Month: July 2016

To Think or Not to Think

The Rossetti BrothersLeave a comment

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by Angelo A. Rossetti, USPTA Elite/PTR Professional, USTA HP & Mental Skills Certified & 2x Guinness World Records™ holder 

Sports are based on mental fortitude. Top athletes can focus at the right times and will themselves to play their based at the most critical moments.

In tennis, many coaches say that the mental game isn’t taught or practiced enough. Let’s start with the premise that the mind game is important. How important it is in relationship to the physical game is debatable but one thing for sure is that it is critical to an athlete’s success.

What to think and when to think are key elements. Being positive and reassuring to yourself is important for confidence but when are you supposed to think?

Don’t think just do. Even NIKE’s slogan Just Do It implies not thinking but just going out and doing it. At some point planning has to end and execution must begin. In tennis, players need to perform their primary thinking and strategy between points but not during them. During the point players should just let it happen and play freely, play the way you know. Do what you do best.

Thinking about technique should be done in private lessons and clinics but not in competition. Once you iron out your strokes then you can use them in competition comfortably and without much thought.

Here is how you can look at it.

Match hasn’t started, think. Match begins, don’t think just do. Point ends, think again. Next point begins, just do. And so on.

So now that you know when to think, what are some of the things you should be thinking? After losing a point at the net you may think “this is the third time he passed me when I approached to his backhand. Either stay at the baseline or approach to his forehand. ”

You don’t want to be thinking “I just need to refine my movement on my approach shot. Perhaps I should try the hit and hop that I just learned.”

Keep thoughts primarily on strategy and away from technique.

The one shot in tennis you have complete control over is your serve. Your serve isn’t affected by your opponents last shot as every other shot in the game is. Novak Djokovic knows this well as he was stunned by Sam Querrey of the US in the 3rd round at Wimbledon in 2016. The world #1 and defending Wimbledon champion Djokovic said “Part of his game was brutal today, he made a lot of free points with his first serve. He overpowered me.”

Think before you serve then just let it happen. Andy Murray ended up winning Wimbledon in 2016 in straight sets. His first serve points won for the tournament was 78% and increased to 86% in the finals.

I’m willing to guess that in both Sam and Andy’s cases they were thinking at the right times and not thinking at the right times.

When you think can be just as important as what you think.

I always welcome feedback at angeloarossetti @ gmail .com.

You can learn more about a couple of tennis GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ that I have been a part of:

FOX News Story
Inspirational Tennis Story: Tennis Begins with Love
If you found this article of value please consider making a donation to Save the Children. Otherwise, please share this article so that we can educate, inform and inspire others.
Make a Donation

If you are interested in my new book TENNACITY: The Tenacious Mindset On & Off the Court, please complete the form below.

To Think or Not to Think

PMA – Positive Mental Attitude

The Rossetti BrothersLeave a comment
DSCF1626by Angelo A. Rossetti, USPTA Elite/PTR Professional, USTA HP & Mental Skills Certified & 2x Guinness World Records™ holder 
What you think about yourself is so important in athletics. Zig Ziglar once said “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” How we frame negative situations is key to high- level performance in tennis. There are always situations that are challenging. It’s not the challenges that present themselves that defines us but how we handle those challenges. Expect controversy. Expect cheating. Expect a long match. Expect some unexpected bounces. Expect let cords. Expect your best shot back. Expect the unexpected. If you set your expectations correctly then you will be surprised much less. If you expect then you can accept. Acceptance is the key to performing well under pressure and stress.There are always two sides to every coin. What goes up must come down. There is not good without evil. It’s how you handle life’s downs that creates someone’s character, not the fact that they have been lucky enough not to have any downs. Luck isn’t a strategy. If you keep moving forward in a positive manner, expecting the negatives, re-formatting the negatives into positives, you will achieve more success on the court. 

 

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Your mind is much more powerful than you think it is. Studies show that we only tap into a small percent of our mental potential. Use it as often and as positively as you can to steer you in the right direction. Left unmonitored, your mind can take you into dark, negative places. That’s why after traumatic events there are therapy dogs and doctors to help with the stress. They help you stay positive and put things into perspective. Keeping perspective in a tennis match is key to managing your mind and emotions. Putting too much weight to any one match will put too much pressure, however putting too little may have you not take things seriously enough. The balance of importance is what is key. If you have the right balance then you are more likely to be confident, and confidence helps with your PMA (positive mental attitude).

Ultimately tennis is just a game and any game should be fun. If you are able to put this in perspective it’s a lot easier to remain positive, knowing that win or lose you enjoyed the process.

 

I always welcome feedback at angeloarossetti @ gmail .com.

You can learn more about a couple of tennis GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ that I have been a part of:

FOX News Story
Inspirational Tennis Story: Tennis Begins with Love
If you found this article of value please consider making a donation to Save the Children. Otherwise, please share this article so that we can educate, inform and inspire others.
Make a Donation

If you are interested in my new book TENNACITY: The Tenacious Mindset On & Off the Court, please complete the form below.

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PMA – Positive Mental Attitude