You can easily lose to a much worse player with bad mentality

[FiReFTW]

Keep getting annoyed how some people are smartasses here and claim if you lose to someone then you are not the better player.
Yes he was better on that day, but one can overall be a much better player and still lose to a worse player easily... if he lets it happen.

Im not saying that some people are a bit ignorant and say oh my a pusher beat me and im a better player when that might not be a case, but its not always like that, sometimes you actually can be a much better player but still lose, if you have the wrong mindset and mentality.

It tends to happen alot till someone gets enough match experience and also maturity and starts playing more mature.

For example I often have this problem that I know I can easily beat someone if I play good consistent groundstrokes and aim at good targets and move him around and force him to make errors, but I simply don't do that. Instead I try to crush every ball for a crazy highlight reel winner to "show him" how much better I am, and end up beating miself.

Today was an example of this

Had a session with 1 other person and a coach, and after the practice we played some points.

We told coach to play really hard and go really close to all out, really strong.

He beat the other person 11:0 and 11:1

Then I lost to that person 11:9 and won 11:3

And then I played against my coach and played much better and lost 11:6 and won 13:11 the 2nd match, played really well.

I know for a fact that im a better player than the other person in this session, but the problem is, if I played smart, consistent tennis, aim to hit solid consistent shots that pull him off the court and move him around, maybe attack the net when possible and finish points, I will beat him easily, like I did in that 2nd match, because I forced miself to do that.

But in that 1st match I lose because I played like I play alot of times against someone that I know is weaker, I go absolutely ALL out and hit crushing shots from all over the court with 100%, because my mentality is im better so I need to show him how good I am and crush winners past him to showcase how good I am, and thats the mentality that will absolutely destroy you.

So from now on im actually going to hold this back and instead of hitting winners off every shot, simply try to outplay him using smart consistent tennis and well placed shots, and hitting clean nice shots in the opposite corner for winners with just enough on them instead of trying to crush them for no reason.

Its going to be hard to shift this mentality but I know I have to, or il keep giving away way too many easy points and losing points for no reason against players I shouldn't be losing.

So I will make it a mission from now on to try hard and really try to pull miself back, and try to make this shift in the mindset.

 

[J011yroger]

This is in a cooperative practice? Not even a real match?

Did you ever stop to think about the guy you were playing and how maybe he could get something out of the practice if you hit the ball in the court?

J

 

[FiReFTW]

This is in a cooperative practice? Not even a real match?

Did you ever stop to think about the guy you were playing and how maybe he could get something out of the practice if you hit the ball in the court?

J

We did practice and play alot, only in the end we played some points to 11. But you do have a good point tho!

 

[r2473]

“Worse player” is ambiguous. Once you define your terms, the issue resolves itself.

 

[Topspin Shot]

If you lose to someone because your mentality is bad then you are not the better player.

Your friend,
Smartass

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Just because your strokes are prettier or you hit the ball harder, doesn't make you the better player. This is the classic mentality of someone that loses to a pusher.

In recreational tennis, regardless of level, the most consistent player typically wins. There's exceptions to this, but holds true more often than not.

 

[FiReFTW]

Just because your strokes are prettier or you hit the ball harder, doesn't make you the better player. This is the classic mentality of someone that loses to a pusher.

In recreational tennis, regardless of level, the most consistent player typically wins. There's exceptions to this, but holds true more often than not.

But if you can beat someone if you play mature smart tennis you are better.
If you try to go beyond ur capabilities and redline and hit 100% full out winners and lose its ur fault and u sabotaged urself.

I cant believe how stubbornly some people claim that if u lose u are automatically not a better player when in reality alot of people can lose to worst players, either because nerves, bad day, horrible tactics, or whatever

 

[Steady Eddy]

Yes, this happens. I signed up for a tournament just to see what it's like. I had a bye and 2 defaults until I finally got to my 4th round match. Turns out my opponent had gotten to the semis of the NCAA division I tournament the previous year!

I was glad just to be able to hit with someone like that. Well, I never had such an easy time getting a win. He only got 3 games off of me, much to the surprise of both of us. He admitted that the way my shots lacked pace and depth really threw him off his game.

The lesson from this is that I beat him because I'm such a lousy player, and he's really good. It's a good thing lousy players aren't allowed into slam events.

