how do you stay focused in a match?
- Thread starter nicklane1
- Start date
The flesh is weak, just telling yourself to do it won't necessarily make you do it. You need to create factors (internal or external) that will make you do it without fail.
Just look at what Alcaraz does after each and before every point, it is ridiculous, but those routines create a loop of mental refocus.
Some say it is self hypnosis but those are just tricks to create a mental link that triggers certain feelings/memories of the ideal mindset you want for every point. You could call it a reset button.
How about you try some of those? Hitting your legs with your racket, small jumps, fist pumping, etc. Link those acts to a feeling of playing your next point as the last and most important point of your life, or whatever feeling or memories that you know will make you play your next point as best as you can.
I know that i'm "in" when my heartbeat goes a bit faster. It shows that you care enough to bring you to the present moment.
Just look at what Alcaraz does after each and before every point, it is ridiculous, but those routines create a loop of mental refocus.
Some say it is self hypnosis but those are just tricks to create a mental link that triggers certain feelings/memories of the ideal mindset you want for every point. You could call it a reset button.
How about you try some of those? Hitting your legs with your racket, small jumps, fist pumping, etc. Link those acts to a feeling of playing your next point as the last and most important point of your life, or whatever feeling or memories that you know will make you play your next point as best as you can.
I know that i'm "in" when my heartbeat goes a bit faster. It shows that you care enough to bring you to the present moment.
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Bagumbawalla
Talk Tennis Guru
Focus on the ball.
The ball is everything.
When I am most focused, the ball seems big and round,
seems almost to hang before me in slow motion. At
that moment I imagine the path of my racket head through
the ball.
Get in shape. If you have to struggle to get to the ball, you lose focus.
Work on footwork and positioning. If you feel awkward, you lose focus.
"Groove" your strokes. If you have to think about technique, you lose focus.
Think less. Thinking takes time. Do your thinking during training. During a game
you need to feel confident in your preparation. Thinking disrupts focus.
The ball is everything.
When I am most focused, the ball seems big and round,
seems almost to hang before me in slow motion. At
that moment I imagine the path of my racket head through
the ball.
Get in shape. If you have to struggle to get to the ball, you lose focus.
Work on footwork and positioning. If you feel awkward, you lose focus.
"Groove" your strokes. If you have to think about technique, you lose focus.
Think less. Thinking takes time. Do your thinking during training. During a game
you need to feel confident in your preparation. Thinking disrupts focus.
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Looking for advice on this as well.. might be because the level of play isn't engaging enough.
All my matches start like this... 0-4 to start, no footwork or alertness, start to become engaged, lose or win that set 7-5 or 5-7. Get to 5-0 or so in the second set. As expected guy isn't that good and can only push at this point. Lose interest again, tie break usually starts with a large advantage for opponent, tie it up, win or lose by 2..
Never have this issue of being focused or engaged with people I perceive as above my level.
All my matches start like this... 0-4 to start, no footwork or alertness, start to become engaged, lose or win that set 7-5 or 5-7. Get to 5-0 or so in the second set. As expected guy isn't that good and can only push at this point. Lose interest again, tie break usually starts with a large advantage for opponent, tie it up, win or lose by 2..
Never have this issue of being focused or engaged with people I perceive as above my level.
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LuckyR
Legend
In what context do you play matches? High school team? USTA leagues? Tournaments? Friends playing sets?
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Read a book called ‘Smart Tennis’ by Dr, John Murray.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
@nicklane1
Just the opposite for me. Even tho I was pretty active during points, I would try to stay fairly physically active (but mentally relaxed) between points. This would keep my HR in my (aerobic) target zone and keep my juice (adrenaline, endorphins, endocannabinoids, etc) flowing. This did wonders for keeping me alert & focused.
Bagumbawalla
Talk Tennis Guru
Well, when I play someone who is below my level, or someone with a plodding style, I
sort of take responsibility for making the experience interesting and worthwhile.
I think of it more like a practice session- keeping the ball in play and moving the opponent
around enough to let him feel challenged, meanwhile practicing different sorts of
things, myself. Then, again, if you're just out there for fun, sometimes it makes sense to not
play sets that are too lopsided, and instead do actual practice and try to improve
that guy's game a bit for the next time you play.
Just about figuring out the opponent. Nothing to be out of focused about.
If I can't move my feet, then just try to focus on a particular shot, then it should automatically move. It's about will power when I'm tired.
If I'm winning, then I'll keep doing the same thing - like slicing/bh rallies/etc.
If I start to lose points, then I'll try something different - go for more shots, go dtl more, serve at a different pace, etc.
If I lose the match, then I've met my match, and hope to get better for a rematch later.
That's all there is to it.
If I can't move my feet, then just try to focus on a particular shot, then it should automatically move. It's about will power when I'm tired.
If I'm winning, then I'll keep doing the same thing - like slicing/bh rallies/etc.
If I start to lose points, then I'll try something different - go for more shots, go dtl more, serve at a different pace, etc.
If I lose the match, then I've met my match, and hope to get better for a rematch later.
That's all there is to it.
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