Are you Playing Tense?
Do your strokes feel controlled or tight in competition compared to practice? If so, I have an important tip for you today…
I wanted to follow up with you on my last post by highlighting a recent question I received from a tennis player:
Question:
“I don’t understand how I can hit backhands in practice easily and when I go to play a match, I can’t hit one backhand. I freeze and the tension won’t let me hit the backhand.”
Here’s my answer:
If your strokes feel tight in matches compared to practice, that’s a sign your mind is getting in the way and not allowing you to let go…
You must find the real culprit to the tension. You probably think tension is the real problem.
But having worked with high-level athletes for over 20 years, I know better…
The “tension” you feel does not happen all on its own. Something else is at the root of the problem, which most players and coaches don’t see on the surface.
Here’s what I mean:
Most likely, when you play in matches, the outcome is more important to you (for many reasons I won’t go into here). For most players, they want to play well or win so badly and they can’t handle failure.
This mindset causes you to worry about failing or not playing to your capabilities, a root cause of fear of failure.
Now take note, here is the real culprit to the tension – the fear of making errors cause you to lose trust in your strokes. The lack of trust causes the tension, but this started with the fear of messing up or wanting to play well so badly.
OK, the short version…
“I want this badly” > “Don’t screw up” > avoidance mindset > lack of trust > tension > “my backhand feels tight and controlled.”
So, you have to get to the root cause of the tension instead of band aiding “tension” with relaxation training. Most people don’t get this and look for quick fixes to rid themselves of tension.
What’s the solution?
The only way you are going to play freely and trust your strokes is to rid yourself of the fear or pressure-packed expectations you have about match results….
You’ll learn how to do this (and a lot of other cool stuff) in my program, “Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness for Tournament Players.”
FAQ: Tension in Tennis
Is tension itself the real problem when my strokes feel tight in matches?
No. Tension is a symptom, not the root cause. The actual culprit is a fear of making errors, which causes you to lose trust in your own strokes.
Why can I hit a shot easily in practice but freeze on it in a match?
In matches the outcome matters more to you, so fear of failure kicks in. That fear shifts you into an avoidance mindset instead of a trusting one, and that lack of trust is what creates the physical tightness.
What’s the actual chain of events that leads to a tight stroke under pressure?
It runs: wanting to play well very badly, leads to a don’t screw up mindset, which leads to avoidance, which leads to a lack of trust in your stroke, which shows up physically as tension.
How do I fix tension that comes from fear of making errors?
Since the tension starts with fear of failure and lack of trust, not the stroke itself, the fix has to address that fear directly rather than just trying to relax your arm or grip in the moment.
Boost Your Self-Confidence and Focus with Expert Mental Game Coaching Tennis Mindset
Learn how to boost your mental game of tennis and develop the confidence of a champion quickly and effortlessly with tennis mental game coaching!
If you’re not performing up to your potential in matches, most likely your mental game is holding you back. Are you so frustrated with your performance you feel like giving up? Does your confidence evaporate when you play in tournaments? Are you tired of working hard in practice and not getting any results in matches?
We can help you uncover the beliefs and attitudes that keep you from performing to your potential.
Complimentary 15-Minute Coaching Session
Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.
Find Out How You Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!
888-742-7225 | 407-909-1700
Please contact us today to learn how mental coaching works and to request pricing on all mental training programs for tennis players. Complete the form below to contact us via email or call us toll-free at 888-742-7225