 

[r2473]

Yes, this happens. I signed up for a tournament just to see what it's like. I had a bye and 2 defaults until I finally got to my 4th round match. Turns out my opponent had gotten to the semis of the NCAA division I tournament the previous year!

I was glad just to be able to hit with someone like that. Well, I never had such an easy time getting a win. He only got 3 games off of me, much to the surprise of both of us. He admitted that the way my shots lacked pace and depth really threw him off his game.

The lesson from this is that I beat him because I'm such a lousy player, and he's really good. It's a good thing lousy players aren't allowed into slam events.

There are plenty of opponents where your "best" shots are the worst shots to hit against them. And your "bad" shots are effective.

Generally, these are opponents that can't effectively generate their own pace. So if you hit your "best" (hard) shot, they are great at effectively blocking those shots back until you hit an error. But if you hit "bad" shots (off pace), they can't just block it back and often make errors of their own trying to generate pace. Or just block back balls that you can fairly easily take offense on.

Often, this type of opponent loves to run. They love angles. Oftentimes, it is effective to hit up the middle, straight at these guys. They generally have trouble moving their body to get the correct spacing for balls hit to them. So they jam themselves. They also don't have any angles, so they will sometimes try to create their own. When they are allowed to run, all of these things just "take care of themselves".

It feels "boring" winning against these guys hitting those "bad" shots. Guys that can hit "good" shots, want to. Sometimes even if it means they lose.

 

[Morch Us]

Be patient. It is a progression. Once you gradually develop your skills more you will learn to respect your (worse) opponents as well, and will have a better judgement of skills than what it looks on surface. Also you won't have anything to "prove". Partly your current state is because you happen to stress a lot on improvement in recent months, and might have had a spike in improvement of shots. This probably lead you to look down on your old peers. But you do not realize it is nothing in the big picture and you still have a long way to go.

sometimes you actually can be a much better player but still lose

 

[Steady Eddy]

There are plenty of opponents where your "best" shots are the worst shots to hit against them. And your "bad" shots are effective.

Generally, these are opponents that can't effectively generate their own pace. So if you hit your "best" (hard) shot, they are great at effectively blocking those shots back until you hit an error. But if you hit "bad" shots (off pace), they can't just block it back and often make errors of their own trying to generate pace. Or just block back balls that you can fairly easily take offense on.

Often, this type of opponent loves to run. They love angles. Oftentimes, it is effective to hit up the middle, straight at these guys. They generally have trouble moving their body to get the correct spacing for balls hit to them. So they jam themselves. They also don't have any angles, so they will sometimes try to create their own. When they are allowed to run, all of these things just "take care of themselves".

It feels "boring" winning against these guys hitting those "bad" shots. Guys that can hit "good" shots, want to. Sometimes even if it means they lose.

Maybe it works differently in Utah, but this is what happens when I get overmatched. I get way back, and I only have time to block back these fast moving balls. I block back maybe two shots until one goes short. The dude moves up to it and it's goodbye. I just get killed.

When I draw a less experienced player, I love his no pace balls. I can try a drop shot, or a crisp short angle, or just push it back nice and deep to see what he does with it. Usually, I won't drop a game in a set.

I don't get this stuff about how bad players confuse good players. When I play a better player, he kills me. When I play one inferior to me, I kill him. Isn't that just what you'd expect?

 

[r2473]

Maybe it works differently in Utah, but this is what happens when I get overmatched. I get way back, and I only have time to block back these fast moving balls. I block back maybe two shots until one goes short. The dude moves up to it and it's goodbye. I just get killed.

When I draw a less experienced player, I love his no pace balls. I can try a drop shot, or a crisp short angle, or just push it back nice and deep to see what he does with it. Usually, I won't drop a game in a set.

I don't get this stuff about how bad players confuse good players. When I play a better player, he kills me. When I play one inferior to me, I kill him. Isn't that just what you'd expect?

Tennis is different in Utah

 

[Curious]

one can overall be a much better player and still lose to a worse player easily...

I want to believe that badly!

Playing smart and loose, not trying to hit like a maniac is part of being a better player as well.

 

[FiReFTW]

I want to believe that badly!

Playing smart and loose, not trying to hit like a maniac is part of being a better player as well.

