Raise the level of your game during match play.

[kiteboard]

Raise your game under pressure: kiteboard

1. We all feel it. Match pressure. The urge comes on to prove how good you are and to taste victory, improve your game and mind and body. The main source of match anxiety is fear of missing a shot and fear of losing in general. You can lower these two conjoining fears during match play. If you focus your major goal away from victory during match play towards improvement, and make improvement your new gauge of self worth, you will consciously change the overriding desire to win above all else. Match anxiety is lessened quite a bit. The pain will also not be as bad when you lose. It never truly goes away and everyone feels it to some extent, even the very best in the world feel anxiety and pain during match play. It’s not fight or flight out there. It’s fear or fight. Often the mind will just quit before the body does and the worst opponent you have is the unseen one inside your own psyche.

2. Deal with confidence first: Play against weaker opponents in practice to gain confidence. Learn in practice that you can come from behind and win from behind. Playing against weaker opponents who do make errors under pressure, and who do feel the pressure of playing a tougher opponent: you: will enhance your ability to do so against any opponent. Make sure you are as match tough going into the arena as your schedule allows. Don’t show your opponent you are breathing hard, tired, or hurting or frustrated in any way no matter how bad you are playing or how well your opponent is playing. If you do show frustration, your opponent’s under lying mind will take credit for it and gain confidence that he is going to win. Maintaining an even keel will show your opponent that you are not worried about losing or winning and take great shots in stride as well as is they are no big deal and you hit them all the time. Many also talk about fear of winning as an underlying fear most are not aware of. So as you come closer to winning, you choke and become fearful in your body and shots. Be in shape before stepping out on the battle field, and that is mental shape as well as physical shape.


3. Be sure that your equipment is up to the task. Note during the match if you are going long too much. Is so, your strings or frame are too powerful or too loose for this day. Have a less powerful set up ready, such as a string job with the same mains, but a cross string with less power, strung a little tighter, so that the string job and frame you switch to are almost the same, but have a little less trampoline and a little less power and your confidence will come back when you stop going long too often just like the pros do. Here are some good cross strings to use with your favorite mains: These strings make the best crosses in a hybrid job because they don’t get in the way as much. Such as Kirschbaum spiky shark, Solinco revolution, tour bite 18g, Dunlop black widow, Signum pro tornado, Volkl cyclone 18g, Kirschbaum pro line II, alu power, and l- tec 4s. Also have a more powerful set up ready in your bag if your shots are going too short and your opponent is feasting on them. Among these crosses which have already been listed, the most powerful is the l-tec 4s 17g. The least powerful is the Volkl cyclone 18g. Either way, a thinner cross will improve ball pocketing than a thicker cross, due to the thinner strings lower profile, and thinner nature, will allow the mains to transfer more of their true nature and snap back and glide further, better grabbing the ball. All the crosses listed have less friction.
4. The more flexible frames generally with also have less power, so that also has to be dealt with in practice. Not many can maintain confidence while using different frames with different RA values. (Frame stiffness.) A lower RA (Racquet Analysis) will usually have less trampoline power. The decision on which frame type to use must be made before match play, so that you only switch to different string jobs, with more or less power, more or less spin. Edged strings give more spin, such as bhb7, y-tex quadro twist, bhbr, tour bite 18g, ashaway kevlar 18g. Frames and string should be set up to enhance your game, ie, a big server would benefit more from a powerful set up than a baseline grinder. A grinder would be better set up with an open pattern, a spin string, a rounded pallet, and a head heavy frame strung for spin. Frame/string/shoes/ankle braces for more support on cutting wide and quick stops. Don’t come on the court with brand new shoes, or socks, or anything not previously tested. New shoes and socks can be slippery and hurt timing and confidence. Carry anti cramp supplements: A natural anti cramp solution is this recipe I have developed: Pink sea salt, red clover, sage, nettles. http://www.finepluck.co.uk/shop/product/nettle_sage_red_clover This will naturally stop electrolyte loss, and water loss from sweating too much. Stringing: be able to determine if your string job has too much power, not enough power, not enough control or spin. Going long too much is caused by string that is too loose, or too powerful for your game that day. Don’t be afraid to switch frames during a match to feel out which string job is working the best. The pros all have tighter string jobs in their bags. It may be the lower powered one or the higher powered one. Some also have spin string jobs set up for old school opponents who use continental grips, or who slice all high balls with their back hands or forehands. These old school gripped players are more vulnerable to spin string jobs that make the ball kick and bounce higher.
5. Practice for improvement and play for improvement during the match. Make a habit of intending to come from behind in practice matches and you will be able to do it during a real match.
6. Visualize, ask, and intend to play well when down. Some play the first set out in their mind before the match ever starts. Some visualize coming back after they are down.
7. Match play is all about serving and returning the second serve. If you win more points on his second serve than he does, and more points on your second serve than he does, you will almost always win the match.
8. Movement: Speed up your core rotation when down. Practice speeding up during practice matches. Speed up your footwork when down and practice this during practice matches. Unit turn faster. Plant step ahead of time so that you are waiting to hit step. See yourself split stepping on every shot.
9. Hold something back: Don’t come out hitting your best shots first off the bat. Start out the match with something in reserve and learn to toy with opponents psyche.
10. Test all areas of your opponents game: lull/jam/finish rhythms. Short slices. High balls to the back hand are often common weaknesses. Young guys who hit hard often hate a no pace game. Extreme western grips hate short slices that stop short in the court and often frame them, as well as framing kick or twist serves.
11. Keep mental track of how you have been winning and losing points.
12. Keep mental track of how your opponent has been winning and losing points.
13. Decide where to hit serves and returns ahead of time and visualize doing so before each point starts out.
14. Take time away from your opponent and give it to yourself. Learn to stall by using the towel. If he complains, say that you sweat more than normal and the sun screen is blinding your eyes, and that you have 20 seconds to do that anyway.
15. Make sure you are drinking the right amount of fluid.
16. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Become your own on court psychologist by knowing yourself deeply. This means knowing you are trying too hard, and don’t have your game, and the opposite: when your game is sharp and having the guts to use it.
17. See yourself toying with your opponent, hitting shots he can barely get to, and keeping the point alive on purpose, just to torture him.
18. See yourself walking up to the tournament desk with the score and the balls in hand.
19. See yourself accepting the winning trophy from the tournament director, and see his smile and shake his hand in your mind’s eye.
20. See yourself hitting great passing shots.
21. See yourself hitting great serves on the lines.
22. See yourself hitting great approach shots and volleys if that is called for, such as an old school slice artist.
23. See your opponent’s weak points and strong points. Can he change direction off both sides off high balls?
24. Don’t show frustration or emotional reaction when you lose a point or hit a bad shot, it only helps your opponent’s confidence.

