Improving My "Inner Game"

[LegacyP7]

Hello,
I was playing in a tournament today, with someone who's LTA Rating is the same as mine. This guy was about half the size of me; had barely any power, and wasn't ridiculously consistent, but he was quick, and was able to push some of my bigger shots back.

I went 5-0 up in the first. I can't even remember what was going through my mind. It was all still. Next thing I know, everything starts getting to me. The wind was absolutely horrendous, and it started annoying me. There was a 6 and under session on the courts next to us, and their screams and shouts started getting to me. Suddenly, it's 5-4. I'm struggling to keep my head screwed on.
I eventually manage to serve out that game, and win that first set 6-4.

Okay, so, the first set is over, and I can calm down a bit, and find a good rhythm again. I took my time at each changeover, and kept giving myself the strategy talk, and had a break.

In the second set, things are much closer. I can't seem to get into that "still" state of mind again, and I'm playing really poor tennis. Things stay even, and I eventually get a break, to go 5-4 up, ready to serve. At the sit down, I place my towel over my head, and start telling myself to keep calm, and fight for this game.

I hit one ace, a service winner, and a normal winner. I make one unforced error, and get to 40-15. I have two match points. I hit a big serve, lands in, and he pushes it back. After a slow paced, painful 20 or so shot rally, I lose that. 40-30. Same thing again. Deuce. Same thing again. His ad. Same thing again, game. All of a sudden, I've lost the set, after he broke back, and then managed to hold, and break again.


Long story short, I lost the match. 10-7 in a Champions Tiebreak in the last set (at one set all, you have to play a tiebreak to ten). My mentality sucked. It lost me the match. I should have beat this kid. I was a MUCH better player than him. It was on astro turf (my least favourite surface), and the wind was terrible - but it was the same for him too. I just couldn't seem to keep on top of my mind. I couldn't get my mind and body working together. Multiple times, I missed easy overheads, double faulted on pressure points, smacked forehands out the back.

My forehand is my best shot. I have a one handed backhand, which is definitely my weakest shot. Today, it was my best - which shows you how much I crumbled.

In practice, I'm fine. I've won my town tournament multiple times. I'm the #1 ranked player in my town, and play fantastic against my friends, or in practice. I also can play brilliant against players I don't expect to beat. That's when I play my best tennis. I don't worry about anything, and can go for it all.

Whenever I come up against players I should beat, I tighten up. I can't hit my normal shots, and everything seems to go to bits. I just can't keep my head in the game.



(On a side note: I've just finished Winning Ugly, and have tried these tactics stated, against the different playing styles. I can carry it out against better players but not the ones I should easily beat. I've also just started reading "The Inner Game of Tennis". I've only read about 40 pages though.)

 

[LeeD]

Not to be cruel, or insensitive to your feelings......
Maybe the other guy read the same book.
Maybe he is trying his best to figure out your game, your weaknesses, and getting your strong shots back. Maybe he's trying to win the match with his skills and shots.
Maybe tennis is a game between two player's, and the will's of each.
Maybe tennis is not only about ONE player, while the other exists only as a backboard.

 

[LegacyP7]

Not to be cruel, or insensitive to your feelings......
Maybe the other guy read the same book.
Maybe he is trying his best to figure out your game, your weaknesses, and getting your strong shots back. Maybe he's trying to win the match with his skills and shots.
Maybe tennis is a game between two player's, and the will's of each.
Maybe tennis is not only about ONE player, while the other exists only as a backboard.

That's not the issue here. I seem to choke a lot in these situations. I've done it many times before - and its getting to me.

I think my biggest issue is not trusting, or believing in my shots and my game when I get in the tournament situations. I need to put a fix to that.

 

[LeeD]

Yes, you are correct.
Tennis competition is all about YOU, and YOU alone.
Don't matter what the other guy does, it's YOU YOU that counts.

 

[LegacyP7]

Yes, you are correct.
Tennis competition is all about YOU, and YOU alone.
Don't matter what the other guy does, it's YOU YOU that counts.

