

Here are many useful tips about how to deal with your mind in tennis:
http://www.tennismindgame.com
 

tennisadict

Semi-Pro
Personally, I just control my breathing, and when you are nervous the heart pump faster than normal. Deep breath and try not to think too much, and try to focus on your next shot and play smart............one point at the time
 

HappyLefty

Professional
TommyM said:
Tips and ideas from experienced players and some techniques from mental tennis books really help.

Tommy,
Do you own this e-book. Marketing sounds interesting but I have no idea its quality. It costs $14.95. Does it worth?
Thanks for your feedback.
 

TommyM

New User
HappyLefty said:
Tommy,
Do you own this e-book. Marketing sounds interesting but I have no idea its quality. It costs $14.95. Does it worth?
Thanks for your feedback.

Kaptain Karl said:
TommyM - Are you "Tomaz M" of your link? (Full disclosure, please.)

- KK

Hi to both of you and yes I am Tomaz Mencinger from this site. TommyM is just my nick for the forum.

If you are unsure about the ebook please ask me. I'd be happy to answer your questions.

And about 14.95$ - my friend from USA says that 15$ for Americans is nothing and that I should charge at least 20 or 25$ especially with the good testimonials that I have. (which should tell you something about the quality)

So... Ask quickly before I actually listen to him, haha :)
 

ramseszerg

Professional
penpal said:
Just keep playing, eventually, after you have played enough matches and faced enough different situations, you won't feel the pressure anymore.

Beyond that, try to be single minded in your focus on the moment. I think people often feel pressure on the court because of expectations ("I should be able to beat this guy," or "I shouldn't have missed that shot," or "How is this going to affect my ranking?"). Before each point in a pressure situation, conciously focus on your strategy for that particular point and don't worry about all the repurcussions that might come with failure.

I disagree.. even federer gets nervous. the fact that you are in a match means that you are being tested, and you may fail that test no matter how experienced and good you are. We gotta work on our mental games now, and not say "more experience is what i need"
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
Experience is useless when you're nervous. Who doesn't have trouble sleeping the night beore a tourny match? Who doesn't feel pressure after the ball has come back 20 times in a single point? Can you beat a grinder? Can you out gun a gunner? Some can adapt to any style in the short time we have to figure out a guy and some can't. Most just play their game no matter what, and do not keep mental tracking count of ue/tactical errors on either side of the net, themselves or opponent. It's an art form to out gun a grinder and grind a gunner, to sense their weakness in any given point quick and then execute.
 

thehustler

Semi-Pro
Just turn your brain off. Stop thinking and worrying about anything and everything. Try to do that thru the whole match though. Just go on instinct and nothing else. I was once down in a 2nd set tiebreaker 6-0. 6 match points against me. I saved all six, won 8-6 in the tiebreak and then won the 3rd set tiebreaker all because I just relaxed my mind. I was thinking too hard about everything and it drove me nuts. Just relax. Ever since then I've been more calm in my matches. I no longer think about what I'm going to do, I just go out and do what comes natural to me. Sure I might decide where I'm going to serve or if I want to S&V or stay back all day, but after that my brain is off and my game is on.
 
ask1ed said:
I tend to overhit and make ue too much. Or miss my first serve. Or miss the sitter I've fought so hard to create at the net or short ball. When the score is tight, or the opponent is a real a__hole cheater, that's the hard time. How can you relax when the meaning of a match goes up and the pressure's on hard? Just saying, "Relax.", doesn't cut it. Any tricks of the trade, routines, special yoga poses, diets, stretching, drugs (just kidding), habits that induce smoothness and confidence under mortar fire?

it's hard to erase the fear of losing, which is deeply buried in your hard wiring. the conscious brain is tiny. most of your behavior by-passes thought, so don't worry if minor mantras fall short.

on some levels, we are no different than lizards and fruit-flys, governed by reflex. accept that you are a pawn of nature -- human nature.

you are not alone, losing is a fact of life.

do not succomb to the enlightenment myth of self-control, i.e., don't fight your lack of control, embrace it -- everybody fails at some point but the winners grow stronger from it. NEVER SWIM UP-STREAM> focus on what you CAN control. do not lie to yourself: indeed, you must look in the mirror and admit that you're running scared, and -- sometimes -- you're going to lose. don't fight it, just pick yourself off the ground and try again. welcome to the school of hard knocks: you can't control the fact that life is hard and losing sucks, but you can learn to hit a more penetrating second serve.

which is to say: increase your skill level to the point where your mind can't botch the deal. and if that doesn't work, I want you to watch the final scene of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", that is, I want you to go down swinging: there is nothing worse than losing because you're a chicken. I know this from experience, which is why I order my steak rare and eat it with my hands.
 

