What to do when you've lost it?

[Turbo-87]

I am just curious what you all do when you have hit rock bottom in tennis. I have been in a funk lately and I don't enjoy playing that much anymore. I am not playing well and I get down on myself for stupid unforced errors. Every shot against me will hit the cord for a favorable drop, hit a line, or whatever the ball needs to do to beat me. It is not like me at all to be acerbic and not enjoy playing. I am usually a pretty affable yet competitive guy on the court. Just yesterday in club league, I played horribly and went down a court since I had the fewest won games on our court. Every lucky net cord went the opponents' way and although you can't get mad about it outwardly, when you hear the apology you are just thinking "whatever." My backup racquet already had a crack in it from slipping out of my hand during an overhead months ago, so after the match I destroyed it with a good whack. This is very out of character for me.

What would you all do? Take some time off, perhaps two weeks or a month? Rent the ball machine and work on things? Just curious.

 

[Gazelle]

I've experienced this already multiple times.

When it happens I don't take a break from tennis, but I take a break from competition. Leaves more relaxed at training so I can focus on improving my technique.

 

[Govnor]

Sometimes an extended break is what's needed. I took a break for most of 2014 and was really enjoying playing (still am) when I went back to it

 

[Easy Rider]

Tough times dont last forever.
Tough people do.

 

[Rubens]

Hire a good coach.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Hire a good coach.

this.

seems like you're overly focused on results, and not getting satisfaction from actual improvement. i don't mind losing when I see myself making progress toward a goal (that's what the coach is for, if you can't be your own coach). when I went through a grip transition (hawaiian -> semi western), I lost for a year, but I saw progress in what I was able to do, and where I was going to be.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Hire a good coach.

Absolutely. Breakdowns in a players game like the one you describe are almost always due to a lapse in fundamentals (in every sport, not just tennis). Get a coach who can teach and drill fundamentals to evaluate your game and see where the breakdown is.

 

[JCPlus]

Absolutely. Breakdowns in a players game like the one you describe are almost always due to a lapse in fundamentals (in every sport, not just tennis). Get a coach who can teach and drill fundamentals to evaluate your game and see where the breakdown is.

All good advice, and I particularly second this thought. We're more likely to keep trying to get better if we believe that we can get better (regardless of whether this is just imagination!). And most major improvements will happen at the fundamentals. Also, adjusting expectations may help. It sounds like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself.

 

[Flatballs]

Tough times dont last forever.
Tough people do.

Nice

tenchar

 

[Mr.Lob]

I am just curious what you all do when you have hit rock bottom in tennis. I have been in a funk lately and I don't enjoy playing that much anymore. I am not playing well and I get down on myself for stupid unforced errors. Every shot against me will hit the cord for a favorable drop, hit a line, or whatever the ball needs to do to beat me. It is not like me at all to be acerbic and not enjoy playing. I am usually a pretty affable yet competitive guy on the court. Just yesterday in club league, I played horribly and went down a court since I had the fewest won games on our court. Every lucky net cord went the opponents' way and although you can't get mad about it outwardly, when you hear the apology you are just thinking "whatever." My backup racquet already had a crack in it from slipping out of my hand during an overhead months ago, so after the match I destroyed it with a good whack. This is very out of character for me.

What would you all do? Take some time off, perhaps two weeks or a month? Rent the ball machine and work on things? Just curious.

You've got a lot of negative mojo going on. Step off that roller coaster for a couple weeks, and think about why you play tennis. Are you too "results" orientated? This can lead to excess pressure, which results in errors. Accept that you will make mistakes. Focus on the process not the outcome, think positive thoughts while playing, and avoid anger and negativity. Enjoy the game.

 

[Minion]

I had the same thing happen to me last year. My game got worse and all of a sudden completely imploded - I could hit better shots with my left hand...blind folded.

I fixed it not by taking a break, or hiring a coach, but by learning to quiet my mind when I play. Its not an easy thing to do. As soon as I started playing badly, I started over-focussing, over thinking and fixating on every little possible mistake I make, and even invented some new ones as well. Every time I played, I tried to focus on correcting too many things at once, and it got me no where.

When you're in a slump, try and focus on one thing at a time - focusing on the ball and nothing else helped me alot. If you already watch the ball well, then focus on split-stepping. But take one thing at a time. Once you quiet your mind, you allow your 'tennis instinct' to take over.

One thing I constantly say to myself numerous times throughout any match, regardless of who I play, singles, doubles, whether I'm playing well, or bad, is: 'Concentrate. Play your game'. It helps me

 

[Turbo-87]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am just a 3.5 player who has never had lessons of any kind so maybe it is a good time to figure things out before I continue to reinforce what isn't working. My mind isn't working either.

