ABOUT MATCHES, PRACTICE, STROKES AND CONFIDENCE

More considerations that model the philosophy of our tennis program

Daniel L. Rosenbaum

It′s well known in tennis any player is subject to suffer the stress of the game and to respond emotionally according to different situations. An easy match is rare unless the levels are not even. However, a difficult match can turn into an easy one and the opposite is true. Playing games is an attractive uncomfortable situation, desirable because it is supposed to be an enjoyable pastime. Nevertheless, can be eventually, or more often, very unpleasant. Before and during the match, many thoughts may disturb the player affecting his levels of tension. Doubts about winning or losing. Expectations from the player himself and from others about his performance followed by possible frustration and rejection. The problems the opponent may (be oriented to) cause. Will the plan and arsenal work? Which, how, when? Depending on the score, anxiety varies affecting the player’s animus and confident. Those thoughts and factors, among others like physical fatigue or exposure to crowd, contribute to turn some moments certainly complicated.

Low energy feelings like apprehension and fear conspire consuming attention, generating lack of confidence and uncomfortable discouragement or excessive nervousness. At the “performance x activation” graphic, the player acts at the lowest levels. Once nervous, the player loses significantly his sensibility. Muscles get stiff, he misses coordination and the feel for the ball. Vision decreases, lucidity, clear thinking and perspicacity tend to disappear. Discouragement, lack of interest and apathy may infiltrate without announcing. The decisions become dubious, the reactions get slower, the intentions lose purpose and the strokes suffer hesitation.

During the heat of the battle, for the most it′s uncommon to respond rationally and to have things under control. Even more, perceiving desperation ready to reign. As an individual game, the pressure is big enough to congratulate everyone who decides to face those inhospitable conditions. However, as eternal mentor Allen Fox says in his newest contribution, it′s important that player recognizes he is into the trouble, he is not the hostage. Best players, that are more experienced, learned to deal better with the emotional instability. They are more confident and usually take less time to find the balance. By the way, experienced coaches teach the players to understand first that they are going to face hard times along the matches. Before, during and after. An opponent should be there across the net, also running and intending to win. Nevertheless, they tranquilize them assuring it is true for both parts and work hard to turn their players more into trouble makers to their opponents than, at least, trouble solvers. Better-coached players pass through the difficulties of the game a little less harmed… “And loving”. Coaches learn as well how to deal with the suffering of the matches and to hide their emotions preferably… “Also loving”.

This justifies the inclusions of adversities into the practice most of the times. Adequate challenges to surpass provoke the player raising his levels of tension, motivation and concentration. Once the task is achieved the confidence increases. If competition equals a test and best practices are those similar to the mental situation of the competition… best practices should be real tests, it means real competitions. Training becomes more interesting and effective: more game-like. This also justifies keeping the ratio 2/1 between winning and losing matches as to determine the level of difficulty of the exercises, 60% to 80% of success reflects the ideal challenge when practicing. Very easy bores and gives a false impression. Very difficult frustrates and discourages. Following the rules, scoring and counting points are part of the game. Following the principles, quantifying and measuring success are part of the practice. Practicing is counting. Once the challenge is ideal to the players’ abilities, more successful attempts are experienced and confidence is assured.

Back to the emotions, an interesting trick players use in order to balance their low energy feelings, usually not consciously, is to swing to the opposite edge, the one of high-energy feelings, like anger (more often) or happiness (preferably) – sometimes preceded by irony. It's advisable to through away a couple of points, maybe more (some games or a set), releasing the shots, the muscles and the nerves than to keep playing tied and feeling unable. As phrase says, “anger passes”, sometimes to others. The chances to reappear and, hopefully, to preserve the joy for the game are then created.

Let′s take the example: remember that situation when you called that big first service out and your return was spectacular. Worries about the future and fear to fail disappeared, relaxation was immediate and permission to try just flowed.

Although it′s hugely recommended to play the first service IN, mainly when not ahead in the score, we all agree that most of the tennis players risk the first service just because they enjoy the advantage of having a second chance. Why not to adopt that unpretentious state of mind when ahead on the score? Not always when ahead, of course. However, occasionally, start-taking advantage of being ahead and just play like “having a second chance” or like “calling the ball out”. It′s important to find those moments to relax. At least, to balance the excess of stress caused by other score situations; also to surprise the opponent taking his rhythm out with an unexpected change of pace or switching to more risky tactics. The obligation to win every single point is hard to carry for too long, often counter-productive and, sincerely, not necessary.

Applications to the practice session.

1) Score situations in order to experience different levels of confidence adopting conservative or risky behaviors: Ex 1: When serving ahead: three service chances against one return chance // When serving even: one service chance against one return chance // When serving behind: one service chance against two return chances. Ex 2: When ahead in the score: winner equals 3 points and unforced error equals 1 point // When behind in the score: winner equals 1 point and unforced error equals 3 points // When even: regular points.

2) “30 – love; love – 30”: Only one service chance. Service error and return error cost two points. After third shot scores normally. Example 1: player A serves and misses at 0:0. Then, love:30. Example 2: player A serves at 15:0 and player B misses return. Then, 40:0. Example 3: player A serves at 40:15 and player B misses return. Then, game for player A and player B serves at 0:15. Variation: the first four strokes of the point cost two points. After fifth stroke scores normally.

3) During playing points and matches: After calling the ball out relax and experiment to risk the shot, to release the muscles and or to clean technique. Just be careful and don′t be impolite.