Of course people need to understand that by better I mean clearly better, but not on a while different level better, someone you can beat like 6:2 6:2 6:3 when playing smart tennis and on a good day for both.

You can easily lose to someone like that if for some reason u choke like crazy, play extremely bad tactics and strategy, have a rly bad day or etc..

Now if we are talking like 3.5 vs 4.5 I cant imagine how a 3.5 would come CLOSE to being able to threaten to take away a set or so, thats just waaaaay too big of a difference.

 

[Curious]

Of course people need to understand that by better I mean clearly better, but not on a while different level better, someone you can beat like 6:2 6:2 6:3 when playing smart tennis and on a good day for both.

You can easily lose to someone like that if for some reason u choke like crazy, play extremely bad tactics and strategy, have a rly bad day or etc..

Now if we are talking like 3.5 vs 4.5 I cant imagine how a 3.5 would come CLOSE to being able to threaten to take away a set or so, thats just waaaaay too big of a difference.

You hate losing mate, that's your problem! Dont look for excuses or ways to explain it. That was a huge problem for Federer too when he was young so maybe it's a good thing!

 

[Curious]

That was a huge problem for Federer too when he was young so maybe it's a good thing

The fear and hate of losing is so intense that the only way to beat it is to be the best! But I heard him say once in an interview ' the difference between me and others in terms of motivation is that they hate to lose but I love to win'. I don't believe him!

 

[navigator]

If you beat a guy five times in a row fairly easily and then decide to work on something new and lose in the process of doing so, you can probably still say, "Ok, I lost, but I was working on some new things, I'm the better player." (Unless you revert back to your normal game and keep losing, of course!) But in these instances, you shouldn't feel bad about losing - you're practicing, working on something, trying to get better. Rome was not built in a day.

But if you're playing your normal game against someone and losing because you're a headcase (you feel the need to "showcase how good you are"... what is that? Well, win. That should be sufficient showcasing)... well, your opponent is better than you (on the day, at least). Stop spazzing out, beat your opponent, and then perhaps you'll know you're better than him. Until then... you're not.

If you're in doubt, refer to Jim Rome's maxim: "Scoreboard."

 

[FiReFTW]

Omg he called me a headcase! @navigator your so mean

 

[navigator]

The fear and hate of losing is so intense that the only way to beat it is to be the best! But I heard him say once in an interview ' the difference between me and others in terms of motivation is that they hate to lose but I love to win'. I don't believe him!

The best way to beat "the fear and hate of losing" is to... care less; that is, give less of a sh1t. Interestingly, most behavioral psychologists will tell you that humans feel 2.5 times as much despair when they lose as they experience happiness when they win. So, for the average human, winning a match gives them one unit of happiness, but losing produces 2.5 units of despair (called "loss aversion"). So, most folks dislike losing considerably more than they actually like winning. But, again, the solution... care less. It also helps to lose a lot... you just get used to it.

 

[Curious]

... care less; that is, give less of a sh1t.

Well, not easy apparently, hence all these posts and threads.

 

[navigator]

Omg he called me a headcase! @navigator your so mean

QED

Instead I try to crush every ball for a crazy highlight reel winner to "show him" how much better I am, and end up beating miself.

Suggestion: As you're crushing all of these balls (and missing), just tell yourself that you're working on a hyper-aggressive game. So, you're "working on something" and not playing your normal game. Then you can tell yourself that you're still better than him (although it would help if you actually can beat the guy playing your "normal" game).

 

[Curious]

QED


Suggestion: As you're crushing all of these balls (and missing), just tell yourself that you're working on a hyper-aggressive game. So, you're "working on something" and not playing your normal game. Then you can tell yourself that you're still better than him (although it would help if you actually can beat the guy playing your "normal" game).

From now on during a match when I start feeling that my opponent will probably beat me, I will start working on something!

 

[J011yroger]

What if I told you that the way you show people how good you are is via the score.

It's literally the sole determination of how good someone is.

J

 

[J011yroger]

From now on during a match when I start feeling that my opponent will probably beat me, I will start working on something!

Great as long as that thing you work on involves hitting the ball in the court.

J

 

[Curious]

What if I told you that the way you show people how good you are is via the score.

It's literally the sole determination of how good someone is.

J

I suspect he is going overboard because of worrying too much about the score!