Yes, but I would like some tips and advice on what others do. Why do I struggle in that situation? How can I keep myself calm, and finish stuff off?

 

[Topspin Shot]

Ever consider that the real fluke in that match was that you jumped out to a 5-0 lead? Reading between the lines, I'm feeling that the other player was about your level, and since you got the quick lead, you underestimated him the rest of the way. You should have recognized that he wasn't an inferior opponent and been more willing to rally with him rather than trying to wipe him off the court.

However, and this is really big, you can't win every close match! Statistically, you will win about 50% of your close matches. There is nothing you can do to change that fact.

 

[LegacyP7]

Yes, you are correct.
Tennis competition is all about YOU, and YOU alone.
Don't matter what the other guy does, it's YOU YOU that counts.

Yes, but I would like some tips and advice on what others do. Why do I struggle in that situation? How can I keep myself calm, and finish stuff off?

 

[LeeD]

Isn't that a tip on how to be a winner?
Since I'm a loser, I can't help you there.

 

[LegacyP7]

Ever consider that the real fluke in that match was that you jumped out to a 5-0 lead? Reading between the lines, I'm feeling that the other player was about your level, and since you got the quick lead, you underestimated him the rest of the way. You should have recognized that he wasn't an inferior opponent and been more willing to rally with him rather than trying to wipe him off the court.

However, and this is really big, you can't win every close match! Statistically, you will win about 50% of your close matches. There is nothing you can do to change that fact.

Yeah, I guess that is my issue. I subconsciously underestimate my opponents in the matches I should walkover; or in the ones I do gain a good early lead. I almost become subconsciously lazy. I didn't play well today. Not at all, but as soon as he proved he could start winning games, I subconsciously panicked, and things started going wrong.

My issue is my subconscious making decisions; and over thinking a simple game of tennis. I need to keep alert on my gameplan, but then just let my mind and body work as one to let it happen, rather than my mind getting in the way.

Does anyone have any tips on how to do so?

 

[skiracer55]

I'm down with this...

Yes, you are correct.
Tennis competition is all about YOU, and YOU alone.
Don't matter what the other guy does, it's YOU YOU that counts.

...I personally thought that Inner Tennis amounted to low-grade psychobabble. I'm really against anybody who writes a book (and, if you notice, there are tons of books out there entitled "The Mental Edge for (insert name of sport here)"...and people buy 'em, so the author makes a quick buck, and doesn't really have any skin in the game. So what if Joe Tennis read the book and lost his next 10 matches? He bought the book, right?

Just as there are no secret pills for a great forehand in five minutes, it's up to you to do the problem solving and figure out what to do and how to go about it to win a match...and what you do, or don't do, mentally, to make it happen. As one of the older Aussies said of Inner Tennis, "You play tennis on the court, not in your head."

 

[LeeD]

Sounds like you figured out your flaws all by yourself.

 

[Topspin Shot]

Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all method. What works for me most likely will not work for you. I play a counterpunching game and shoot to get 12 quality balls in play every point. If I can do that, I figure that I'm giving myself as good a chance to win as I can. I don't succeed every point, of course, but that is my goal going into each point.

 

[LeeD]

I'm pretty sure that a lot of us are looking for the perfect racket/string combo to make our games exactly the same as RogerFederer's.

 

[mikeler]

You just have to play as many matches that "count" as you can. At first you may play like a shell of your practice self due to nerves but eventually the competitive matches start to become routine and you'll settle down.

 

[LegacyP7]

Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all method. What works for me most likely will not work for you. I play a counterpunching game and shoot to get 12 quality balls in play every point. If I can do that, I figure that I'm giving myself as good a chance to win as I can. I don't succeed every point, of course, but that is my goal going into each point.

Nice way of doing it. I have all the shots, and much prefer to play aggressive. I make all of my errors due to consistency though. Nice thing to keep that fresh in my head.

Sounds like you figured out your flaws all by yourself.