I like the "quiet mind" illustration. I used to do that. I always used to think like Brad Gilbert described ... being like a boa constrictor. Play steady tennis and keep the pressure on the opponent to make the error, not you. Put the squeeze on them. At 3.5, most of your points come from errors anyway so if you can keep it steady and keep it in play your odds definitely go up in getting an error. I have gotten away from that and fallen into the trap of over-hitting to take out frustration. That is bad news because you can't over-hit with my limited skill set.

I think I am going to rent the ball machine and work on some ball watching drills I saw on youtube. I think the assistant pros are $60/hr at our club so I may try that as well. My tennis bill is already pretty high so I have to watch that. haha

I really appreciate ALL responses. I read them all and will take them all to heart.

What really does bother me is my inability to turn up the wick when needed. In other sports I have played in my life I have been very very good at them and could dial it up whenever I needed to compete harder. I always enjoyed being able to put trash talkers in their place with performance. I haven't been able to do that in tennis and it has been frustrating for me. I don't have the "bring it" mentality like I did in other sports.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am just a 3.5 player who has never had lessons of any kind so maybe it is a good time to figure things out before I continue to reinforce what isn't working. My mind isn't working either.

I like the "quiet mind" illustration. I used to do that. I always used to think like Brad Gilbert described ... being like a boa constrictor. Play steady tennis and keep the pressure on the opponent to make the error, not you. Put the squeeze on them. At 3.5, most of your points come from errors anyway so if you can keep it steady and keep it in play your odds definitely go up in getting an error. I have gotten away from that and fallen into the trap of over-hitting to take out frustration. That is bad news because you can't over-hit with my limited skill set.

I think I am going to rent the ball machine and work on some ball watching drills I saw on youtube. I think the assistant pros are $60/hr at our club so I may try that as well. My tennis bill is already pretty high so I have to watch that. haha

I really appreciate ALL responses. I read them all and will take them all to heart.

What really does bother me is my inability to turn up the wick when needed. In other sports I have played in my life I have been very very good at them and could dial it up whenever I needed to compete harder. I always enjoyed being able to put trash talkers in their place with performance. I haven't been able to do that in tennis and it has been frustrating for me. I don't have the "bring it" mentality like I did in other sports.

Ball machine is a good idea. Let's you hit freely, and work on your strokes, without worrying about keeping the ball in play for the guy on the other side of the net. Good luck.

 

[donquijote]

Always do the things you enjoy, especially when it comes to sports. If you started liking swimming more, then why not switch? You can always come back. Sometimes you need a vacation from the sports you think you love.

 

[LuckyR]

Go skiing for a couple of weekends in a row, then hit the courts again.

 

[Fintft]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am just a 3.5 player who has never had lessons of any kind so maybe it is a good time to figure things out before I continue to reinforce what isn't working. My mind isn't working either.

I like the "quiet mind" illustration. I used to do that. I always used to think like Brad Gilbert described ... being like a boa constrictor. Play steady tennis and keep the pressure on the opponent to make the error, not you. Put the squeeze on them. At 3.5, most of your points come from errors anyway so if you can keep it steady and keep it in play your odds definitely go up in getting an error. I have gotten away from that and fallen into the trap of over-hitting to take out frustration. That is bad news because you can't over-hit with my limited skill set.

I think I am going to rent the ball machine and work on some ball watching drills I saw on youtube. I think the assistant pros are $60/hr at our club so I may try that as well. My tennis bill is already pretty high so I have to watch that. haha

I really appreciate ALL responses. I read them all and will take them all to heart.

What really does bother me is my inability to turn up the wick when needed. In other sports I have played in my life I have been very very good at them and could dial it up whenever I needed to compete harder. I always enjoyed being able to put trash talkers in their place with performance. I haven't been able to do that in tennis and it has been frustrating for me. I don't have the "bring it" mentality like I did in other sports.

Practicing might not be a bad idea; also treating some matches (even for years) as practice is something that I did.

I mean think long term: i.e. develop those weapons you mentioned (and don't be afraid of over hitting etc).

Oh and changing your training methods/focus might help as well (i.e. on the physical preparation as opposed to the tennis technique).

People always tell me their scores, whereas personally I'm more interested in the level of play, progress, the good things (and even lessons learned).

I also feel for you (based on your ending) and it has also puzzled me to notice that tennis it's been the sport that I'd get most frustrated (even as a youngster and occasional player).

Gl and have patience!