Tennis Tourney: Lessons Learned

Just some notes, re: sports psychology, for a tennis tourney I took part in on behalf of my Condo.  Obviously, can apply to non-Tennis things too.

Technique:

• active feet, quick tempo, NO LAZINESS!
• aggressive semi-western play.  don't revert back to eastern grip/swing mechanics...
• serve: spring before swing!  Every serve is opportunity to control the point, don't waste it with worries of a double fault!
• feel, feel, feel!  relax your nerves, believe in your form, hammer down your hand-eye coordination (for racquet sweet spot), your directions (front-back, left-rights), your spins (tops, backs & sides)
• keep your ankle brace in your TENNIS bag, not your ROCK CLIMBING bag (doh!)

Psychology:

• visualization.  required.  Both pre-game and in-game
• pre-game pump-up with past videos?
• maintain a high-energy, positive, mindset throughout the game, no matter the result
• e.g. game 1 of raptors/bucks ECF (via post-game-commentary from Longo)
• every opponent will require adjustments in game, figure out what they are, ASAP
• unlike combat sports: tennis requires more back & forth, less of a pummeling mentality, so BE PATIENT, CALM YOUR NERVES, STAY LOOSE (but stay on guard)
• HAVE FUN!  LAUGH (don't GROWL) at your errors; balance the serious with the silly
• Day of tourney is your test, too late to finish homework on the day of.  So go out there, figure out your feel (internal & external), figure out your opponent, believe (and have confidence) in yourself, then go get your win!