Attitudes reflect emotions, believed and many times imitated by opponents. Always observing and interpreting the players’ proceedings, in one of his “Mental Strength” books, Jim Loehr – pioneer on the study and training of the players’ behavior – draws the attention to the value of acting and points that better athletes are great actors, able to show off different emotions, dissimulating strategically others than they feel. In a mental game like tennis, worth to exploit the subliminal psychological game.

Therefore, let′s suggest applying the “mood mode practice”. For instance: ask player A to play one or two games with anger. Player B plays normally. Player A has to play, really representing an angry (dissatisfied, frustrated) complaining player during and between the points. Then, change successively to other modes: apathetic (careless, relaxed and eventually overconfident), fearful (negative, without confident) and joyful (respectful, positive, inspired, confident). Not necessarily by this order. After that, decrease gradually the number of points played under different modes (moods), switching quite immediately from one to another. Then, switch players’ rolls. Then, comments. The idea is not only to be a good actor and to represent states of humor but also to recognize how each one feels and works out, how each influences the opponent, how is to play against each one and, mainly, to be aware of them and to be able to switch soon from one to another conveniently. Once players practice exhaustively the change of shots and different patterns of play, let′s recommend mastering the change of moods.

Staying in the practice sessions, the appliances are there to help the players to get prepared for the inconveniences of the match. Technical drills are very important but most of the time overestimate the importance of the gestures instead (in detriment) of considering the mental state under which the players perform them. At predictable not threatening situations, players practice very well and feel comfortable to exhibit sound technique, even the goals seem to be others than those ones of the match. Sometimes is indispensable to practice under these friendly conditions. We understand the benefits.

When it comes to the real time, the conditions are relentless and the purpose is to win the points. This justifies applying match play exercises against opponents, where technical solutions adjust to tactical intentions under relatively unpredictable game situations and points’ pressure. Tactical practices are primordial due to discipline and automate the players to adopt convenient reactions in any game situation. Better players concentrate in tactical maneuvers, anticipating probable responses, in order to keep themselves at the present avoiding, actually, dispersing thoughts.

Tennis is an open skills sport. Players take tactical decisions, to which adapt their shots. Practice must discipline the players to execute game plans and respective shots rather simulating substantially the real tension of the game.

The shots must be learned and practiced, not only those from the book but the variations, the situational, emergency and improvised ones. The match is definitely not the right moment to do it. It′s difficult to reproduce “right technique” during the points. Tactical decisions under trouble situations demand quick reactions and adjusted shots are the ultimate options in hands. Nevertheless, it′s possible to take advantage of some opportunities. Every time the player has a ball in his hand and tosses it to the opponent to serve, is a great opportunity to practice one of the shots comfortably. Levels of tension are lower; there is no rush, no needs to adjustments. Ideal occasion to confirm conformity of technique and feeling. When sending the ball friendly to your opponent, practice slowly and carefully the right technique. After your game service, send all the balls to your opponent serving calmly with proper technique.

As any other tool or mechanism, strokes suffer wear and tear and turn deformed with use. Mainly when the use is varied, alternated, under different conditions and even underhanded. Players complain they lose their weapons and their confident, or vice versa.

The decision to switch from the reality of the game to the ideal conditions the practice can build has to be taken in order to repeatedly reformat the shots or to reproduce comfortably specific situations that demand, each one, variations of the basic technique as respective responses.

Between matches, isolated sessions based on “cooperative rallies” or “basket feeding” must be scheduled to focus only on technical conformity. Although, since the player during the match is constantly hitting at situations that relatively repeat themselves, in practice he′s practicing too. This justifies training through the “playing points” method rather oriented to a specific pattern of play in order to repeat ideally a specific match play and respective strokes. Preferably, those ones the player will face the more in the next match and, attending the player′s feeling, those specific he asks for. Worth to mention that specifically for competitive players, it′s not very recommendable to focus on technique when they are on the tour. First, there is not enough time nor conditions to practice during the tournaments. Second, it′s preferable not to confuse the players and waste energy with secondary priorities. This is why players focus more on technical aspects when they are practicing comfortably during preparation periods in order to get ready for the competitive periods.

Nerves are there to bother too. Authentic, “scares who cares”. The opposite would be questionable. Everybody fears; however, as the net obstacle, it′s equal for both players. Relax, breath deep and calm down.

Continuing to mention masterminds, Tim Gallwey recommends to avoid criticism and to rally speaking loudly “bounce – hit” synchronizing with the actions. Tennis is also auditory, rhythmical and choreographic. The idea behind it is to flow according to the rhythm created. The brain is completely busy on the dialog, cannot command or criticize the actions. The body acts autonomous, automatically, free from pressure. Motions chain together gracefully in harmony. Loose, effortless. The words can be changed: “easy – does it”, “play it – easy”, “always – enjoying”, “feeling – good”, “feel – relaxed”, “without – effort”. Invent yours. Share with us. Counting numbers, naming cities or fruits and vegetables, spelling the vocals or even singing helps too. Intonation is also important. Gentle and slow following the flight of the ball. The message is to enjoy the performance, to feel relieved and satisfied, like takong doses of pleasure and savoring the real taste of it. You choose. Tennis is kinesthetic. Enjoy it. Create good sensations and retake the feel for the ball. Vibrate with it. Get your Mantra and transcend.

Therefore, the benefits are mental and physical. The player organizes his breathing, oxygenates brain and muscles, gets energized and calm. Armored behind his concentration shield, literally inspired and free to create, things become easier and fatigue retards to arrive. Tennis provides a meditative roll. Players are able to know and reach the mental zone, a transcendental state of spirit. The supreme tennis state of mind where joy substitutes fear. This way, they face the difficulties and deal with tension performing and enjoying their possible best.