Why am I great on practice and awfull playing match?

[amadextor]

I can hit pretty heavy ball, consistently during practice sessions. When it comes to match play everythng falls apart, no more heavy pounding strokes, everything becomes awerage. I am late on almost every shot. I push the ball and almost never go for winners. Do I need a psychiatrist? Any ideas?

 

[FedererUberAlles]

Same problem for me. I can't place the ball for serves so I've got no chance at hitting that first volley because I get passed.

 

[x Southpaw x]

Mental game not strong enough... I used to have that problem. Best way to solve it is by playing lots of matches. Reward yourself mentally when you play a good point in a match.

 

[Jon Hampton]

Pressure is the name of the game. Practice sessions have little to no pressure, resulting in beautiful strokes and few errors. But, once a real game starts, you have to put everything you've learned together and no matter who you're playing, there's always some pressure involved. You have to learn what does and what doesn't work during a pressure situation--e.g., that insane crosscourt angle, the between the legs shot, etc.

That's why people sometimes get confused when they watch the pros. They see some pro making errors and making winners and the person watching says to themself, "hey, I could do that!". Not with millions of people watching, buddy. Just think of how well pros play during PRESSURE situations: they play the same kind of tennis you can play in play during a practice session. So, just imagine how well they play during their practice sessions.

 

[Superior_Forehand]

You are not a jedi yet. Seriously though, what helped me with this was playing tournaments. After like two or three you will notice your mental game getting much stronger.

 

[gurj_v]

Try to imagine your coach/hitting partner on the other side of the net. It makes matches much easier. Dont think about the match with a long term perspective, take things point at a time. I know, its hard to do all these things in a big match, I could never used to do it but when you play a few matches things become so much easier mate.

 

[AngeloDS]

I found out several factors from my practice sessions, and my real games. One being I was too hesitant. I didn't go all out, like I normally would. I try to keep the ball in the lines. Do not focus about getting the ball in. That will be a result of you executing your hit at your level perfectly.

When I ditched thinking about getting the ball in, and more on the mechanics of my hit. My game in actual games went up. If I get it out, it was a problem with my mechanics. So, I think about, "Should of hit it with more topspin." I don't focus on getting the ball in as much as I focus on the mechanics of my hits. The ball going out is not because it wanted to, it's because of the mechanics of my hit.

The second thing I found out was that the points matter in a real game vs a practice. How did I combat this? I never kept track of score. I usually left that up to my partner, or my coach or someone.

There have been many times where it was Love-40 for me, I didn't even know it. Then all of a sudden it was at Advantage me.

 

[Tim Tennis]

Mental game not strong enough... I used to have that problem. Best way to solve it is by playing lots of matches. Reward yourself mentally when you play a good point in a match.

I agree, you got to get out there and play more matches, learn to love and control the adrenalin rush, then you will be like Andre and you won't be able to give up the game. LOL

 

[fist pump]

it is nerves.

the problem is you are afraid to lose .

you have to change right now , and all matches you play , try to prepare early , hit hard , take risks , go for usual strong game -

hey you will miss here and there , and will lose a lot of matches but later on in the long run when you get used to playing hard all the time - you will reap the rewards.

 

[amadextor]

Thanks for input, one thing I also noticed, in a match after serving well or hitting a great shot, what happens is that I get frozen and watch my nice shot for extra second hoping that the opponent will have a hard time with it, when he returns it, I am almost always late. Have to get out of last shot right away...

 

[bookem]

Aside from playing more and getting accustomed to pressure, stop admiring your shots and instead prepare yourself mentally for the next ball, i.e. assume every ball is coming back. If it doesn't, you've won yourself another point.

I've also found that instead of thinking about the results of my stroke, I focus on the quality of my contact. The shot is then the result of my contact.

 

[Indiantwist]

Admiring on your shots/leaving opponent open/ taking gas off the pedal...however you call it ...it can spell doom. In a hurry, game can turn around .

Tennis Grand Master Federer , with all available options went for a betweener (a shot between the legs) on match point at Australian open.....fast forward...Marat Safin picks up Australian open Trophy....(never take gas off the pedal)

If you are familiar with Basket ball, In western conference semifinals, sacramento Kings were leading The Then defending champions , arch rivals...Losangeles Lakers by 2 points with the last posession from lakers. Lakers were taking the last shot. The shot clock is windingdown..Guess who sacramento kings left open......? NBA playoffs great Clutch 3 point shooter....Big shot bob..Robert Horry....He dished in a 3 pointer as shot clock and game clock expired and Lakers went on to win the championship.

