Strategies for Developing Consistency in Tennis
“I’m playing great tennis one minute then the next minute I can’t seem to do anything right. I just can’t seem to be consistent in my game. Is there anything I can do to improve my consistency on the court?”
This is a common question we receive from tennis players.
All tennis players search for consistency, but it seems elusive for many.
Why is consistency so difficult for so many players?
Is consistency even possible for a tennis player?
First, let us define consistency because this often trips up many tennis plays.
Consistency does not imply ALWAYS.
If you think of consistency in terms of some performance level that should ALWAYS be met, you are setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.
This is the main reason why consistency is difficult for many players.
When you think in terms of always, a few mistakes will hurt confidence and detract you from playing in the moment.
Consistency is a level of play that does not vary greatly over a period of time.
This definition takes into account that you will not always be on top of your game–you can’t have your A-game every match you play.
Consistency takes place over time so a few bad points, games or even matches will not crush a player’s confidence and lead to further up and down play.
Consistency is attainable and within the reach of all tennis players.
Consistency starts with your mental preparation, meaning how you approach matches and the manner in which you cope with challenges.
Next, you need to stay focused in the present moment instead of keeping mistakes and bad matches alive by reliving them in your mind.
Lastly, to be consistent you need to practice consistency.
That is, practice the way you want to compete.
If you want to stay focused in matches, practice with greater focus.
If you want to manage your competitive emotions, learn how to control your emotions and reactions to challenges during the match. And then apply those strategies in practice.
If you want to be more aggressive on your second serve, practice an aggressive second serve.
Consistency was the key factor that helped British No. 1 Kyle Edmund move up the rankings and win the first ATP title of his career beating Gael Monfils 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4) in the final of the 2018 European Open.
Edmund lost the first set but maintained his composure, stayed focused on each point, kept fighting and won the second in a tiebreak and the third set in a tiebreak.
EDMUND: “I’ve not been able to string together my matches to win tournaments. There’s always been something to let me down. It’s been one of my goals to be more consistent. Today [at the Europeon Open], I had to really dig deep and it’s great I’ve been able to have this experience and come through. It gives you so much belief and confidence for the next time it happens.”
Consistency doesn’t just happen.
You need to work on developing consistency if you truly desire to play consistent tennis.
How to Develop Consistency in Tennis:
First, keep moving forward. Hanging onto past mistakes will slow down your momentum and lead to under-performance.
Second, prepare the same way mentally for every match. Remind yourself to focus on one point at a time, let go of outcomes, trust in your strokes, and visualize yourself playing well before the match.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles:
- Consistency from Practice to Matches
- How to Improve Consistency in Tennis
- Tennis Podcast: How To Improve Consistency
- Download our a FREE Tennis Psychology Report
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*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify
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Tennis Confidence 2.0
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