Yeah. Now I need to figure out a fix.

...I personally thought that Inner Tennis amounted to low-grade psychobabble. I'm really against anybody who writes a book (and, if you notice, there are tons of books out there entitled "The Mental Edge for (insert name of sport here)"...and people buy 'em, so the author makes a quick buck, and doesn't really have any skin in the game. So what if Joe Tennis read the book and lost his next 10 matches? He bought the book, right?

Just as there are no secret pills for a great forehand in five minutes, it's up to you to do the problem solving and figure out what to do and how to go about it to win a match...and what you do, or don't do, mentally, to make it happen. As one of the older Aussies said of Inner Tennis, "You play tennis on the court, not in your head."

Although I agree in some ways. Winning Ugly, and The Inner Game of Tennis are different. They don't claim to be "magical fixes" to everything. The only person who can make their tips run true is you.

 

[LegacyP7]

You just have to play as many matches that "count" as you can. At first you may play like a shell of your practice self due to nerves but eventually the competitive matches start to become routine and you'll settle down.

I did this last year, and managed to get onto a 12 match winning streak. This was made through tournaments being classed as normal, and routine to me. Today was my first tournament back after around 6 months.

 

[jakeytennis]

do not judge your shots. judging your shots makes you think, thinking can make you try to control your shots instead of going off instincts.

The goal is to put all your attention on the ball (watching its trajectory carefully then watching it spin after it bounces) but also put attention on aim/strategy.do this while clearing your mind with no other thoughts.

thinking or emotions take attention off the ball and can make you tight.

it's easy to keep your concentration and determination for one point. the hard part is to maintain it for the whole match.

losing/errors/crowd noise/nervousness affects your concentration/determination

so the number one rule is to not let any of this affect your concentration/determination. Or as doctor Allen Fox would say, don't do anything that doesn't help you win.

And the best way to do this is to have no extreme emotional reaction or thoughts after each point. Reactions to points only put more thoughts/emotions into your head. keep your mind clear with all attention on the ball and strategies.

 

[boramiNYC]

sounds like there's the big ego involved in your tennis matches. and it's preventing you to fully focus on identifying what to do and executing the plan. try to do much more of the latter up to a point you won't have time to think about your ego (I'm better player I should win). and at some point you'll realize having a big ego really doesn't do anything.

think nadal. he seems to play each and every stroke like his life depends on it against any opponent. that's strong mentality. and it takes hard work to achieve it. you reading those books are very good start and asking here is another good move so keep it up.

 

[Veninga]

wow, you are telling what happend to me at least 10 times...

i ordered every book in the world, read every forum, talked to my fysio who is also a mental trainer...

in the end only one thing really helped. accepting. just accepting, no longer fight this feelings. they will come, and they will go. sometimes faster, sometimes even a series of 3 matches will be lost in the same way.

but by stopping fighting it, or trying new smart things, or whatever, you only enhances your mental and chemical downward spiral. just try to play ZEN. like i see this happens, lets see what happens next. like you are watching a match vs two players in a sports you dont know. just be interested in what happens and let it happen.

that is working for me..

 

[LegacyP7]

do not judge your shots. judging your shots makes you think, thinking can make you try to control your shots instead of going off instincts.

The goal is to put all your attention on the ball (watching its trajectory carefully then watching it spin after it bounces) but also put attention on aim/strategy.do this while clearing your mind with no other thoughts.

thinking or emotions take attention off the ball and can make you tight.

it's easy to keep your concentration and determination for one point. the hard part is to maintain it for the whole match.

losing/errors/crowd noise/nervousness affects your concentration/determination

so the number one rule is to not let any of this affect your concentration/determination. Or as doctor Allen Fox would say, don't do anything that doesn't help you win.

And the best way to do this is to have no extreme emotional reaction or thoughts after each point. Reactions to points only put more thoughts/emotions into your head. keep your mind clear with all attention on the ball and strategies.

