| Has this ever happened to you when playing tennis? | | | | SPONTANEITY THROUGH PREPARATION. |
| You are in a pressure situation in an important match. | | | | You can do the same, but it will require a mental |
| You tighten up, and one more time you choke. What | | | | toughness on your part to accept the failures that |
| can you do that will help you learn to play tennis under | | | | come with going for your shots under pressure. In my |
| pressure? | | | | tennis lessons when I am teaching a play action |
| I have been asked this question a thousand times by | | | | doubles drill where my students are playing points I |
| players from many different levels of play. The | | | | constantly try to put them under pressure. I may say |
| answer to this question is a kind of oxymoron. You | | | | something like, "this is a key point, your partner is |
| must learn to fail in order to learn to play under | | | | counting on you." Sounds cruel doesn't it?...They think |
| pressure. That's right - FAIL! Think of it this way. You | | | | so too! But, many of them have learned from these |
| have two separate skills you are trying to master | | | | little tests to play relaxed tennis under pressure. I let |
| when playing under pressure. The mental skills and the | | | | them know I do not care if they win or lose the point, |
| physical skills. The mental skill of not freezing up, and | | | | what I am interested in is their ability to go for the shot |
| the physical skill of getting the ball in the tennis court, | | | | and accept the outcome. |
| which now under pressure looks like the size of a | | | | Mental toughness does not mean you never fail. |
| place mat! If you know when you are not under | | | | Mental toughness is the ability to accept the failure and |
| pressure the physical skills operate fine, obviously the | | | | keep moving toward your goal. You are failing |
| mental skills need some training. Therefore, first and | | | | forward! It is this mindset practiced over and over |
| foremost is to experience what it 'feels' like to go for | | | | again under pressure that will prepare you to play |
| your shots playing tennis under pressure. | | | | automatic and spontaneous tennis. You must |
| Unfortunately most players fall into a major pitfall. They | | | | experience what it 'feels' like to go for your shots |
| will say, "I did go for my shot, but I missed!" But I | | | | under pressure whether you win or lose the point. |
| missed? Who said anything about making the shot? | | | | Will you be able to learn to play tennis under pressure? |
| Experience 'what it feels like' was the phrase. You | | | | Well, you probably already have learned! Many things |
| must treat this situation exactly like learning anything | | | | in life, at work, or whatever profession you are in |
| else in tennis...you practice! You practice going for the | | | | requires you to perform under pressure. Just beginning |
| shot every time you are faced with this type of | | | | a new job alone can provide pressure. Eventually you |
| pressure situation. How do you think the pros have | | | | become comfortable because you practice day after |
| learned to think correctly under pressure? They have | | | | day. The same is true for tennis, if you would like to |
| been practicing over and over again to go for their | | | | learn how to play tennis under pressure you must put |
| shots under pressure. By the time you see them on | | | | yourself in pressure situations over and over and over |
| television they have already practiced over and over | | | | again and consistently choose to go for your shots. |
| and over and over again that similar situation. As a | | | | Eventually you will shock yourself. And your opponent |
| result, they make it look easy. They have developed | | | | too! |