 

[jdubbs]

Dude, you should seriously charge for this advice.

 

[InspectorRacquet]

9. Hold something back: Don’t come out hitting your best shots first off the bat. Start out the match with something in reserve and learn to toy with opponents psyche.

This art is very under-appreciated in my opinion. From personal experience, I once bageled an opponent in the first set, having gone through my whole bag of tricks. The next two sets I lost (but not without a fight) because nothing was a surprise to my opponent anymore after he regrouped between sets.

However, I believe that you should use your entire bag of tricks if you are down and nothing is getting through. No sense in holding back if you aren't winning.

 

[Power Player]

Can you talk more aout the anti cramp recipe? How do you make it..when do you take it..does it stop excess sweating?

 

[kiteboard]

Take it before and during and after the match if you win and have another match to play that day or the next. Just like a normal drink during change overs. Start an hour and a half ahead of time, to make sure the blood stream is saturated with the electrolytes you are going to lose during a bad match. Also cuts down on after match soreness, which also is aided by massaging the legs with a massage stick. This works better than quinine, or pickle juice, due to it replenishing the lost substances in blood stream, and combating the lactic acid streams from active muscles. Also stops water loss due to the combo. Drink warm out of thermos for instant relief and preventive. Place the herbs in a pot, boil water first, let seep, pour into thermos, add pink sea salt in proportion, and you will not cramp that day, nor the next day. It's pretty much a miracle cramp cure, and those who do suffer, you know what pain I am talking about: death pain.

I have tried: bananas, chinese herbs, drugs like quinine, peaches, nuts, grapes, fruit, salt, cramp bark herbs, and everything in between, such as ibuprofin, aspirin, etc., etc., etc., as someone who suffers so bad from cramps that I cannot win, nor win the next match if I gut it out during a hot long match.

This works, flat out stops them cold, and gives you more confidence, that you will not hurt, adds to stamina, adds to performance, is totally safe, legal, and good for you. Quinine also stops cramps, and while it's at it: causes death in some, kills off immune systems, cause ringing in the ears, cynchoncism, blurred vision, etc. 93 dead/yr. us from quinine useage, but it stops cramps. You can get it only from Canadian blue sky pharmacy, with a doc's ok only. Costs a lot now. This is better than just pickle juice, which only works from the salt, not the pickles anyway. Buy the ingredients from botanical supply online.

It cuts down on water loss due to sweating.

 

[kiteboard]

This art is very under-appreciated in my opinion. From personal experience, I once bageled an opponent in the first set, having gone through my whole bag of tricks. The next two sets I lost (but not without a fight) because nothing was a surprise to my opponent anymore after he regrouped between sets.

However, I believe that you should use your entire bag of tricks if you are down and nothing is getting through. No sense in holding back if you aren't winning.

Same here. Sometimes the other guy finds your weaknesses after you've beat him up a bit.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I just focus on (1) executing my shots, one shot at a time, and (2) executing my gameplan, one point at a time. During a match, nothing else matters, and there's nothing more that can be done.

 

[kiteboard]

Game plans need to change if they are not working. Plan A: grind: Plan B: no pace: Plan c: serve and volley: Plan D: high balls/short slices to the back hand side, etc. Try it all: bring them in, and pass them, and come in yourself when the short ball arrives and flatten it out down the line and volley first down the line or you will get passed. Something is going to work. Everybody has weak points, and lesser strengths that cannot hurt you.