That summarises a lot of The Inner Game of Tennis - thanks

sounds like there's the big ego involved in your tennis matches. and it's preventing you to fully focus on identifying what to do and executing the plan. try to do much more of the latter up to a point you won't have time to think about your ego (I'm better player I should win). and at some point you'll realize having a big ego really doesn't do anything.

think nadal. he seems to play each and every stroke like his life depends on it against any opponent. that's strong mentality. and it takes hard work to achieve it. you reading those books are very good start and asking here is another good move so keep it up.

I'm going to start that. Instead of just telling myself to fight for a point, I'll fight like my life depends on it. I'm sure it will help.

Ego is the right word to summarise it. I pay too much attention to that sometimes. I need to accept more that, anyone is a threat. Look at what's happened to Federer this year!

wow, you are telling what happend to me at least 10 times...

i ordered every book in the world, read every forum, talked to my fysio who is also a mental trainer...

in the end only one thing really helped. accepting. just accepting, no longer fight this feelings. they will come, and they will go. sometimes faster, sometimes even a series of 3 matches will be lost in the same way.

but by stopping fighting it, or trying new smart things, or whatever, you only enhances your mental and chemical downward spiral. just try to play ZEN. like i see this happens, lets see what happens next. like you are watching a match vs two players in a sports you dont know. just be interested in what happens and let it happen.

that is working for me..

Yeah, that came naturally to me after a string of tournaments last year. I do need to just wait it out. Sleep on it, and start afresh next time I play. I do need to just accept what happens, and move on.

I have to ask though; what is "ZEN"?

 

[LegacyP7]

I have to ask though; what is "ZEN"?

Nevermind, got it. The "Zen" state of mind. It's a beautiful thing when you play in it.

 

[LegacyP7]

I have to ask though; what is "ZEN"?

Nevermind, got it. The "Zen" state of mind. It's a beautiful thing when you play in it.

 

[Raul_SJ]

It's just you and the ball. Might as well be hitting against a wall.

That is how I prefer to view it.

All these thoughts of "This is an opponent that I should easily beat" really serve no purpose.

Focus on the ball and executing your shots.

 

[mikeler]

I did this last year, and managed to get onto a 12 match winning streak. This was made through tournaments being classed as normal, and routine to me. Today was my first tournament back after around 6 months.

So you proved my point! Ease up on yourself, it was your first tournament in awhile. I don't care what anyone says, for some reason playing for a $1 plastic trophy puts much more pressure on people than the casual observer would expect. :evil:

 

[Mr.Lob]

Yours is the 50 million dollar question. Something even the greatest pro athletes struggle with. The nerves start to tense up, and the game goes to pot. Saw it today in fast feed competition. Guy is hitting great, penetrating shots with a lot of pace, he starts getting a little tentative with his shots against better competition, then can't get anything in.He sure looked depressed when the session was over. And this was just basically a practice session.

I've heard a lot of tennis commentators say to control your breathing and heart rate. So the first thing is to recognize the problem. Take a few slow deep breaths, clear your mind, take a little bit more time between points to compose yourself. A lot of times, when I feel tensed up, I'll tell myself to be more aggressive... and try to play more aggressively.Sometimes I'll try little mind games," well I'm gonna lose... So no big deal...this ain't war" or get angry" no way I'm gonna lose to this guy". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[ilovetennis212]

Hello,
I was playing in a tournament today, with someone who's LTA Rating is the same as mine. This guy was about half the size of me; had barely any power, and wasn't ridiculously consistent, but he was quick, and was able to push some of my bigger shots back.

I went 5-0 up in the first. I can't even remember what was going through my mind. It was all still. Next thing I know, everything starts getting to me. The wind was absolutely horrendous, and it started annoying me. There was a 6 and under session on the courts next to us, and their screams and shouts started getting to me. Suddenly, it's 5-4. I'm struggling to keep my head screwed on.
I eventually manage to serve out that game, and win that first set 6-4.

Okay, so, the first set is over, and I can calm down a bit, and find a good rhythm again. I took my time at each changeover, and kept giving myself the strategy talk, and had a break.