 

[Dartagnan64]

Personally I like Navigators concept of losing a lot. Realize tennis is not a determination of any significant life value but merely an exercise in self improvement. Get over the anxiety of losing, start focusing on improvement as the end goal in itself.
Amazing how you find yourself playing looser and winning more when all you are trying to do is be a bit better today than you were yesterday.

 

[Curious]

Personally I like Navigators concept of losing a lot. Realize tennis is not a determination of any significant life value but merely an exercise in self improvement. Get over the anxiety of losing, start focusing on improvement as the end goal in itself.
Amazing how you find yourself playing looser and winning more when all you are trying to do is be a bit better today than you were yesterday.

Again, easier said than done. Don't tell me what it is, tell me how to change it if you know.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Keep getting annoyed how some people are smartasses here and claim if you lose to someone then you are not the better player.
Yes he was better on that day, but one can overall be a much better player and still lose to a worse player easily... if he lets it happen.

Im not saying that some people are a bit ignorant and say oh my a pusher beat me and im a better player when that might not be a case, but its not always like that, sometimes you actually can be a much better player but still lose, if you have the wrong mindset and mentality.

It tends to happen alot till someone gets enough match experience and also maturity and starts playing more mature.

For example I often have this problem that I know I can easily beat someone if I play good consistent groundstrokes and aim at good targets and move him around and force him to make errors, but I simply don't do that. Instead I try to crush every ball for a crazy highlight reel winner to "show him" how much better I am, and end up beating miself.

You're twisting yourself into knots trying to avoid admitting that your opponent was better. You lay down all sorts of caveats and "what ifs". Very convoluted.

It all comes down to how you define the terms. Some define it simply as "who won?". You reject this; fine: what's YOUR definition? How good your strokes are during practice? How fast you can do the spider drill? I'm not going to argue with your definition: it's yours to create. Just realize that other people have different opinions. If you don't like their opinions, don't listen to them.

What you have done, however, is outline what you need to improve upon to avoid losing to these types of players.

I know for a fact that im a better player than the other person in this session, but the problem is, if I played smart, consistent tennis, aim to hit solid consistent shots that pull him off the court and move him around, maybe attack the net when possible and finish points, I will beat him easily, like I did in that 2nd match, because I forced miself to do that.

But if you can't play smart, consistent tennis and he wins, does that still mean you're the better player? Does it even matter who the better player is? You lose so analyze the loss and figure out what you'll do differently/better next time. Why waste so much energy trying to prove that you're the better player? I'd be using that energy to improve.

But in that 1st match I lose because I played like I play alot of times against someone that I know is weaker, I go absolutely ALL out and hit crushing shots from all over the court with 100%, because my mentality is im better so I need to show him how good I am and crush winners past him to showcase how good I am, and thats the mentality that will absolutely destroy you.

That, IMO, is why he's the better player, at least temporarily: because he doesn't do the things that you're doing that undermine one's game.

At this point, you are a bigger impediment to winning than your opponent. Once you realize this and improve your mental outlook, your game will improve markedly.

 

[Bender]

QED


Suggestion: As you're crushing all of these balls (and missing), just tell yourself that you're working on a hyper-aggressive game. So, you're "working on something" and not playing your normal game. Then you can tell yourself that you're still better than him (although it would help if you actually can beat the guy playing your "normal" game).

Finally, I can tell everyone I've been working on my hyper aggressive game for the last five years!

 

[travlerajm]

If you are losing to players who are worse than you, it means you don’t hate losing enough. Those who truly hate losing rarely lose and often get called pushers by players who think they are better.

 

[Chadillac]

"Can lose" and "much worse player", how are you able to focus on the ball when the mind is distracted with two other things? Judgement is a waste of brain cycles on the court. Deeming them good or bad doesnt change your actual shot, its like tilting your head on a foul ball.

 

[leojramirez]

"Can lose" and "much worse player", how are you able to focus on the ball when the mind is distracted with two other things? Judgement is a waste of brain cycles on the court. Deeming them good or bad doesnt change your actual shot, its like tilting your head on a foul ball.

To add to the post above from Chadillac.
Humans cannot focus on two things at the same time. Think of an apple and an orange separately without putting both together in the same thought... you can't.
Worrying about winning or losing or who is better takes you away from the now, and the now is executing a shot with the intention that it lands in the court.
Don't get hung up on errors, everybody including the top professionals make easy errors. Everybody will make errors during a match. Accept this and embrace it. Some will be worse than others, but don't let them distract you from the important thing which is the now.