 

[Power Player]

Thanks that is rather interesting on the cramp prevention.

I sweat soooo much in the humid heat down here that it honestly sucks. I hate it and wish I could stop it somehow. I'd seriously take pills for it, but I hear that can be dangerous.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Game plans need to change if they are not working. Plan A: grind: Plan B: no pace: Plan c: serve and volley: Plan D: high balls/short slices to the back hand side, etc. Try it all: bring them in, and pass them, and come in yourself when the short ball arrives and flatten it out down the line and volley first down the line or you will get passed. Something is going to work. Everybody has weak points, and lesser strengths that cannot hurt you.

I don't approach tennis that way. I play the classic high percentage game. I pit my stroke production and my discipline in the execution of the high percentage game against yours. I addition, I will try to exploit any weaknesses consistent with high percentage tennis.

 

[TeflonTom]

I don't approach tennis that way. I play the classic high percentage game. I pit my stroke production and my discipline in the execution of the high percentage game against yours. I addition, I will try to exploit any weaknesses consistent with high percentage tennis.

and that, brah, is why u will always be second rate player

hi % is grand but good players also kno how to adjust risk/rew to optimise chance of success based on match variables

 

[kiteboard]

Thanks that is rather interesting on the cramp prevention.

I sweat soooo much in the humid heat down here that it honestly sucks. I hate it and wish I could stop it somehow. I'd seriously take pills for it, but I hear that can be dangerous.

Try the recipe and tell us if it works or not. Some need more salt than others in the tea. Have to vary it until you find the right amount. I use a table spoon per 16 fl. oz. I take 32 fl oz. at least before and during match play, but 48 more often.

 

[Power Player]

Will do I'm trying to track down the ingredients locally.

 

[kiteboard]

http://www.pacificbotanicals.com/store/home.php

http://www.finepluck.co.uk/shop/product/nettle_sage_red_clover

 

[kiteboard]

and that, brah, is why u will always be second rate player

hi % is grand but good players also kno how to adjust risk/rew to optimise chance of success based on match variables

Nail on the head. How do you think Rosol beat Nadal? His only chance was to gun it off first serve, first forehand, and he was hitting 90-99mph bh as well. Held at love the last two service games by hitting a lot of flat out gun winners. Blasters only beat grinders once in awhile, and this was one of them. We don't know his rating, and maybe he is a first rate player.

 

[5263]

Nail on the head. How do you think Rosol beat Nadal? His only chance was to gun it off first serve, first forehand, and he was hitting 90-99mph bh as well. Held at love the last two service games by hitting a lot of flat out gun winners. Blasters only beat grinders once in awhile, and this was one of them. We don't know his rating, and maybe he is a first rate player.

Oh yes, he got this great win and I hope it leads to more, but....
so far he is the definition of a 2ond rate pro.
Maybe the win will lead to better things, but likely that will mean playing more
high % tennis in most matches.

 

[TeflonTom]

hi % tennis great for winning the matches u should win

not so good for winning the matches u could win

when u r up against a player as good or better than u, tactics come into play

playing consistent hi % tennis against a player better than u is just a good way to consistently get beat

u gotta adjust ur approach to suit the situation. sometimes thats hi % tennis. other times u gotta sacrifice the safe play, mix it up n take some risks if u want a chance at winning

 

[kiteboard]

Oh yes, he got this great win and I hope it leads to more, but....
so far he is the definition of a 2ond rate pro.
Maybe the win will lead to better things, but likely that will mean playing more
high % tennis in most matches.

It does win most, esp. in lower ranges of play like 4,5-5.0. You see push types who retrieve beat blasters like Rosol all over the world every day. You are allowed to win that way, ugly as it is, artless as it is, dull as it is, it's still better than losing pretty.

 

[kiteboard]

hi % tennis great for winning the matches u should win

not so good for winning the matches u could win

when u r up against a player as good or better than u, tactics come into play

playing consistent hi % tennis against a player better than u is just a good way to consistently get beat

u gotta adjust ur approach to suit the situation. sometimes thats hi % tennis. other times u gotta sacrifice the safe play, mix it up n take some risks if u want a chance at winning

Whether you loop it high cross court, or gun it low down the line, you can lose to opponents better than you are at serving/returning. First strike of the ball is the thing that is practiced the least, and is the most important element of match play. Once the point starts it's often even. All matches are decided by who makes fewer mistakes. Lots of different ways to make one. Be too aggressive and make ues. Be too passive and get blown away. Be too whatever. Nothing like beating a great player by being a better one.

 

[Greg G]

First strike of the ball is the thing that is practiced the least, and is the most important element of match play.

Could you elaborate more on this, how to practice? I need to work on this :???:

 

[kiteboard]

First and second serve and returning is first strike practice. One lunge step. Keep arms out more. Keep leading front shoulder down and rear shoulder up. Shorten stroke. Attack weaker shots with a bigger return.

 

[Torres]

Worst thread ever.