In the second set, things are much closer. I can't seem to get into that "still" state of mind again, and I'm playing really poor tennis. Things stay even, and I eventually get a break, to go 5-4 up, ready to serve. At the sit down, I place my towel over my head, and start telling myself to keep calm, and fight for this game.

I hit one ace, a service winner, and a normal winner. I make one unforced error, and get to 40-15. I have two match points. I hit a big serve, lands in, and he pushes it back. After a slow paced, painful 20 or so shot rally, I lose that. 40-30. Same thing again. Deuce. Same thing again. His ad. Same thing again, game. All of a sudden, I've lost the set, after he broke back, and then managed to hold, and break again.


Long story short, I lost the match. 10-7 in a Champions Tiebreak in the last set (at one set all, you have to play a tiebreak to ten). My mentality sucked. It lost me the match. I should have beat this kid. I was a MUCH better player than him. It was on astro turf (my least favourite surface), and the wind was terrible - but it was the same for him too. I just couldn't seem to keep on top of my mind. I couldn't get my mind and body working together. Multiple times, I missed easy overheads, double faulted on pressure points, smacked forehands out the back.

My forehand is my best shot. I have a one handed backhand, which is definitely my weakest shot. Today, it was my best - which shows you how much I crumbled.

In practice, I'm fine. I've won my town tournament multiple times. I'm the #1 ranked player in my town, and play fantastic against my friends, or in practice. I also can play brilliant against players I don't expect to beat. That's when I play my best tennis. I don't worry about anything, and can go for it all.

Whenever I come up against players I should beat, I tighten up. I can't hit my normal shots, and everything seems to go to bits. I just can't keep my head in the game.



(On a side note: I've just finished Winning Ugly, and have tried these tactics stated, against the different playing styles. I can carry it out against better players but not the ones I should easily beat. I've also just started reading "The Inner Game of Tennis". I've only read about 40 pages though.)

I think it's the matter of your mind.
I think you were focused until 5:0. After that you lost focus on purpose.
What I mean is..
People tend to give opponent some chance when you're up 5:0. They tend to open the door to opponent. So you can play competitive match after opponent come up like 5:4.
I think you wanted to enjoy the match.
So you tried new things when you re up 5:0.
But after you get competitive match like 5:4 you lose your momentum.
Even though you let him have 4games intentionally he got confidence with it. Then he flies with that confidence. Starting to hit better shot and strong shot. Now you try to keep it together.. But it's too late to get your momentum.
It happens a lot in club when you're playing with similar level.
It happened to me so many time.

 

[CoachSubway]

To the guy above who called Inner Game low grade psychobabble, I wonder if he even finished the book. Tennis is absolutely played as much in the head as it is on the court. You ask any pro in the top 10 and they'll tell you the only thing that separates them from the rest of the pack is their mental fortitude. I've played enough matches in my life that I know it's the same at any other level.

OP, it sounds like you are thinking entirely too much of the results of the match. This is all completely natural of course, but you need to focus on playing each point and being in the moment rather than letting your mind wander. There are many ways to do this, but what I do is just focus on my breath. Each time between points when I feel my mind wandering, I just focus my attention on my breath. When you hit a bad shot, stop thinking about the consequences. Instead, think about what went wrong, visualize yourself executing perfectly and move on.

Nadal actually touches on this a lot in his book, but the key to performing at a top level is to not think too much. If you've played a lot of tennis, you instinctively should know what to do. You are not going to hit every shot perfectly - not even the pros do this. Yesterday's Serena / Azarenka match was an error fest and those are the top two women in the world. You cannot dwell on what's already happened or what may happen in the future. All you can do is focus on the point that's about to happen, so that's where your mind should be.

And, not coincidentally, this sort of mindset is exactly what other successful coaches in other sports advocate. Read Phil Jackson's books (i.e., most successful NBA coach in recent history). He talks a lot about staying in the moment, focusing on the here and now, not dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about what's to come.