Kaptain Karl

Hall Of Fame
Interesting series of posts....

thehustler said:
Just turn your brain off. [etc.]
This is some of the worst advice I could imagine. I don't want players on my team who are unaware; I want them thinking, realizing and responding to -- as Gilbert writes -- "Who's doing what, to whom?"

Do NOT "zone out" and play on automatic pilot. Just think about the right things, please....

lude popper said:
... increase your skill level to the point where your mind can't botch the deal.
While I'm not sure I even comprehended most of your post ... this was good.

... and if that doesn't work, I want you to watch the final scene of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", that is, I want you to go down swinging: there is nothing worse than losing because you're a chicken. I know this from experience, which is why I order my steak rare and eat it with my hands.
[KK adds lude popper to the list of "Don't Read Their Posts While Eating Or Drinking Anything!" warning to himself.]

Camilio Pascual said:
Anti-anxiety drugs such as Lorazepam can do wonders for some people. I've been talking to lots of retirees at my club and some say anti-anxiety drugs help.
This was funny ... sad ... funny ... thought-provoking....

- KK
 
Kaptain Karl said:
This is some of the worst advice I could imagine. I don't want players on my team who are unaware; I want them thinking, realizing and responding to -- as Gilbert writes -- "Who's doing what, to whom?"

Do NOT "zone out" and play on automatic pilot. Just think about the right things, please....

While I'm not sure I even comprehended most of your post ... this was good.

- KK
I agree, never turn your brain off! Keep thinking, but on the right thing, don't think about the reactions you get after the match but think how to beat this guy.
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
lude popper said:
it's hard to erase the fear of losing, which is deeply buried in your hard wiring. the conscious brain is tiny. most of your behavior by-passes thought, so don't worry if minor mantras fall short.

on some levels, we are no different than lizards and fruit-flys, governed by reflex. accept that you are a pawn of nature -- human nature.

you are not alone, losing is a fact of life.

do not succomb to the enlightenment myth of self-control, i.e., don't fight your lack of control, embrace it -- everybody fails at some point but the winners grow stronger from it. NEVER SWIM UP-STREAM> focus on what you CAN control. do not lie to yourself: indeed, you must look in the mirror and admit that you're running scared, and -- sometimes -- you're going to lose. don't fight it, just pick yourself off the ground and try again. welcome to the school of hard knocks: you can't control the fact that life is hard and losing sucks, but you can learn to hit a more penetrating second serve.

which is to say: increase your skill level to the point where your mind can't botch the deal. and if that doesn't work, I want you to watch the final scene of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", that is, I want you to go down swinging: there is nothing worse than losing because you're a chicken. I know this from experience, which is why I order my steak rare and eat it with my hands.
At least he has a prosaic style.
 

jackabee

Rookie
There is also a fine balance between trying hard and trying too hard. If you push it then it can lead to lots of UE - let it be natural and flow.
 

thehustler

Semi-Pro
I guess nobody understands what I meant

Ok by turning your brain off I mean stop overthinking about things. As tennis players we have all overthought everything at one point or another on the court. Nobody apparently read the fact that I was down 6 straight match points and I came back and won the match. By turning your brain off I mean relax. Let your natural instincts come out. During the match I was thinking too hard...I was thinking where I was going to return the ball on each serve and what I wanted to do on each stroke. It drove me nuts. Once I was down those 6 match points I stopped caring. I stopped thinking and started playing the way I know how. I started to construct each point better and made things tougher on my opponent. Instead of going for the kill I made my opponent make the mistake to get back into the match. I made him self destruct. I now only think about where I want to serve to start a point and that's about it. I let my instincts come out when I play and I now am dominating like I know I can. Instead of these stupid 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 matches I've had they are now 6-0, 6-1, 6-3. I know not everyone can do this, but if you just relax and do what you know you can do w/o thinking you will have a much easier time in pressure situations and more than likely will never be in one of those situations. Good luck.
 

Kaptain Karl

Hall Of Fame
thehustler said:
Ok by turning your brain off I mean stop overthinking about things.
There's a big difference between "turning your brain off" and "not overthinking."

