Comments on: How To Keep Focused On The Game? Just Do It!

By: Tomaz

Tomaz — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Hi Skip,

Thanks for stopping by.

Here’s one of the reasons why this might happen: many players feel the need to do something in the rally to prove (to themselves, to the opponent, to the coach, …) that they are better.

So they go for shots too early and thus make unforced errors.

Their typical question in the head is: “How am I going to make a point?” Or in a more broader sense: “How am I going to beat him / her?”

The way to counter that type of thinking, which leads to many unforced errors is to ask them a question: “How are THEY going to beat you?”

A few weeks ago Roddick won against Federer. But he didn’t beat him. Federer lost. He made 3 unforced errors in his last service game and Andy played one good point.

Andy just played solid game and let Federer beat himself. This is in fact the most common way of winning in tennis…

By: skip shephard

skip shephard — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:52:48 +0000

Well, I witnessed it again; a better player loosing to a lesser player. I coach a girls high school tennis team. My #1 singles player is a freshman this year. She has a very good basic game. However, in the sectionals this year my player lost 2 matches she should have won. She had numerous unforced errors and double faults. I gave her some pointers to follow. When she did, her unforced errors decreased, but for whatever reason, she’d go back to her loosing game and then really get upset, a nervous mess because she couldn’t hit her power forehand anymore. The rest, as they say, is history.

By: Richie Rich

Richie Rich — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:10:09 +0000

Try and relax and enjoy the game. Rather than get worked up when you make a mistake. Maybe this way you can focus less on “making mistakes” and more on beating your oponent.