 

[TeflonTom]

Worst thread ever.

big talk comin from the guy whose most recent thread is debatin which is the 'most pillowey shoe' goin around

 

[Limpinhitter]

hi % tennis great for winning the matches u should win

not so good for winning the matches u could win

when u r up against a player as good or better than u, tactics come into play

playing consistent hi % tennis against a player better than u is just a good way to consistently get beat

u gotta adjust ur approach to suit the situation. sometimes thats hi % tennis. other times u gotta sacrifice the safe play, mix it up n take some risks if u want a chance at winning

Except, you don't know what high percentage tennis is.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Nail on the head. How do you think Rosol beat Nadal? His only chance was to gun it off first serve, first forehand, and he was hitting 90-99mph bh as well. Held at love the last two service games by hitting a lot of flat out gun winners. Blasters only beat grinders once in awhile, and this was one of them. We don't know his rating, and maybe he is a first rate player.

What? His rating? What are you talking about?

Anyway, Nadal lost because he had an off day against a player who played the match of his life. In 20 matches Nadal will win 19 of them. I'll take those results any time.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Whether you loop it high cross court, or gun it low down the line, you can lose to opponents better than you are at serving/returning. First strike of the ball is the thing that is practiced the least, and is the most important element of match play. Once the point starts it's often even. All matches are decided by who makes fewer mistakes. Lots of different ways to make one. Be too aggressive and make ues. Be too passive and get blown away. Be too whatever. Nothing like beating a great player by being a better one.

You finally said something right.

 

[arche3]

You're a mouth breathing 18 year old troll, and have no idea what you're talking about.

Limp I think you've been ranting about high percentage tennis before lol. Get over it. After a while its about making shots.
We all know what high % tennis is. We all use it. Can we move on?

 

[Limpinhitter]

Limp I think you've been ranting about high percentage tennis before lol. Get over it. After a while its about making shots.
We all know what high % tennis is. We all use it. Can we move on?

Arch, if you don't like the conversation, then feel free to move on yourself. The topic is "raise the level of your game during match play." Tennis is a percentage game. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win, then you have to put the percentages in your favor. If you don't, then you are not playing the best tennis you can play. It's that simple. Unfortunately, the vast majority of players don't have a clue what that means, or, if they do, don't understand the importance of implementing it with discipline. Of course, there are some, like 5263, who may disagree with me about the scope of the high percentage plays, but, he doesn't dispute the premise of understanding the importance of playing the percentages.

The bottom line is that a discussion about raising the level of your play without discussing percentages is really a meaningless discussion.

 

[arche3]

Arch, if you don't like the conversation, then feel free to move on yourself. The topic is "raise the level of your game during match play." Tennis is a percentage game. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win, then you have to put the percentages in your favor. If you don't, then you are not playing the best tennis you can play. It's that simple. Unfortunately, the vast majority of players don't have a clue what that means, or, if they do, don't understand the importance of implementing it with discipline. Of course, there are some, like 5263, who may disagree with me about the scope of the high percentage plays, but, he doesn't dispute the premise of understanding the importance of playing the percentages.

The bottom line is that a discussion about raising the level of your play without discussing percentages is really a meaningless discussion.

I think the point the person you were making fun of was saying is after the percentage plays it is about making shots and taking risk. Every good player plays percentage tennis. That is a given.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I think the point the person you were making fun of was saying is after the percentage plays it is about making shots and taking risk. Every good player plays percentage tennis. That is a given.

Ahh, you confess your lack of discipline, Arch. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win, you have to execute high percentage plays every time, with discipline. There is no "after the percentage plays."

 

[Limpinhitter]

dood u have a habit of postin the bleedin obvious n thinkin u are impartin great wisdom. not ur fault, common affliction for those with limited thinkin

every1 knows that u have 2 play hi %. dat's default brah. hi % doesnt help u lift ur play 2 beat that opp who is better than u are.

i dont think u fully understand how tactics work dood. no1 wins against players as good or better than them by playin hi % shots 100% of the time with no tactical variation. like da A-man says, tactics r the next step after hi % tennis. its the next level

not ur fault u dont get it, but u would do better to learn from other ppl than chuckin a tantie n callin them names

You don't know what high percentage tennis is. The way to beat an opponent who is better that you is to execute high percentage tennis with more discipline than your opponent. If your opponent has superior stroke production and executes high percentage tennis with as much or more discipline than you, then you are going to lose. That's what it means to play a better player. But, if you think you can beat a superior player by playing low percentage plays, then you don't know how to play tennis.

 

[TeflonTom]

Ahh, you confess your lack of discipline, Arch. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win, you have to execute high percentage plays every time, with discipline. There is no "after the percentage plays."

dood, if u are executin % plays all the time u r very predictable.

in a match where u playing some1 who is of similar ability 2 u, n they r smart, they can use dat against u by executin lower % plays at teh right time. dat is tactics brah.

rigidly playin % tennis all the time will get u the W against lesser opponents but will get u into trouble againt opponents with quality

n % tennis will never get u a win against opp that completely outclass u. only chance against them is to pay low % tennis n give urself a chance

u gotta get some imagination brah.

