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Mastering Your Time Between Points: Stage Two

October 17, 2010 in Competition, Fearless Tennis, Mindset

So, I’ve talked about getting out of your head after the point is over and putting your attention into your body—an internal focus. As I said, this should be approximately 5 seconds or so. It will help keep you present and less vulnerable to the extraneous, unproductive thoughts that swirl around in your mind. The key is that you are directing your mind and not being passive because we all know how negativity and indecision can trap us when we are not clear about what to do with our mind. Read the rest of this entry →

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Use Moderation when Playing the Score

July 16, 2010 in Fearless Tennis

The case has been made that you should use the score to improve your game.  The theory instructs you to go for more when you’re up in the game, use your strength to attack your opponent’s weakness when you’re up by a little (30-15),  or exploit their weakness regardless of your strength when you’re down 15-40. Trying to close it out? “Play the weakness”, it says. Okay. Now, I encourage you to evaluate this approach for yourself and be realistic about what is helpful and what is not. Let’s look at what makes the most sense for you. Read the rest of this entry →

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Staying Loose AND Fearless

June 7, 2010 in Anxiety

Anxiety and physical tension are, arguably, two of the most damaging symptoms that can impede our ability to play our best tennis.

In my experience, getting our bodies loose when our nervous system is ramping up is a worthy pursuit, and achievable. The benefits are numerous: self-confidence, greater enjoyment, more passion and, ultimately, results. Read the rest of this entry →

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