The fast, unpredictable, net-rushing tennis-player is a creature of impulse. There is no real system to his/her game, no understanding of your game. He will make brilliant coups on the spur of the moment, largely by instinct; but there is no, mental power of consistent thinking. It is an fascinating type of character.
The most dangerous player is the one who mixes his/her strategy from back to fore court under the direction of an ever-alert mind. This/her is the player to study and learn from. He is a player with a definite intention. A player who has an answer to every query you present him in your game. He is the most subtle opponent in the world of tennis. He is from the school of Brookes. Second only to him is the player of dogged determination that fixes his/her mind on one plan and adheres to it, bitterly, fiercely fighting to the end, with no thought of changing.
He is the player whose psychology is fairly easy to work out, but whose mental viewpoint is hard to upset, for he never permits himself to think about anything except the business at hand. This/her player is your Johnston or your Wilding. I respect the mental capacity of Brookes more, but I admire the tenacity of purpose of Johnston.
Choose your sort from your own mental processes, and then plan your game along the lines most suited to you. When two men are on the same level concerning stroke, strength and equipment, the deciding factor in any match is the mental viewpoint. Luck, so-called, is often just seizing the psychological value of a break in the game, and turning it to your own account. We hear a lot about the "shots he has made." Few realize the importance of the "shots he has missed."
The science of missing shots is just as important as that of making them, and at times a miss by an inch is of more value than a return that is killed by your opponent. Let me tell you why. A player drives you far out of court with an angle-shot. You run hard for it, and having reached it, you drive it hard and fast down the side-line, missing it by an inch. Your opponent is surprised and shaken, realizing that your shot might just as well have gone in as out. He will expect you to attempt it again and he will not risk it next time. He will strive to play the ball, and may make an error. You have thus stolen some of your opponent's confidence, and increased his/her chance of error, just because of a miss.
If you had just popped back that ball, and it had been killed, your opponent would have felt increasingly confident of your inability to get the ball out of his/her reach, while you would merely have been winded without result.
Let's suppose that you had made that shot down the sideline. It was a seemingly impossible achievement. First it amounts to TWO points, because it stole one away from your opponent that should have been his/her and gave you one that you ought never to have had. Second it also upsets your opponent, because he feels that he has lost a big opportunity.
The psychology involved in a game of tennis is fascinating, but easily understandable. Both player begin with equal chances. However, once one player has gained a real advantage, his/her confidence goes up, while his/her opponent worries, and his/her mental viewpoint becomes weaker. The sole objective of the first player is to hold his/her lead, thus maintaining his/her confidence.
If the second player draws even or pulls ahead, the inevitable result is an even more drastic contrast in psychology of the players. First, there is the natural confidence of the leader of the game, but it is boosted by the great stimulus of having turned a seemingly inevitable defeat into a probable victory. The situation of the other player is the reverse. He is apt to lose confidence and play worse. The breakdown of his game plan will be the result.
The most dangerous player is the one who mixes his/her strategy from back to fore court under the direction of an ever-alert mind. This/her is the player to study and learn from. He is a player with a definite intention. A player who has an answer to every query you present him in your game. He is the most subtle opponent in the world of tennis. He is from the school of Brookes. Second only to him is the player of dogged determination that fixes his/her mind on one plan and adheres to it, bitterly, fiercely fighting to the end, with no thought of changing.
He is the player whose psychology is fairly easy to work out, but whose mental viewpoint is hard to upset, for he never permits himself to think about anything except the business at hand. This/her player is your Johnston or your Wilding. I respect the mental capacity of Brookes more, but I admire the tenacity of purpose of Johnston.
Choose your sort from your own mental processes, and then plan your game along the lines most suited to you. When two men are on the same level concerning stroke, strength and equipment, the deciding factor in any match is the mental viewpoint. Luck, so-called, is often just seizing the psychological value of a break in the game, and turning it to your own account. We hear a lot about the "shots he has made." Few realize the importance of the "shots he has missed."
The science of missing shots is just as important as that of making them, and at times a miss by an inch is of more value than a return that is killed by your opponent. Let me tell you why. A player drives you far out of court with an angle-shot. You run hard for it, and having reached it, you drive it hard and fast down the side-line, missing it by an inch. Your opponent is surprised and shaken, realizing that your shot might just as well have gone in as out. He will expect you to attempt it again and he will not risk it next time. He will strive to play the ball, and may make an error. You have thus stolen some of your opponent's confidence, and increased his/her chance of error, just because of a miss.
If you had just popped back that ball, and it had been killed, your opponent would have felt increasingly confident of your inability to get the ball out of his/her reach, while you would merely have been winded without result.
Let's suppose that you had made that shot down the sideline. It was a seemingly impossible achievement. First it amounts to TWO points, because it stole one away from your opponent that should have been his/her and gave you one that you ought never to have had. Second it also upsets your opponent, because he feels that he has lost a big opportunity.
The psychology involved in a game of tennis is fascinating, but easily understandable. Both player begin with equal chances. However, once one player has gained a real advantage, his/her confidence goes up, while his/her opponent worries, and his/her mental viewpoint becomes weaker. The sole objective of the first player is to hold his/her lead, thus maintaining his/her confidence.
If the second player draws even or pulls ahead, the inevitable result is an even more drastic contrast in psychology of the players. First, there is the natural confidence of the leader of the game, but it is boosted by the great stimulus of having turned a seemingly inevitable defeat into a probable victory. The situation of the other player is the reverse. He is apt to lose confidence and play worse. The breakdown of his game plan will be the result.
About the Author:
If you are into the psychology of tennis, you ought to visit our website entitled Tennis Tips for Beginners You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
0 comments on "The General Psychology of Tennis (Part 2)"
Post a Comment