 

[TeflonTom]

If your opponent has superior stroke production and executes high percentage tennis with as much or more discipline than you, then you are going to lose.

nah brah. dat is loser talk. it is the way second class players think.

u think that losin against hi % players better than u is inevitable. i say no. it is probable, but by usin tactics and alterin risk/rew u can give urself a chance.

might be small chance, but chance

But, if you think you can beat a superior player by playing low percentage plays, then you don't know how to play tennis.

dood, rosol just beat nadal by doin exactly that.

low % tennis gave rosol a chance. maybe 99 times out of 100 he loses against nadal playin low % tennis, but this year it worked.

if he played hi % tennis tho, he lose 100 out of 100. coz he cant go toe to toe with nadal on hi % play

that, my man, is tactics.

 

[Limpinhitter]

nah brah. dat is loser talk. it is the way second class players think.

u think that losin against hi % players better than u is inevitable. i say no. it is probable, but by usin tactics and alterin risk/rew u can give urself a chance.

might be small chance, but chance


dood, rosol just beat nadal by doin exactly that.

low % tennis gave rosol a chance. maybe 99 times out of 100 he loses against nadal playin low % tennis, but this year it worked.

if he played hi % tennis tho, he lose 100 out of 100. coz he cant go toe to toe with nadal on hi % play

that, my man, is tactics.

Explain high percentage tennis, please.

 

[TeflonTom]

don't see u addressin any of my points brah

 

[Limpinhitter]

don't see u addressin any of my points brah

Explain high percentage tennis, please.

 

[TeflonTom]

dood u wanna address the points raised, go ahead

u wanna avoid them and/or run off with ur tail between ur legs, u free to do that as well. nobody will think any less of u

ur choice

 

[Limpinhitter]

dood u wanna address the points raised, go ahead

u wanna avoid them and/or run off with ur tail between ur legs, u free to do that as well. nobody will think any less of u

ur choice

I already have. I said, you have no idea what you're talking about and you don't know what percentage tennis is.

PS: Case in point - Rosol didn't play low percentage tennis as you stated, he played high percentage tennis. That, along with his excellent shot execution (with a few exceptions, his forehand looking a bit shakey at times), resulted in a win against one of the all time greats.

 

[Limpinhitter]

pronouncements w/o substance 2 back it up aint a rebuttal brah. try again


dood i think its more embarrassin that ur chastising me 4 my grammar when ur second sentence is such a mangled mess. commas brah. they aint just for decoration

i dont mind ppl bein a bit relaxed about formal use of language(obv, given how i type), but if u wanna complain bout ppls use of grammar then u should really work on yo own form 1st. glass houses, etc. ya feel me?

For the third time, explain high percentage tennis, please.

 

[Limpinhitter]

so ur choice is avoid addressin my points substantively n run away? shame. u mighta learned somethin.

peace brah.

For the fifth time, explain high percentage tennis, please.

 

[arche3]

Ahh, you confess your lack of discipline, Arch. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win, you have to execute high percentage plays every time, with discipline. There is no "after the percentage plays."

like I said most people who are at a certain level always play % tennis. Has nothing to do with discipline. I imagine you can't to high levels without discipline.

 

[Limpinhitter]

like I said most people who are at a certain level always play % tennis. Has nothing to do with discipline. I imagine you can't to high levels without discipline.

As to your first and second sentences, my experience is quite the opposite, even among the pros. Off the top of my head, the best examples of disciplined high percentage tennis I've seen among the pros were Connors, Borg, Lendl, Wilander, Agassi and Nadal. Among those, Connors' shots had the lowest margin for error, but, that's not an issue of percentage tennis tactics. You play with the shots you have. But, most pros make silly, undisciplined, tactical errors all the time, and it can't be for lack of shotmaking ability. Even Djokovic, with all of his amazing ability, goes for shots that leave him out of position. When you have his talent and athleticism, you can get away with it more often. But, IMO, he would be even greater if he was a little more patient, especially on clay.

As to your third sentence, I don't know what you're trying to say.

 

[kiteboard]

What do you thing is high percentage tennis? That seems to be your only contribution to raising your level during match play. But not a word or description of what you think it is yet. What is your ntrp rating?

 

[Limpinhitter]

What do you thing is high percentage tennis?

It's actually very simple. I've written about it many times. But, since TeflonTom has gone to lengths to express how limited I am as a player and how unimportant high percentage tennis is, I think he should explain it first.

What do you thing is high percentage tennis? That seems to be your only contribution to raising your level during match play. But not a word or description of what you think it is yet. What is your ntrp rating?

You edited your post after I responded. No, I originally said that the most effective way to play your best tennis is to focus on: (1) executing your shots, one shot at a time, and (2) executing your gameplan, one point at a time. If you can do that, and forget about everything else, you have done all you can do to play your best. There really is nothing else to do. Sure, you can alter your gameplan if your tactics are failing. But, most often losing is not an issue of tactics, it's an issue of execution.

You then brought up various tactical approaches and I responded that my approach to tennis was to simply execute my shots and play high percentage plays. I also said that I try to exploit my strengths and my opponent's weaknesses as long as I can do it consistent with high percentage plays.

 

[kiteboard]

Any objective person sees it for what it is, but since they are objective, they are not affected by it, and just laugh it off.