 

[skiracer55]

I see where you're headed...

do not judge your shots. judging your shots makes you think, thinking can make you try to control your shots instead of going off instincts.

The goal is to put all your attention on the ball (watching its trajectory carefully then watching it spin after it bounces) but also put attention on aim/strategy.do this while clearing your mind with no other thoughts.

thinking or emotions take attention off the ball and can make you tight.

it's easy to keep your concentration and determination for one point. the hard part is to maintain it for the whole match.

losing/errors/crowd noise/nervousness affects your concentration/determination

so the number one rule is to not let any of this affect your concentration/determination. Or as doctor Allen Fox would say, don't do anything that doesn't help you win.

And the best way to do this is to have no extreme emotional reaction or thoughts after each point. Reactions to points only put more thoughts/emotions into your head. keep your mind clear with all attention on the ball and strategies.

...but I think you have to be a little careful about not judging or not thinking. From what I remember (I read it a long time ago), Inner Tennis got heavily into the "don't judge, be in the moment" school of tennis. That might work, but it's not a guarantee. The thing I find curious about Inner Tennis is that Gallwey starts with a story about how he missed an easy ball and choked a match when he was a junior...thus, he decided to write Inner Tennis. But he never really gets back to the point where he says something like "Using these principles, I went out on the court and never missed another easy ball and didn't choke any matches, ever."

You can almost look at "don't judge" as a feel good approach..yep, play matches, but don't judge points, or even the outcome of the match, because judging is a bad thing, just enjoy whatever tennis you happen to produce. Which brings us to the question of what the reader of Inner Tennis is expecting...a foolproof guide to never choking? A foolproof guide to always playing your best tennis? A guaranteed way to win every match you play? Or just a way to start playing Zen tennis and stop being goal-driven?

So whatever your goals are, I'd suggest just trying the Inner Tennis method and judging (I couldn't help myself...) the results compared with your goals. If Inner Tennisexceeds all your expectations...well, the book was worth whatever you paid for it, right? If not, you don't necessarily have to go out and grab another book, just think about your goals and what is likely to work for you and what won't.

Personally, if I hit a crappy shot or shank one into the net, I don't have a problem judging it...I just think "Yep, that was a crappy shot, but I saw Federer hit one just as bad last week...so I'm not a Bad Person but I guess I won't do that again on the next point, let's try this instead..." Or if I hit a great winner, I'm not gonna pat myself on the back, instead I'm going to think one of two things: "Okay, that fits into the pattern/strategy I came up with for this match, let's do more of the same..." or "Huh...that worked surprisingly well, maybe there's some low lying fruit I ought to further explore here..."

That kind of stuff...

 

[user92626]

To the guy above who called Inner Game low grade psychobabble, I wonder if he even finished the book. Tennis is absolutely played as much in the head as it is on the court. You ask any pro in the top 10 and they'll tell you the only thing that separates them from the rest of the pack is their mental fortitude. I've played enough matches in my life that I know it's the same at any other level.

Hmm...and how would these pros know what others experience?

It seems like because they're a successful they can say whatever they want.

 

[CoachSubway]

Hmm...and how would these pros know what others experience?

It seems like because they're a successful they can say whatever they want.

Um, because they've been both in AND out of the top 10 before and know what it takes to get IN to the top 10? The difference in many matches is just winning a handful of key points. It's those points where one's mindset has a big impact on the outcome.

 

[user92626]

Um, because they've been both in AND out of the top 10 before and know what it takes to get IN to the top 10? The difference in many matches is just winning a handful of key points. It's those points where one's mindset has a big impact on the outcome.

It would make some sense if, say, someone like Ferrer who had played half of his career outside of top 100 and then the second half as a top 5 and the fact that we did not notice any major changes in his technique. We would only see that he just plays seemly grittier or more determined. Is there a pro like that to tell the tale?

So far most top atp guys that come on radar have been basically consistent. They are either grand slam or master materials or they are not. GS quarters and semis always show the familiar faces.