Improving Your Mental Game to Boost Confidence
How much of sports is a mental game?
50%, 60%, or even 90%?
“They say that sports are 90% mental and 10% physical. But that’s not true because no one is out there playing chess. Sports are physical, 90% physical and 10% mental. That last 10% though, the mental part is what can take you to your 100%.”
Very true, as South African tennis player, Raven Klaasen, believes…
Klaasen came close to being the country’s first tennis player to win the men’s doubles at Wimbledon.
When asked about his progress and this milestone for South African tennis, Klaasen denoted much of his success to the development of his mental game.
A few years ago, Klaasen added another coach to his team… A mental coach.
He said:
“I have always been physically gifted and able to play the sport but I never really had the belief that I was good enough.”
“I think in order for you not to have to worry about the mental side of your game, you have to be significantly better than your opponent. Once your opponent is at a similar skill level that you are, then the smaller things start making a difference. That’s when you really need your mental game.”
Klaasen’s mental coach has helped him have a “mind shift,” as he explained it.
His mental coach helped him unlock his mind’s potential. He had no belief, and Klaasen said his mental coach did a great job of teaching him how to believe.
Klaasen commented:
“When you step onto a court at Wimbledon, that is a pressurized environment where you have to perform and the belief plays a big part. Believing is key for me.”
Having the belief in yourself and abilities, also known as confidence, is crucial to your performance as a tennis player.
One way to constantly build confidence is to reflect on the good things after a match.
Klaasen mentioned:
“You often forget the things you do well because of the mistakes. We did a lot well.”
Recognizing the good after matches is a strategy Klaasen uses to maintain his confidence.
Like Klaasen, pick out the good from each match and use it to build your confidence. Avoid picking apart your game with the missed shots and opportunities.
Boost tennis confidence with our audio and workbook program, “Tennis Confidence”:
Learn Proven Tennis Mental Game Strategies To Perform Your Best On The Court!
Are you (or your players) performing up to your ability in competition?
Do you bring your best and most confident game to matches?
I often hear players complain about the following problems when they play in matches…
“I get so tight or tense before matches that I can’t think straight or have any rhythm in my game.”
“I get so frustrated with hitting bad shots or with errors and it snowballs.”
“I expect so much when I play that I unravel and lose confidence when the match does not go as planned.”
“My confidence seems to disappear when I go from practice to matches and I don’t know why.”
Successful tennis players have learned how to perform with ultimate confidence in tournaments.
If you are ready to improve your mental toughness and perform with ultimate self-confidence in matches, Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness For Tournament Players can help you do this!
- Players: Learn how to take control of your confidence, focus your best, and win more close matches.
- Parents: Help boost your junior tennis player’s confidence for tournaments. Just load the program on your player’s IPod!
- Coaches: Boost your team’s confidence using simple, proven mental strategies.
- Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game advantage.
Use Tennis Confidence to help boost your mental toughness in tennis and discover powerful and proven mental game strategies that have helped professional athletes win!
Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness For Tournament Players
What are mental game customers saying?
“Dr. Cohn did a great job working with my son Joe on his mental skills for tennis. He taught him the mental skills and discipline necessary to move to the next level.”
~Mike Withers, dad of Joe Withers
“I have really enjoyed listening to your tennis psychology podcasts on iTunes and reading your E-books. I just found your web site and I already have improved in my mental game. I played in a tennis tournament this past weekend and played with the amount of confidence I should have in myself.”
~Melanie Lewis, Junior Tennis Player
“Since you last worked with AJ in early September, his National ranking has improved from 349 to 148. His tournament record at one point, since talking with you was 17-4, with 3 of the 4 being in third sets or tiebreakers and 2 of those matches being the same player, whom he has since beaten (you may recall he was on an 0-9 losing streak when we contacted you). His tie-breaker record is at least 90% through last weekend when he won the 18s District tournament with a semi and final match tiebreak win. Your help has definitely improved AJ’s results and his on-court demeanor has substantially improved.”
~Dawn Woodman, A.J.’s Mother
“I want to let you know that your “Tennis Confidence” CD program has been extremely helpful to me. I listen to the CDs in the car and the program is helping me overcome a lifetime of tournament performance Anxiety. Thank you!”
~Wing Yu, Tennis Player
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