What is your ntrp rating? Do you have anything positive to say other than: high percentage tennis is great?

Compare that with this: 1. We all feel it. Match pressure. The urge comes on to prove how good you are and to taste victory, improve your game and mind and body. The main source of match anxiety is fear of missing a shot and fear of losing in general. You can lower these two conjoining fears during match play. If you focus your major goal away from victory during match play towards improvement, and make improvement your new gauge of self worth, you will consciously change the overriding desire to win above all else. Match anxiety is lessened quite a bit. The pain will also not be as bad when you lose. It never truly goes away and everyone feels it to some extent, even the very best in the world feel anxiety and pain during match play. It’s not fight or flight out there. It’s fear or fight. Often the mind will just quit before the body does and the worst opponent you have is the unseen one inside your own psyche.

2. Deal with confidence first: Play against weaker opponents in practice to gain confidence. Learn in practice that you can come from behind and win from behind. Playing against weaker opponents who do make errors under pressure, and who do feel the pressure of playing a tougher opponent: you: will enhance your ability to do so against any opponent. Make sure you are as match tough going into the arena as your schedule allows. Don’t show your opponent you are breathing hard, tired, or hurting or frustrated in any way no matter how bad you are playing or how well your opponent is playing. If you do show frustration, your opponent’s under lying mind will take credit for it and gain confidence that he is going to win. Maintaining an even keel will show your opponent that you are not worried about losing or winning and take great shots in stride as well as is they are no big deal and you hit them all the time. Many also talk about fear of winning as an underlying fear most are not aware of. So as you come closer to winning, you choke and become fearful in your body and shots. Be in shape before stepping out on the battle field, and that is mental shape as well as physical shape.


3. Be sure that your equipment is up to the task. Note during the match if you are going long too much. Is so, your strings or frame are too powerful or too loose for this day. Have a less powerful set up ready, such as a string job with the same mains, but a cross string with less power, strung a little tighter, so that the string job and frame you switch to are almost the same, but have a little less trampoline and a little less power and your confidence will come back when you stop going long too often just like the pros do. Here are some good cross strings to use with your favorite mains: These strings make the best crosses in a hybrid job because they don’t get in the way as much. Such as Kirschbaum spiky shark, Solinco revolution, tour bite 18g, Dunlop black widow, Signum pro tornado, Volkl cyclone 18g, Kirschbaum pro line II, alu power, and l- tec 4s. Also have a more powerful set up ready in your bag if your shots are going too short and your opponent is feasting on them. Among these crosses which have already been listed, the most powerful is the l-tec 4s 17g. The least powerful is the Volkl cyclone 18g. Either way, a thinner cross will improve ball pocketing than a thicker cross, due to the thinner strings lower profile, and thinner nature, will allow the mains to transfer more of their true nature and snap back and glide further, better grabbing the ball. All the crosses listed have less friction.
4. The more flexible frames generally with also have less power, so that also has to be dealt with in practice. Not many can maintain confidence while using different frames with different RA values. (Frame stiffness.) A lower RA (Racquet Analysis) will usually have less trampoline power. The decision on which frame type to use must be made before match play, so that you only switch to different string jobs, with more or less power, more or less spin. Edged strings give more spin, such as bhb7, y-tex quadro twist, bhbr, tour bite 18g, ashaway kevlar 18g. Frames and string should be set up to enhance your game, ie, a big server would benefit more from a powerful set up than a baseline grinder. A grinder would be better set up with an open pattern, a spin string, a rounded pallet, and a head heavy frame strung for spin. Frame/string/shoes/ankle braces for more support on cutting wide and quick stops. Don’t come on the court with brand new shoes, or socks, or anything not previously tested. New shoes and socks can be slippery and hurt timing and confidence. Carry anti cramp supplements: A natural anti cramp solution is this recipe I have developed: Pink sea salt, red clover, sage, nettles. http://www.finepluck.co.uk/shop/prod...age_red_clover This will naturally stop electrolyte loss, and water loss from sweating too much. Stringing: be able to determine if your string job has too much power, not enough power, not enough control or spin. Going long too much is caused by string that is too loose, or too powerful for your game that day. Don’t be afraid to switch frames during a match to feel out which string job is working the best. The pros all have tighter string jobs in their bags. It may be the lower powered one or the higher powered one. Some also have spin string jobs set up for old school opponents who use continental grips, or who slice all high balls with their back hands or forehands. These old school gripped players are more vulnerable to spin string jobs that make the ball kick and bounce higher.
5. Practice for improvement and play for improvement during the match. Make a habit of intending to come from behind in practice matches and you will be able to do it during a real match.
6. Visualize, ask, and intend to play well when down. Some play the first set out in their mind before the match ever starts. Some visualize coming back after they are down.
7. Match play is all about serving and returning the second serve. If you win more points on his second serve than he does, and more points on your second serve than he does, you will almost always win the match.
8. Movement: Speed up your core rotation when down. Practice speeding up during practice matches. Speed up your footwork when down and practice this during practice matches. Unit turn faster. Plant step ahead of time so that you are waiting to hit step. See yourself split stepping on every shot.
9. Hold something back: Don’t come out hitting your best shots first off the bat. Start out the match with something in reserve and learn to toy with opponents psyche.
10. Test all areas of your opponents game: lull/jam/finish rhythms. Short slices. High balls to the back hand are often common weaknesses. Young guys who hit hard often hate a no pace game. Extreme western grips hate short slices that stop short in the court and often frame them, as well as framing kick or twist serves.
11. Keep mental track of how you have been winning and losing points.
12. Keep mental track of how your opponent has been winning and losing points.
13. Decide where to hit serves and returns ahead of time and visualize doing so before each point starts out.
14. Take time away from your opponent and give it to yourself. Learn to stall by using the towel. If he complains, say that you sweat more than normal and the sun screen is blinding your eyes, and that you have 20 seconds to do that anyway.
15. Make sure you are drinking the right amount of fluid.
16. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Become your own on court psychologist by knowing yourself deeply. This means knowing you are trying too hard, and don’t have your game, and the opposite: when your game is sharp and having the guts to use it.
17. See yourself toying with your opponent, hitting shots he can barely get to, and keeping the point alive on purpose, just to torture him.
18. See yourself walking up to the tournament desk with the score and the balls in hand.
19. See yourself accepting the winning trophy from the tournament director, and see his smile and shake his hand in your mind’s eye.
20. See yourself hitting great passing shots.
21. See yourself hitting great serves on the lines.
22. See yourself hitting great approach shots and volleys if that is called for, such as an old school slice artist.
23. See your opponent’s weak points and strong points. Can he change direction off both sides off high balls?
24. Don’t show frustration or emotional reaction when you lose a point or hit a bad shot, it only helps your opponent’s confidence.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Yes, and I responded to all of that with a very simple approach that I have learned over the past 43 years of playing tennis - For the 3rd time: Focus on (1) executing your shots, one shot at a time, and (2) executing your gameplan, one point at a time. If you do that, you have done everything you can do to win. There is nothine else you can do. Put everything else, the match, the opponent, the score, the circumstances, out of your mind. It is all irrelevant. That is how you cope with match play, and how to play your best under any and all circumstances.

