Mental Tennis -- The Art Of Tennis Mental Toughness

One of the keys to improving your tennis game is improving your mental tennis game.

Almost every player has had the experience of hitting certain shots beautifully in practice but then being unable to play as well in matches.

Obviously, this isn't a physical or stroke technique issue since you can hit the shots in practice. No, it's your mind, and more specifically your subconcious, sending you negative messages.

The Goal Of Mental Tennis Is To Develop Tennis Mental Toughness

One of the best ways to develop tennis mental toughness is to talk to yourself during matches when you feel yourself tightening up. Basically, you're trying to overpower your subconscious inner voice which is sending you negative messages.

So, if you find yourself tightening up and not following through on your strokes when you're in a close tennis match, you need to develop a specific mesage to keep repeating to yourself.

For example, you might repeat over and over to yourself "Follow through all the way". Or maybe you might say "Follow Throoooooooooooooooooo.......". By exagerrating the end of the word you will probably exagerrate the end of the stroke.

To develop tennis mental toughness you have to experiment with phrases that work specifically for you.

Using Visualization To Develop Tennis Mental Toughness

Another way to improve your mental tennis game is to use the same visualization techniques that high level athletes use.

If you find yourself tightening up, then in between points, visualize yourself being loose and hitting the perfect shot. Keep repeating this image over and over in your mind. Next thing you know you'll be ripping winners all over the place.

Developing your tennis mental toughness is just one aspect in improving your tennis game. Another critical aspect is learning all about tennis tactics and strategies. To improve your knowledge of tennis tactics check out my Ebook INSIDER TENNIS STRATEGIES . It's guaranteed to improve your tennis game and get you winning more matches now.

Glenn Sheiner M.D. ( aka The TennisDoc)