I too suffer from the same and just recently decided to really put effort into changing this behaviour. My mental coach tells me that your mind will always wander, you will never be able to completely stop thoughts creeping in, but the only thing you can do is train on blocking them and getting back on focus. I am enjoying this process and having some degree of success, it is tough specially for longer periods but every time it gets a little bit better. Reading and listening to videos like Ian's above helps you on feeding this new mentality so that it can grow on you.

Be water my friend.

 

[Curious]

Don't get hung up on errors, everybody including the top professionals make easy errors.

 

[FiReFTW]

To add to the post above from Chadillac.
Humans cannot focus on two things at the same time. Think of an apple and an orange separately without putting both together in the same thought... you can't.
Worrying about winning or losing or who is better takes you away from the now, and the now is executing a shot with the intention that it lands in the court.
Don't get hung up on errors, everybody including the top professionals make easy errors. Everybody will make errors during a match. Accept this and embrace it. Some will be worse than others, but don't let them distract you from the important thing which is the now.

I too suffer from the same and just recently decided to really put effort into changing this behaviour. My mental coach tells me that your mind will always wander, you will never be able to completely stop thoughts creeping in, but the only thing you can do is train on blocking them and getting back on focus. I am enjoying this process and having some degree of success, it is tough specially for longer periods but every time it gets a little bit better. Reading and listening to videos like Ian's above helps you on feeding this new mentality so that it can grow on you.

Be water my friend.

You are right.

I notice the same, when I get in the state of mind where I accept my errors I play great, I might miss a shot sometimes and im like "its fine its normal" and forget about it and focus on the next point completely, I forget about that error.

But sometimes when im too focused on having to win (when I feel like I should win against this guy) sometimes I can't get in that state of mind and as I miss I then keep thinking about that miss for a whole and it affects my whole shots during that period till I snap out of it.

Just takes time, im sure it will get better as long as I focus on the 1st part and try to push miself in that state of mind as much as I can.

 

[leojramirez]

You are right.

I notice the same, when I get in the state of mind where I accept my errors I play great, I might miss a shot sometimes and im like "its fine its normal" and forget about it and focus on the next point completely, I forget about that error.

But sometimes when im too focused on having to win (when I feel like I should win against this guy) sometimes I can't get in that state of mind and as I miss I then keep thinking about that miss for a whole and it affects my whole shots during that period till I snap out of it.

Just takes time, im sure it will get better as long as I focus on the 1st part and try to push miself in that state of mind as much as I can.

When you think about winning a match, just think that its counterproductive and distracting and return to focus.
The mental side takes time and training, just like learning a new shot, at first you are rubbish, then you are decent and hopefully you can become good at it.

 

[Curious]

It is a trap trying to overcome/destroy/supress/delete the bad, negative thoughts because you will never be able to do so. Your only option is to accept their presence/watch them, let them stay there, stop fighting them and get on with your work.

 

[brc7]

Just because your strokes are prettier or you hit the ball harder, doesn't make you the better player. This is the classic mentality of someone that loses to a pusher.

In recreational tennis, regardless of level, the most consistent player typically wins. There's exceptions to this, but holds true more often than not.

Then what's the point of learning to play "actual tennis" with the right technique. Etc? Because, I can without doing any proper swing, footwork etc, against a "weak player", just push the ball under it to make it go over the net "being consistent".

We lose, because we try to be consistent while applying a good, rewarding tennis, not pushing the ball here and there on the court..

 

[brc7]

Keep getting annoyed how some people are smartasses here and claim if you lose to someone then you are not the better player.
Yes he was better on that day, but one can overall be a much better player and still lose to a worse player easily... if he lets it happen.

Im not saying that some people are a bit ignorant and say oh my a pusher beat me and im a better player when that might not be a case, but its not always like that, sometimes you actually can be a much better player but still lose, if you have the wrong mindset and mentality.

It tends to happen alot till someone gets enough match experience and also maturity and starts playing more mature.