PS: DID IT SINK IN YET?

 

[1HBH Rocks]

No one can wish away the reactions they have when faced with pressure during competitive situations... They have roots deeper than the wording which is employed; to try and act on the thought, on the words, is like a symptomatic treatment: it is of no use to solve the issue at hand as it deals with effects, not causes.

If you want to shut these thoughts down and change your life, you need to know how they have been grown so that you may use these same principles to grow healthier habits. There's no way around this and the method is always the same in psychology: we identify the symptoms, refer to appropriate theoretical model for comparison, figure out the causes using the model, use this information to put the subject into a situation whereby they will solve their issues.

As far as examples run, we do have hints in these propositions by Kyteboard of some models that are indeed used. For instance, expectations do tend to mold your behavior. Provided you think you have a chance to succeed, you will tend to adopt a behavior that will improve the odds of your expectations to come true. You might practice more, take on lessons and go through an extra mile when running. On the other hand, if you feel like you're going to fail, drills and extra steps might be something not worth going for... you will tend to do less and this will increase the odds of failure. That's what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy. But note that in no point in this I mention how these considerations operate.The forecast, the "prophecy," itself is the manifestation of a complex interaction of several elements.

Provided you're anything of an intelligent person -- whoever is reading --, you already understand that the USEFUL PART of the model isn't what I just exposed, but the section which explains WHY you have certain expectations instead of others. It's only once you grasped this part, have gone through the abstract exercise it requires, that you can actually solve the kinds of problem Kyteboard tries to solve. The same goes with other types of issue, including anxiety during matches. It takes only a few WORDS to introduce the cure to the subject, but it could take many BOOKS to understand why exactly this is the cure which is recommended.

Just to hint you, the theory a psychologist would refer to when thinking about emotions (anxiety is included in that) would include considerations about the difference between what we call the trigger event and the causal event. One of the two is the cause, the other only activate the reaction. A theoretically perfect human would always have both events coincide: if you do not have any sort of psychological issue, you react directly to the cause -- there's no delay. It also means that the wider the gap, the greater the problem. You can see people crying when they realize they have a few more door hinges to put on doors... The cause isn't the presence of additional hinges, obviously: that's the trigger. The cause can be found before this occurred -- even WAY before. It can be many things, but you won't solve the issue if you simply act on the fact the person is crying. You will only solve the problem if you figure out the cause.

Same for you during tennis matches.

