Habits and Superstitions?

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
When I was a kid, I would do the thing were I wanted to use the same ball I won a point with, and switch balls if I lost a point, but it was distracting and exhausting so I got over it.

When I was a kid my best friend would only buy Penn 1 balls. He would look at all the cans on the shelf and pick out the 1s.

J
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
rafa-ass-rafael-nadal-11011488-1000-665.jpg
 

FedLIKEnot

Professional
I dont like to serve first, I return well and always feel like it helps ease me into the match and about half the time I break in the 1st game so opens me up on my serve better.

Beyond that I try to have newish overgrips on at least two of my racquets.
 

BeyondTheTape

Semi-Pro
During districts and sectionals, I find that i become more superstitious for match 2 if i am successful during match 1. For me that means, duplicating details that lead to match 1's success.
That can mean eating the same food, preparing before the match the same way, using the same sweat towel instead of the two others in my bag, wearing the same shoes, shorts, hat, etc. If my partner spun their racquet and they ask me to spin then i let my partner spin. Getting to the court first and choosing the same bench (right or left) and sitting on the same side of the bench as i did in match 1. You know, just the minor details.
 

RogueFLIP

Professional
Sure, plenty. When I keep everything the same, then I can only blame myself and not anything else like equipment or "Oh I didn't warmup right".

Same pre match meal in set time period prior to match.
Same DIY match drink.
New strings before matches.
Matching clothes/shoes/new overgrip.
Same dynamic prematch warmup.
Mark match balls with marker.
I have a oversized coin for the "coin toss". None of this up or down racket spins.
Prefer to receive first if possible. If doubles partner wants to serve first, then I ask to serve after my partner does.
Gear is laid out on bench or floor in certain way. Drink, towel, 2nd racket (I switch rackets every changeover) (Both rackets are customized the same weight, balance, etc..)

I'm sure there's more if I think about it...:rolleyes:
 

MathGeek

Hall of Fame
Is a match important?

Some matches are more important than others to me. Am I trying to finally beat an opponent against who I usually lose? Do I think I am peaking or really want to leverage some new skills for a win? Is the match important for a doubles partner for whatever reason? If a match is important to a doubles partner, then it is important to me, and I'll prepare more, and work harder to be peaking in every way possible.

Most of my family takes a similar approach to other sports also. Gotta admit, there are days when I am just slogging through a mountain biking course, and days when I am shooting for a new best time on a certain route. There are days fishing when I am just enjoying the day and trying not to get skunked, and days when I am trying to get a new angler on a new personal best, win a tourney, or significantly fill the freezer (my own or the Hunters for the Hungry). There are rifle matches where we are just knocking off the rust or trying out some new equipment, and there are rifle matches where we are working to raise our NRA classifications or just plain outscore the competition. There are mini-golf rounds where I play conservatively to minimize bogeys and rounds where I try and maximize birdies, eagles, and holes in one.

No doubt, when I am on the court, I always give my full effort, only letting up if there is some risk of injury. But I don't always restring the racquet, bring my best backup, wear my best shoes, take greatest care in practice the weak before, and attend to rest and nutritional details the same way. Nor do I always do the same scouting workup on opponents. Some matches are more important than others. And the more important matches get the full work-up.
 

sphinx780

Hall of Fame
When I was a kid my best friend would only buy Penn 1 balls. He would look at all the cans on the shelf and pick out the 1s.

J
As kids, my brother and I were always searching for the elusive Wilson 8. We thought they bounced better lol.

No known superstitions now but I am sure there are some repetitive habits that I don't fully notice.
 
1. I try to do everything outside of the point even (e.g if I sip my bottle once I have to do it 3 more times)
2.I try to do EVERYTHING 4 times ad it is the ultimate even number
3. I have to wear something on my head weather it be a hat or a bandana
4. I use my left hand to swipe my hair from left to right every time I finish a point
 

pabletion

Hall of Fame
Ive only got a couple of habits, no superstitons.....

1. When going for a 1st serve, I need two balls, one in my pocket and one in my hand. When going for a 2nd, I cant have a ball on my pocket. The same when receiving, cant have a ball in my pocket, just feels off.