For example I often have this problem that I know I can easily beat someone if I play good consistent groundstrokes and aim at good targets and move him around and force him to make errors, but I simply don't do that. Instead I try to crush every ball for a crazy highlight reel winner to "show him" how much better I am, and end up beating miself.

Today was an example of this

Had a session with 1 other person and a coach, and after the practice we played some points.

We told coach to play really hard and go really close to all out, really strong.

He beat the other person 11:0 and 11:1

Then I lost to that person 11:9 and won 11:3

And then I played against my coach and played much better and lost 11:6 and won 13:11 the 2nd match, played really well.

I know for a fact that im a better player than the other person in this session, but the problem is, if I played smart, consistent tennis, aim to hit solid consistent shots that pull him off the court and move him around, maybe attack the net when possible and finish points, I will beat him easily, like I did in that 2nd match, because I forced miself to do that.

But in that 1st match I lose because I played like I play alot of times against someone that I know is weaker, I go absolutely ALL out and hit crushing shots from all over the court with 100%, because my mentality is im better so I need to show him how good I am and crush winners past him to showcase how good I am, and thats the mentality that will absolutely destroy you.

So from now on im actually going to hold this back and instead of hitting winners off every shot, simply try to outplay him using smart consistent tennis and well placed shots, and hitting clean nice shots in the opposite corner for winners with just enough on them instead of trying to crush them for no reason.

Its going to be hard to shift this mentality but I know I have to, or il keep giving away way too many easy points and losing points for no reason against players I shouldn't be losing.

So I will make it a mission from now on to try hard and really try to pull miself back, and try to make this shift in the mindset.

I am kind of like you.

In my mind I think like if I am good at something i need to make a use of it. So, with tennis, it turns into "winning a match". But, this makes me lose my interest in tennis, preventing me from having fun. So, it turns into a labor job-ish something. I won my two matches against weak players because during those I tried to have fun without worrying about the result. Still, if the other player is too inconsistent (contrary to what others claim to be as) I lose my interest in the game or begin to pressure myself again, so I lose the match.

 

[brc7]

The key is having fun.

 

[J011yroger]

Again, easier said than done. Don't tell me what it is, tell me how to change it if you know.

Change what?

J

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Then what's the point of learning to play "actual tennis" with the right technique. Etc?

The red flag I see is your use of the phrase "actual tennis", which tells me you look down on pushers and consider yourself inherently superior [tennis-wise] because you try to hit "real" strokes. I consider all styles to be valid although I certainly also believe that pushing has a lower potential ceiling while simultaneously producing better results sooner compared to using optimal technique [because at lower levels, just getting the ball in is often enough to win].

Why learn good technique? Because many people see it as the best path to improvement. If I enjoy doing something, I'm willing to invest the time and effort to learn good technique. Others are comfortable where they are so maybe lack the motivation to improve. To each his own.

 

[Curious]

Change what?

J

The mindset, mentality. How to achieve that state of calmness despite the mental noise?

 

[FiReFTW]

I am kind of like you.

In my mind I think like if I am good at something i need to make a use of it. So, with tennis, it turns into "winning a match". But, this makes me lose my interest in tennis, preventing me from having fun. So, it turns into a labor job-ish something. I won my two matches against weak players because during those I tried to have fun without worrying about the result. Still, if the other player is too inconsistent (contrary to what others claim to be as) I lose my interest in the game or begin to pressure myself again, so I lose the match.

@S&V-not_dead_yet @J011yroger @Curious

Its not that I can't beat those people when I play smart mature tennis and smart aggressive tennis, I can easily do it. Like I said I lost the first match and then completely dominate the 2nd.

Sure sometimes I get nerves like I said, and mentally I choke and all, but more importantly alot of times this is what happens:

When I play the right way I do this:

Hit with a loose fast hand (so im not slowing down my swing), BUT with good control, and place the ball well, in the corners, hit angles, but well placed, stretch him out, maybe hit a winner here and there if really good shots but most of the shots are mostly setup shots, I hit a good angle wide, then hit to the open court in a controlled way to hit a winner, or attack the net and finish the point.

When I play the wrong way and risk losing I do this:

Ballbash basically, hit 100% full out, redlining it, because I just want those straight out bullet winners every point, the ones you see on tv sometimes, and I don't have great control then, can easily misshit them and then end up getting to many UE's
Its dumb tennis and way too risky tennis, but for some reason sometimes its very hard holding back this urge of hitting insane winners all over.

