How up and down is your performance?

[men8ifr]

The level I play at seems to vary by a huge amount and this can be against the same people on different days. Is it just down to physical elements? For example I played average to poor last week but this week played really well I had a bit of a cold last week but don't feel like that should make much difference and when there's no physical problems my performance can vary wildly as well.

Mentally I'm trying to focus I don't think it's a lack of effort or complacency. Sometimes I think maybe the other player is making me play badly? Also I wonder If I don't think I'm tired but really I am? Sometimes I play really well after 4 days off but normally it's 1 or 2.

Any insights into what causes this, do you have the same issues?

 

[Gazelle]

It is insane. I can go from winning 6-2 6-0 one day to losing by a similar scoreline the next, even without a great difference in level of my opponents. Sometimes this even happens to me against the same player (on training).

 

[torpantennis]

My performance used to be very up and down, but after switching to a much heavier leaded up racquet the level has been very consistent. The heavy racquet takes away the possibility to lazily cheat on the strokes and the footwork. Now even on the lazy azz days, I'm forced to really focus on footwork and early preparation, and I'm playing much better! If I were a better player I wouldn't need this "cheating", but I'm not.

 

[maggmaster]

If only I could string together 5 matches at my best I could win some tournaments.

 

[goran_ace]

We all have our good days and bad days, ups and downs. My high school coach used to say that that anyone can win when you're playing well, but it's the better players who find a way to win even when they're not playing at their best. This is part of mental toughness.

Sometimes it's not even that you aren't playing well, sometimes your opponent is playing out of his mind or isn't bothered by what you're giving him (e.g. your big shot is the inside out FH but you're playing a lefty. Or you rely on a big serve, but he's a good returner). If you've got some other tools to fall back on you just have to adapt your strategy and tactics to something more effective. If you are a one-trick pony and that shot isn't working for you today, it's going to be a lot tougher and you're going to have to figure out how to set up the shot you want.

 

[donquijote]

Is your name Rafael?

 

[jdubbs]

Very up and down!

Got to the finals of a 4.5 tournament one week beating two solid ex-NCAA Div II players...2 weeks later, lost in the first round in the tiebreak 3rd set due to loss of concentration on the wrong points to a weaker opponent.

Good tennis takes a lot of concentration and effort.

 

[BlueB]

I'm a total head case.

 

[men8ifr]

Obviously its not just me then, no my names not Rafa haha has anyone worked out better if it is to do with energy levels or number of days you havent played previously... Or anything else? Theres got to be a reason.

 

[men8ifr]

Do you think if your opponent is having a bit of an off day you think you are playing well rather than him playing badly?

 

[sureshs]

Over a period of time, you will come to the point where you can play at a decent level on any day, of course barring serious illness.

 

[BMC9670]

If only I could string together 5 matches at my best I could win some tournaments.

This is so true of our sport. If you play tournaments, you have to not only play well over the course of a match, but over several spanning multiple days in order to win it…. and there is only one winner.

Gotta have that Jimmy Connors mentality: “At the US Open, there will be 127 losers… and Me.” :twisted:

 

[SeeItHitIt]

I'm a total head case.

\

And here I thought I was the only one. My play is so erratic (6-1, 6-0 to 0-6, 1-6 to the same players) that I bought a copy of 'Talk-me-off-the-cliff Notes' and keep it in my bag. To this day I'm convinced Wilson tennis balls are bad luck and my strings are shot.

 

[GuyClinch]

Do you think if your opponent is having a bit of an off day you think you are playing well rather than him playing badly?

This. A lot of 3.5 players hit very flat - and can be hugely inconsistent. Flat hitters with flat first serves can lose to pretty much anyone - and yet beat some decent players now and then.

Guys that hit with heavy topspin have a much bigger margin of error - and tend to be a lot more consistent in their play.

So put two flat hitting 3.5 types together and you will see wild variance in the score.. If we are talking about singles - if you develop a kick serve you will likely not get blown out anymore. You might still get beat but cutting back on double faults is very helpful in fighting bad days.