(Never leave opponent open)

 

[Stuck]

that is the mental part of the game my friend

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Too much practicing against a ball machine, deadball (basket) drilling, are the reasons. Your practices should be match-like based on point-play (game-based approach). For this very reason I am also not fond of 1 on 1 with the coach because sooner or later I get used to this person and the "fear factor" is gone. The key is group training where you have more or less similar ability levels (same, slightly superior, slightly inferior) so that when the coaching objective is accomplished you play singles and doubles among yourselves!

You ought to train the fear factor!

 

[jeebeesus]

I can hit pretty heavy ball, consistently during practice sessions. When it comes to match play everythng falls apart, no more heavy pounding strokes, everything becomes awerage. I am late on almost every shot. I push the ball and almost never go for winners. Do I need a psychiatrist? Any ideas?

that`s because u are not making the transition from pressureless tennis to pressure tennis. make a gradual switch by playing points . then play sets and add in the serve.

moreover you may be trying to end the point on every shot which is totally different from your practise sessions which are cooperative rallying and not competitive hitting. the two is as different as salt n sugar.

 

[peripatetic]

suggestions?

that is the mental part of the game my friend

I have a similar problem to the OP, but probably far worse.

I took up tennis in my early twenties (now early thirties), always playing with friends and usually in very non-competitive circumstances. I've finally reached a point of feeling comfortable with my serve, and therefore feel like I have a decent arsenal (FH, 1HBH, volleys, 1st/2nd serve.) Unfortunately, as with before, I keep losing. I have maybe only played about 50-75 matches in my life, and with the exception of one tournament, the rest were all recreational. I don't think I've won more than a handful of those matches--no exaggeration.

In the past, the losing was understandable, as I had a terrible serve and always played against stronger players, but now, even when I play much weaker players, I'm losing--really badly. Lost against my hack-playing friend with nothing other than a forehand last week, and that was the last straw. Every game got to deuce, but then I'd lose it (he definitely DIDN'T win it.)

I played against a good player yesterday, and still got the same results, though it felt more competitive: I was tougher and not making horribly bad errors. I seem to play better in tougher situations. But I still lose.

I've joined the USTA and am looking to start to play competitively. But before that, I would also like to know if anyone has suggestions on a good book/online source to read about the mental game. Right now, I think that I've become far too comfortable with losing, and I need some serious help. But I'm looking for more than the standard suggestions: I have all the same thoughts as expressed above, but when I begin to think about things like that during play, I think it only confuses me and encourages my inner doubt.

Anyone with a good suggestion for some reading on the mental game?

max

 

[Indiantwist]

Dont be too hard on yourself. May be you are trying too much.
Usually when i am on a loosing trend, i try to cut down on a few things. I stick to the few basic stuff....Eg: Hit to Opponents backhand only, No flat shots , give more margin for error......and thats how i conjure up points and games.

It is not as mental as one thinks it is..... See whats making the opponents win points?...because u r hitting too long\too short to the net\double faulting. Try fixing one at a time....especially the Long \short hits and try putting the ball in play more.

Also, most of these hackers are not as easy and unskilled as they are made out......they have better games and are consistent.

 

[peripatetic]

Dont be too hard on yourself. May be you are trying too much.
Usually when i am on a loosing trend, i try to cut down on a few things. I stick to the few basic stuff....Eg: Hit to Opponents backhand only, No flat shots , give more margin for error......and thats how i conjure up points and games.

It is not as mental as one thinks it is..... See whats making the opponents win points?...because u r hitting too long\too short to the net\double faulting. Try fixing one at a time....especially the Long \short hits and try putting the ball in play more.

Also, most of these hackers are not as easy and unskilled as they are made out......they have better games and are consistent.

No, he's a real hack. Good friend, but doesn't know much about tennis at all. We played doubles as partners after I lost to him, and though he plays doubles all the time, he mainly sat back or at the net most of the time and waited to get a ball. No strategy, no aim, he barely moves his feet. If he were a crafty spin-master old-timer who has impeccable placement, that would be fine, but he pretty much just tries to get his racquet on the ball. I know that means I need to improve my consistency, but I also feel like I should be able to play him strategically, rather than just wait out his own mistakes. I'm just not that defensive-minded a player.

I know I can be hard on myself, but this is more than a losing streak. It's a "never ever won" streak. I just don't know how to win, but I seem to really know how to lose.