FearlessTennis

The other day I was on the court and a young player and after she missed a routine forehand groundstroke I asked her what happened. She tells me, “I hesitated at the last second. I wasn’t sure whether to go crosscourt or down the line.” I’ve been hearing this a lot lately–players doubting their choice of a shot and bracing on contact in fear of hitting the wrong shot. Here’s my response: It’s better to be DECISIVE and “wrong” then indecisive and “right.” Read the rest of this entry →

What’s one of the worst aspects of losing? The disappointment in yourself? Or, perhaps, worst of all, finally accepting the possibility and really believing that you CAN win, but then it doesn’t work out?

I was working with a young squash player yesterday who admitted to me for the first time (and to herself) that she was scared to believe that she could win. “I’ve seen other players lose all of their motivation and just quit when they lose,” she told me. I don’t want that happen to me. I think I protect myself and don’t really believe or expect that I can win because I don’t want to be disappointed.” Read the rest of this entry →

In Andre’s autobiography, Open, he continually references Steffi’s attempt to help him get out of his head. “Feel, don’t think,” she would continually say to him. He scratched his head at first. What is she talking about? Finally, it dawned on him that being present and out of his head was a secret he had not really paid attention to–except, funny enough, on his best days. Read the rest of this entry →

Finally, stage four is the most basic of all. Focus your attention on the spot while serving or the ball when returning. You may think you are doing this, but too often, players are internally distracted and are actually not focused on the ball. You need to get connected and absorbed into the ball. You need to track the ball in your opponent’s hand when he steps up to the line. The longer you track the ball and truly engage with it without thinking you will find that you are present and free. At this point, you don’t need any last second guidance from your worried/left-brain mind. You are done with your homework. The best thing you can do is focus on these external cues with intention and let it rip. Read the rest of this entry →