2. Lately................. I like to play commando......, you feel like "youre" floating in air!
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Ive only got a couple of habits, no superstitons.....

1. When going for a 1st serve, I need two balls, one in my pocket and one in my hand. When going for a 2nd, I cant have a ball on my pocket. The same when receiving, cant have a ball in my pocket, just feels off.

2. Lately................. I like to play commando......, you feel like "youre" floating in air!

It bothers me to hit a backhand return with a ball in my pocket, I thought it was just because I am weird.

J
 

MrRandom247

Semi-Pro
Preparation habits of mine:
Never call the toss, let them choose.
One piece of Nike at all times.
Baseball cap always, even night time.
Baggy big tennis shorts.
Sweat towel.
Compliment opponents good shots.
Arch supports for my flattish feet.
Double tied laces.
Sunscreen nearly always.

Don't really have any fetish things while playing.
 
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Angle Queen

Professional
Habit: One bounce. One bounce only before a serve.
(Goes way back to my first coach who drilled serve prep and toss mechanics into us. Can't complain, rarely have the serving yips.)

No known superstitions.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
They are important to me. Pro's matches are work, I don't have important days at work, it's just a job.

J

Interesting priorities. Recreational Tennis above Work. Other than a stroke to your ego, what do you get out of a tennis match that makes it so important I wonder?

Admittedly, throwing oneself into your job isn't always a great priority either. Balance is probably the key. Treat work, recreation and family with equal fervor.

As far as superstitions, I do wear a light compression/sun sleeve on my right arm. No idea if it helps me win, but its a habit now.
 

pabletion

Hall of Fame
It bothers me to hit a backhand return with a ball in my pocket, I thought it was just because I am weird.


J

[/QUOTE]

You ARE weird.... but thats besides the point :D

I cant have a ball on my pocket (left) while receiving, doesnt matter if its fh or bh. If I ended my serving game with a 1st serve, and have the 2nd serve ball on my pocket, I'll throw it away before receiving.

Same as when serving: feels WEIRD to serve a 1st if I dont have a ball in my pocket (played with a guy 2 days ago and he would just keep forgetting to pass the balls to me! Who the hell plays with just the one ball in their hands????)
 
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MegacedU

Professional
Where do I even begin? Always hold ball in left pocket. Always call M for Meg when the spinner has a Wilson. Always put on my pink sparkly hairband when I'm down. Always take the can of balls with a #1 on them.
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't know if this counts as superstition, but I like to play fast tempo dance and electronica on my way to the court to get myself pumped... Except when I'm already agitated, then I do the opposite to calm myself down
 

stapletonj

Hall of Fame
jm1980..... omg, back in the days of cassettes, my brother and I even had a special mix tape called "tennis pump up" full of this kind of music!!!!!
 
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Deleted member 23235

Guest
Are you a woman or a man? Could be most distracting and effective if you are a man.
I've played with someone that used to do that... used to come to play dressed in a skirt, and a bow in his hair... too bad he spent more time on his appearance than his game.
 
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Deleted member 23235

Guest
I think that's against the rules :)
lol to each his own... i didn't playing with him more because he was more concerned about being flamboyant, dramatic, attention grabbing - than about being a good player. to me, If you're good, wear whatever you want :p
 

slewisoh

Semi-Pro
I sometimes partner with someone who is crazy superstitious - and I find it very distracting. The worst one, IMO, is insisting upon using the ball you just won a point with. Sometimes that crazy angle or big slice serve means the ball ends up 3 courts down and she INSITS we retrieve the ball. The BALL didn't win the point. WE did.
 
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Deleted member 23235

Guest
I sometimes partner with someone who is crazy superstitious - and I find it very distracting. The worst one, IMO, is insisting upon using the ball you just won a point with. Sometimes that crazy angle or big slice serve means the ball ends up 3 courts down and she INSITS we retrieve the ball. The BALL didn't win the point. WE did.
lol, i do this... given a choice, i'll always pick the ball that just won me the last point...
not a stickler for it though...
 
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