 

[TeflonTom]

It's actually very simple. I've written about it many times. But, since TeflonTom has gone to lengths to express how limited I am as a player and how unimportant high percentage tennis is, I think he should explain it first.

brah, i said hi % tennis is important. jst not everythin. n if u think it is u r a limted plauer.

onus is on u to put fwd ur argument. if u dont wanna elaborate, u r effectively concedin. up 2 u, chuckles

You then brought up various tactical approaches and I responded that my approach to tennis was to simply execute my shots and play high percentage plays. I also said that I try to exploit my strengths and my opponent's weaknesses as long as I can do it consistent with high percentage plays.

small minded tennis 4 small minded players

sometimes the hi % plays dont give u a chance of winnin. sometimes u gotta roll the dice n chance ur arm for a sniff of victory. rosol swingin hard at everythin vs nadz - not hi % at all. the guy was beltin bhs off good 1st serves. v. low % play. he shanked tons of UEs. but, on this day, it came off. if he play hi % tennis, nadz woulda routined him. but, he came out swingin n gave himself shot of beating far better player

Put everything else, the match, the opponent, the score, the circumstances, out of your mind. It is all irrelevant.

simplistic thinkin for simple minded ppl.

the sophisticated player realises all those things u mention, n more, r variables impacting the match n reacts 2 them appropriately. is the opp clutch? r they safety / hi % on key pts? does pressure get 2 them? pros, good players all consider this. y do u think taht they game their opponents, psych em at key moments? y do u think they research their go-to plays on key pts?

u will always be a 1dimensional player if u cannot synthesise n use to ur advantage thru tactics all variables in a match situation

 

[kiteboard]

No one can wish away the reactions they have when faced with pressure during competitive situations... They have roots deeper than the wording which is employed; to try and act on the thought, on the words, is like a symptomatic treatment: it is of no use to solve the issue at hand as it deals with effects, not causes.

If you want to shut these thoughts down and change your life, you need to know how they have been grown so that you may use these same principles to grow healthier habits. There's no way around this and the method is always the same in psychology: we identify the symptoms, refer to appropriate theoretical model for comparison, figure out the causes using the model, use this information to put the subject into a situation whereby they will solve their issues.

As far as examples run, we do have hints in these propositions by Kyteboard of some models that are indeed used. For instance, expectations do tend to mold your behavior. Provided you think you have a chance to succeed, you will tend to adopt a behavior that will improve the odds of your expectations to come true. You might practice more, take on lessons and go through an extra mile when running. On the other hand, if you feel like you're going to fail, drills and extra steps might be something not worth going for... you will tend to do less and this will increase the odds of failure. That's what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy. But note that in no point in this I mention how these considerations operate.The forecast, the "prophecy," itself is the manifestation of a complex interaction of several elements.

Provided you're anything of an intelligent person -- whoever is reading --, you already understand that the USEFUL PART of the model isn't what I just exposed, but the section which explains WHY you have certain expectations instead of others. It's only once you grasped this part, have gone through the abstract exercise it requires, that you can actually solve the kinds of problem Kyteboard tries to solve. The same goes with other types of issue, including anxiety during matches. It takes only a few WORDS to introduce the cure to the subject, but it could take many BOOKS to understand why exactly this is the cure which is recommended.

Just to hint you, the theory a psychologist would refer to when thinking about emotions (anxiety is included in that) would include considerations about the difference between what we call the trigger event and the causal event. One of the two is the cause, the other only activate the reaction. A theoretically perfect human would always have both events coincide: if you do not have any sort of psychological issue, you react directly to the cause -- there's no delay. It also means that the wider the gap, the greater the problem. You can see people crying when they realize they have a few more door hinges to put on doors... The cause isn't the presence of additional hinges, obviously: that's the trigger. The cause can be found before this occurred -- even WAY before. It can be many things, but you won't solve the issue if you simply act on the fact the person is crying. You will only solve the problem if you figure out the cause.

Same for you during tennis matches.

I've never cried when facing certain defeat at the hands of a door hinge! Way more intelligent post than the previous ones. Cause does not always lead to effect, as Rosol just proved. Finally a blaster beat a grinder. I know how it feels to lose to grinders and push types with high percentage games who think they are 5.0 players due only to their one ability: keep the ball going at a no pace rate. Too bad blasting is such a low percentage play, as I am a blaster at heart. I know that I need both games. Lull game and finish. The third game: a mixture of lull/finish is the jam game: high rpm on top and slice, nadal's game.

 

[arche3]

As to your first and second sentences, my experience is quite the opposite, even among the pros. Off the top of my head, the best examples of disciplined high percentage tennis I've seen among the pros were Connors, Borg, Lendl, Wilander, Agassi and Nadal. Among those, Connors' shots had the lowest margin for error, but, that's not an issue of percentage tennis tactics. You play with the shots you have. But, most pros make silly, undisciplined, tactical errors all the time, and it can't be for lack of shotmaking ability. Even Djokovic, with all of his amazing ability, goes for shots that leave him out of position. When you have his talent and athleticism, you can get away with it more often. But, IMO, he would be even greater if he was a little more patient, especially on clay.

As to your third sentence, I don't know what you're trying to say.

Missed a word that's all. I meant to type you can't get to high level of tennis skill without discipline.

As far as the pros they always play to their temperament and ability. Some go for it more and they can. Some more conservative. Does it at times take them our of position? Yes. But it also wins them matches. Sometimes grand slams. Djokovic ripping the service return against federer on feds i think match point? Low percentage? Yes. Did he eventually win the match? Yes.

As far as amateur players the same goes. If your at a sufficient level you can hit all the shots. With consistency. So strategy is also a big part against opponents.