... During the match I was thinking too hard...I was thinking where I was going to return the ball on each serve and what I wanted to do on each stroke. It drove me nuts....
That's just wrong thinking; not overthinking.

I ... started playing the way I know how. I started to construct each point better and made things tougher on my opponent. Instead of going for the kill I made my opponent make the mistake to get back into the match. I made him self destruct.
THIS is wise thinking. (But it's still "thinking". You were just thinking smart....)

... if you just relax and do what you know you can do w/o thinking you will have a much easier time in pressure situations and more than likely will never be in one of those situations.
I think you are posting about "not thinking" but you *mean* something different....

- KK
 

TennisAsAlways

Professional
Mr.Groundstroke said:
I agree, never turn your brain off! Keep thinking, but on the right thing, don't think about the reactions you get after the match but think how to beat this guy.
That is why in my post I suggested to "keep a quiet mind." That is very different from "turning your brain off".........LMAO. "Turn your brain off" sounds like something that Malcom's brother "Reese" (from Malcom In The Middle) would advise.......turn your brain off....LMAO :D

Good day now. 8)
 

bcaz

Professional
You have to be hungry for every point -- every single one. Even if you lose the point, make him work hard for it.
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
There have been some interesting well thought out comments in this thread. Also, I noticed that no one tried to hijack the thread, or make neg. comments about the defect under pressure, except for a notable few.

This is a good example of what we can do here, actually have a pos. dialogue that can be reference by anyone, and that is the real reason I started this thread, not because I really have a bad problem with pressure, but because I didn't see anything like it up on the board, and it's such a common problem with any tourny player, and anyone honest will admit to, the occasional choke, and buckling under the pressure of our great desire to win these matches. It's just for fun in the end.
 

BiGGieStuFF

Hall of Fame
I had one of my worst losses of my tennis career, and that's where the turn took place for me.

I was crazed, mad, angry that I was losing. I was cursing up a storm and was feeling so much pressure it was unbelievable. This is someone I should be beating but that day it wasn't t meant to be. There were people watching and after one of my outburst one of the spectators yelled out. "it's only a game!!"

That's when it hit me. I'm not having fun. Why do I love playing tennis? Because it's fun and because of all the amazing things you can do with a racket. I had been so worried about winning or losing that I wasn't even focusing on my form, my technique or even my strategy.

I didn't win the match as I was already in a deep hole but I did learn a huge lesson.

I stopped worrying about winning or losing and focused on improving during the match.

Focused on hitting one shot at time and not worrying if the ball was going to go out or in. I was able to keep my eyes on my strokes instead of always glancing over to see where my opponent was or where the ball woud land.

I've played tennis many years already. I don't need to see the court to actually know where I'm hitting, so I put all my focus on watching the ball and making sure my strokes are correct to the point I'm not even watching what my opponent is doing. That alone improved my consistency and the quality of my shots.
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
It's a talent to learn. Diff. to go into a match, without expecting to win/lose. To move really fast, we have to feel the fight/flight reflex strongly. That can drain you quickly. The best can up the ante with foot speed and focus. The worst rely on the dark side, arrogance, cheating, mind games, psych attacks.
 

TennisAsAlways

Professional
Hmmmmmm....I am recalling Darth Vader all of a sudden....dark side, arrogance, mind games, power hungry..... zzzzzzzzZZZZ

So it is better to "USE THE FORCE". :D

Good day now. 8)
 

ask1ed

Semi-Pro
Wouldn't you love to see a match between the juiced up Mac, and Fed at their primes? Mac would try every screaming horse steroid crap trick in the book, and Fed would calmly "use the force" to gun him down. Make it Wimbledon to give Mac half a chance. I'd pay to see that. Maybe Fed would cry at the trophy presentation.
 

TennisAsAlways

Professional
Mac's reason (or perhaps "excuse" if you will) for using the steroids was that they were administered to him without him being aware of the fact that they were horse streoids.
 

TennisAsAlways

Professional
Roddick is a pretty negative player as well. Now I'm no Roddick basher. Don't get me wrong. I like him for his power serve game, plus, he's the current American #1 (don't worry, we have James Blake (an excellent ambassador for the game BTW) who is making his way up the ranks as I speak. He is our current best future hope IMO). It's the whiney tantrums of his that is annoying. He gets away with it for the most part because he is a top star, the American #1 who women love. He's not a good role model IMO. Kids need to look up to positive, bright people.
 
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