Tennis Podcast: Stop Choking in Matches
March 29, 2009 by PatrickCohn
Welcome to session number fourteen of The Tennis Psychology Podcast. Dr. Patrick Cohn at Sports Psychology for Tennis, is a mental game of tennis expert and helps tournament players, tennis coaches and parents improve confidence, focus, and composure using sports psychology strategies.
In this week’s tennis psychology session, Dr. Cohn and Tomaz Mencinger (www.TennisMindGame.com) discuss the mental challenges of playing with tension. Dr. Cohn and Tomaz Mencinger talk about what can hold players back from playing relaxed.
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I’ve been strugling for such a long time with my self confidence. I’m tired of being too worried about my technique. Many trainers have told me that my strokes are just perfect and ther is nothing wrong with them. But when it comes to playing matches strokes crumble. I now it’s a mental thing but I just do not know how to deal with all this. Do I need to play more matches? Can I put my trust in the fact that I need to learn how to deal with losses before I can enjoy the wins?
I meen, Í have won some very exciting matches of players who were much better than me. but also I’ve lost some really embarrising matches by very poor play. These matches I still do remember. I’ve been beating myself up for such a long time.
I really love this game so much. I’m 44 now and stll do play on a considerable level. I want to improve my game, win and enjoy more. Thank you
You probably need to work less on stroke and play more practice matches. This is an issue of trust for sure – or lack of trust in what you have practiced. Confidence feeds your trust in matches. A breakdown in one can lead to problems in the other.
Stay tuned as I am working on a mental game program for tennis players!
Patrick Cohn