Difference in these mental states

[stumpgrinder]

I mostly play people better than me and naturally lose most of the time so I am always looking for positive ways to stay in it. I've been feeling better about my tennis recently and been having more fun even when I lose. It got me wondering about these 2 different mental states and how to use them correctly to stay in the game. I know some of you guys enjoy talking about little mental tricks so this is for you:

A) Mentally prepare yourself for a strong opponent, even if they are weaker. I hear this on these boards a lot when people talk about losing to a pusher or people they "should" have no problem beating. From what I understand the idea of this mentality is to raise your level of performance no matter the player, psych you up for a good match. Imagine a pro asked me to hit, you'd bet I'd be excited and probably play my best tennis because I am psyched for it, respect the person's ability, and want to hang.

B) Say you are a 4.5 and your 2.5 beginner friend wants to play a fun set. You know 100% that you can win every point, and flick away balls with no effort, no pressure. This feels good and you feel like you can hit any shot, you feel confident. Sometimes I artificially use this feeling or mindset against a stronger player on tight points or serves. I imagine that they are the 2.5 in order to recreate the feeling of knowing 100% you can do it. I feel this helps take the tightness off and helps you to continue taking your shots, it helps you believe. However this almost contradicts A doesn't it?

If tennis is played 1 point at a time, shouldn't I be aiming to truly believe within I can win this point even if the player is a higher level? I do win sometimes and want to do it more. How should I balance these? Whether the confidence is real or artificial, it's amazing what you can do when you believe.

 

[The Unknown]

Youve read Vic Braden's Mental Tennis haven't you? [emoji41]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TupeloDanger]

Have a strategy going in that already maximizes what you're able to do on a tennis court. That firmly in place, concentrate on only each individual stroke as it happens, and execute that stroke as well as possible in the moment. Zen.

 

[joe sch]

If tennis is played 1 point at a time, shouldn't I be aiming to truly believe within I can win this point even if the player is a higher level? I do win sometimes and want to do it more. How should I balance these? Whether the confidence is real or artificial, it's amazing what you can do when you believe.

Why dont you just try to play zennis thus play in a state of bliss. Dont be concerned with any outcomes. Let your best tennis happen for each point during the match and stay focused on the ball. The below TW thread may really help you improve your future tennis.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/zennis-or-the-inner-game-of-tennis.442905/

 

[zalive]

My way is simple, I just don't think much about what's the score in the game or in the set when I play. Therefore I can play each point the same and don't lose attention on other things.
Shortcoming is that by doing this I easily lose track of what's the actual score in the game

 

[Limpinhitter]

I mostly play people better than me and naturally lose most of the time so I am always looking for positive ways to stay in it. I've been feeling better about my tennis recently and been having more fun even when I lose. It got me wondering about these 2 different mental states and how to use them correctly to stay in the game. I know some of you guys enjoy talking about little mental tricks so this is for you:

A) Mentally prepare yourself for a strong opponent, even if they are weaker. I hear this on these boards a lot when people talk about losing to a pusher or people they "should" have no problem beating. From what I understand the idea of this mentality is to raise your level of performance no matter the player, psych you up for a good match. Imagine a pro asked me to hit, you'd bet I'd be excited and probably play my best tennis because I am psyched for it, respect the person's ability, and want to hang.

B) Say you are a 4.5 and your 2.5 beginner friend wants to play a fun set. You know 100% that you can win every point, and flick away balls with no effort, no pressure. This feels good and you feel like you can hit any shot, you feel confident. Sometimes I artificially use this feeling or mindset against a stronger player on tight points or serves. I imagine that they are the 2.5 in order to recreate the feeling of knowing 100% you can do it. I feel this helps take the tightness off and helps you to continue taking your shots, it helps you believe. However this almost contradicts A doesn't it?

If tennis is played 1 point at a time, shouldn't I be aiming to truly believe within I can win this point even if the player is a higher level? I do win sometimes and want to do it more. How should I balance these? Whether the confidence is real or artificial, it's amazing what you can do when you believe.

For me, the solution is much simpler than that. Put all of your focus and effort into executing your shots, one shot at a time, and executing your gameplan, one point at a time. If you do that, you have done everything you can possibly do to win no matter who is on the other side of the net.

 

[Ash_Smith]

Either of your scenarios is plausible @stumpgrinder - if it leads you to be able to achieve the following:

"Accept your current thoughts and emotions and maintain focus on the demands of performance" - that is the ultimate measure of psychological skill/mental toughness.

Oh, and cancel the word "should" from your vocabulary

 

[wings56]

Easy plan. I hit every ball as hard as I can. If it goes in, then I win.

 

[jaxadam]

I just pretend like I'm playing mixed doubles and roll everything back deep.

 

[user92626]

There's only so much you can do mentally, the rest needs to be backed by real skills.


With A and B, unless you are crazy and illogical or deeply deluded, your rational mind will in no time adjust to the law of economy and the reality in front of you. A) you will inevitably prepare enough for appropriate reward. B) Sane mind will see a strong opponent as a strong player. You cannot fool it by somehow seeing a 4.5 opponent as a 2.5!