Winning Focus
Written by Jim Edgar    Thursday, 26 March 2009 01:08    PDF Print E-mail

Change Your Attitude

So you want to win matches, but you do not know how? You must change your attitude to matches right now.
 
The objective is to focus on the performance, not the outcome. Forget about winning and concentrate on how to construct individual points. There are three paths you can go by but only one has a chance for success.
 
PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE
I think about what has happened. This brings me guilt and frustration I think about what I am going to do. This brings a positive challenge I think about what might happen. This brings me anxiety and pressure
I think about all the mistakes I have made in the past.
I take each point one at a time. I am clear about the game-plan I must carry out and have the guts to do it.
I am worried and anxious
about whether or not I can win this match.
I cannot think clearly about my game-plan because I focus on past errors. The most important thing in the match is my ability to stick to my game-plan.I must learn to develop and improve it. After each point, I only prepare for the next point and forget about the last point. The result is all I am interested in. I don't care how I achieve the win. I am desperate for quick success.
Every match I lose makes me more doubtful about the success I crave. I have patience and composure about my tennis. I am relaxed about the result. Every mistake makes me
scared I may lose. My
confidence is totally
dependent on the score.
If I am losing I fear that I
will lose the match.
I get really choky when I reach big points because I remind myself of past times I have blown it. I will focus only on my performance and not on the outcome of my matches. I get really choky when I
reach big points because
they are really important to me.
I am too nervous to play my best tennis.
If I perform, I am happy with myself whatever the result.
I tend to over-try and
over-play in matches.
 

Success is not achieved by winning matches but by carrying out your game-plan with courage and conviction.

Matches are not personal things. Depersonalise the match process. If you win it is because you played your game well. If you lose it was your game-plan that failed, not you.

Become a true tennis professional
Pay attention to detail - the smallest thing may matter the most.
Be thorough - leave no stone unturned in seeking your goal.

Mental strength and maturity comes from:-

Reaching out from your comfort zone physically
Pushing yourself emotionally to a new limit
Accepting that you make mistakes and reacting to them positively

Winning matches comes with experience, time and patience:-

Not focusing on the outcome (results) of matches
Calm thinking in times of stress, to keep your composure
Sticking to your game-plan

Five essential questions to ask yourself
 
Make sure you can answer all these questions positively:-
Do I really want to be a tennis player?
Am I willing to pay the price?
Do I have the strength to do it?
Do I accept the responsibility for my own development?
Do I have the long-term patience to see it through?

by Jim Edgar

Comments

Name *
Email (For verification & Replies)
Code   
Submit Comment
 
Add to: Facebook Add to: Digg Add to: Del.icoi.us Add to: Reddit Add to: StumbleUpon Add to: Technorati Add to: Spurl

Tactical Analysis

Punishing Game-plans

Jim Edgar | 29-3-2009

Consistency The biggest weapon you can have is the ability never to miss. ...

Advantages of Taking the Ball Early

David Sammel | 28-3-2009

Television analysts often comment about taking the ball early and cutting ...

How to counter specialist styles

David Sammel | 28-3-2009

One of the more intriguing aspects of tennis is the various games styles th...

More in: Tactical Analysis

Technical Help

Understanding the Directions of Power and How They Relate to Learning Technique

David Sammel | 26-3-2009

This article attempts to simplify through pictures and graphics the sources...

Technical Clinic - Serve & Returns

Jim Edgar | 26-3-2009

The two most important shots in tennis are the serve and return of serve. T...

Technical Clinic - Groundstrokes

Jim Edgar | 26-3-2009

More groundstrokes are played than any other shots. Every level of player n...

More in: Technical Help

Mental Strength

How to Stop Losing Your Temper on Court

David Sammel | 20-5-2010

Do you know there is a choice in the Energy Source you choose to fuel your ...

Dealing with Cheating

David Sammel | 2-7-2009

If you feel you are being cheated and you can keep focused and still play g...

Becoming Mentally Tougher in Matches

David Sammel | 26-3-2009

This article is designed to help serious players develop a routine in their...

More in: Mental Strength

Physical Conditioning

Explosive Movements

Jez Green | Monday, 20 April 2009

Physical Trainer Jez Green says an explosive first step is crucial to effic...

First Step Drills

Jez Green | Friday, 27 March 2009

World-leading fitness trainer Jez Green outlines five simple court drills d...

Isometric Strength

Jez Green | Thursday, 26 March 2009

Tennis is a sport that requires players to hold very extreme positions.  ...

More in: Physical Conditioning

Your are currently browsing this site with Internet Explorer 6 (IE6).

Your current web browser must be updated to version 7 of Internet Explorer (IE7) to take advantage of all of template's capabilities.

Why should I upgrade to Internet Explorer 7? Microsoft has redesigned Internet Explorer from the ground up, with better security, new capabilities, and a whole new interface. Many changes resulted from the feedback of millions of users who tested prerelease versions of the new browser. The most compelling reason to upgrade is the improved security. The Internet of today is not the Internet of five years ago. There are dangers that simply didn't exist back in 2001, when Internet Explorer 6 was released to the world. Internet Explorer 7 makes surfing the web fundamentally safer by offering greater protection against viruses, spyware, and other online risks.

Get free downloads for Internet Explorer 7, including recommended updates as they become available. To download Internet Explorer 7 in the language of your choice, please visit the Internet Explorer 7 worldwide page.