I just need to get in the right state of mind and not really have this way too aggressive desire to hit winners on every single shot, and I play much better. I need to learn to control miself and hold miself back a bit.

 

[J011yroger]

The mindset, mentality. How to achieve that state of calmness despite the mental noise?

First of all before the match you have to accept that you might lose. You sit there and think about it and face that reality that it might happen and then decide that you want to play anyway. The most dangerous warrior is not afraid to die.

Second you have to accept that you are nervous or have mental noise and address it. There is nothing wrong with being nervous it happens to everyone, but there is something wrong with not admitting it or ignoring it. The guy who says I'm so shaky right now I'm going to hit the ball 15' over the net like a 12 year old girl is going to beat the guy who refuses to admit he has anxiety and tries to blast forehands and ends up assaulting the back fence.

There is a bunch of other stuff you can do, breathing exercises, progressive relaxation, go to the towel, etc.

People will tell you just play a lot, but that won't help if you don't specifically play with the intention of getting mentally better.

J

 

[samarai]

in what reality do u live in, that u can be the better player, even if u constantly lose to another player. so u have perfect strokes, get unlimited coaching, yet cant win matches against a pusher because u are not consistent enough. Yes u are the better player.

 

[Curious]

When I play the wrong way and risk losing I do this:

Ballbash basically, hit 100% full out, redlining it, because I just want those straight out bullet winners every point, the ones you see on tv sometimes, and I don't have great control then, can easily misshit them and then end up getting to many UE's
Its dumb tennis and way too risky tennis, but for some reason sometimes its very hard holding back this urge of hitting insane winners all over.

Ok. You know well what you're doing wrong. Don't do it, man!

 

[J011yroger]

@S&V-not_dead_yet @J011yroger @Curious

Its not that I can't beat those people when I play smart mature tennis and smart aggressive tennis, I can easily do it. Like I said I lost the first match and then completely dominate the 2nd.

Sure sometimes I get nerves like I said, and mentally I choke and all, but more importantly alot of times this is what happens:

When I play the right way I do this:

Hit with a loose fast hand (so im not slowing down my swing), BUT with good control, and place the ball well, in the corners, hit angles, but well placed, stretch him out, maybe hit a winner here and there if really good shots but most of the shots are mostly setup shots, I hit a good angle wide, then hit to the open court in a controlled way to hit a winner, or attack the net and finish the point.

When I play the wrong way and risk losing I do this:

Ballbash basically, hit 100% full out, redlining it, because I just want those straight out bullet winners every point, the ones you see on tv sometimes, and I don't have great control then, can easily misshit them and then end up getting to many UE's
Its dumb tennis and way too risky tennis, but for some reason sometimes its very hard holding back this urge of hitting insane winners all over.

I just need to get in the right state of mind and not really have this way too aggressive desire to hit winners on every single shot, and I play much better. I need to learn to control miself and hold miself back a bit.

If you just like hitting the ball hard then don't play matches. Plenty of people just go out and hit for fun and exercise.

J

 

[J011yroger]

in what reality do u live in, that u can be the better player, even if u constantly lose to another player. so u have perfect strokes, get unlimited coaching, yet cant win matches against a pusher because u are not consistent enough. Yes u are the better player.

I'm one step away from Wimbledon!

J

 

[Curious]

First of all before the match you have to accept that you might lose. You sit there and think about it and face that reality that it might happen and then decide that you want to play anyway. The most dangerous warrior is not afraid to die.

Second you have to accept that you are nervous or have mental noise and address it. There is nothing wrong with being nervous it happens to everyone, but there is something wrong with not admitting it or ignoring it. The guy who says I'm so shaky right now I'm going to hit the ball 15' over the net like a 12 year old girl is going to beat the guy who refuses to admit he has anxiety and tries to blast forehands and ends up assaulting the back fence.

There is a bunch of other stuff you can do, breathing exercises, progressive relaxation, go to the towel, etc.

People will tell you just play a lot, but that won't help if you don't specifically play with the intention of getting mentally better.

J

The first one doesn't work. The second one? Yeah, let's focus on that.

 

[J011yroger]

The first one doesn't work. The second one? Yeah, let's focus on that.

What do you mean? You've tried and it doesn't help?

J