| World's First Psycho Tennis Coach, Scott Groves | | | | They subconsciously finish points in order to breathe |
| shares his unique observations from the Uncle Toby's | | | | again. This is similar to having your head held under |
| Royal Pines Women's Event 2005 and 3 of the best | | | | water as you fight to gain a breath. The rush of |
| physiological habits the Pro's have that you can | | | | adrenalin it creates is all too common in common |
| develop. | | | | tennis. |
| These tips separate the winning pro's from the early | | | | Check yourself the next time you miss an easy volley |
| losers. The beauty of each is that anybody can learn | | | | and you may find the source of your error is not |
| and apply these same elements to their own game. | | | | technical. You are choking yourself through a lack of |
| 1. Intensity. The winning pro's train and practice with a | | | | breath. |
| higher intensity than the losers. The winners engage in | | | | 3. Trajectory. Tennis has fewer and fewer loopy |
| both physical and mental intensity that builds their body | | | | shots. The days of Aranxta Sanchez- Vicario style |
| and mental endurance for their upcoming matches. Up | | | | play is gone. Russian girls like Petrova and Safina |
| coming juniors can learn volumes from this practice. | | | | would crush a ball looped over the net to them. |
| Physical intensity is one thing, but your concentration | | | | Anybody can improve their depth and consistency by |
| muscle must grow with it. | | | | developing a consistent arc or trajectory on their |
| 2. Power of Breath. How often do you hear a club | | | | groundstrokes. Once you have it, you can then hit with |
| player exhale when striking a ball? It is often rare. Yet | | | | greater pace and confidence. Certainty is a wonderful |
| this simple habit has many wonderful benefits. The first | | | | thing in a game full of uncertainties. |
| being that strong deep breaths provide much needed | | | | Gold Coast girl Sam Stosur and her coach Craig |
| oxygen to muscles and the brain during long points. | | | | Morris (my old doubles partner) should be |
| Breathing also short circuits the choking response | | | | congratulated on the week Sam had at Royal Pines. |
| where players are susceptible to missing easy put | | | | Craig's emphasis on trajectory, intensity of practice |
| away balls at the end of points. Whenever you | | | | and speed of rotation has allowed Sam to step up into |
| witness a player who consistently misses the 4th or | | | | the ranks of the top players. We can all take a leaf |
| 5th ball in a rally they are often holding their breath. | | | | out of their book and learn from these necessary |
| They fight to gain a breath and their survival | | | | elements. Incorporate them into your game and watch |
| mechanism takes over. The point comes to a sudden | | | | it go top another level. |
| end with what seemed like an unusual rush of blood. | | | | |