July 2010:
SUMMER SCHOOL COURTSIDE CRIB SHEET
Trouble shooting your game in the heat of competition is not as easy as it sounds. The great Arthur Ashe, a Hall of Famer, was known to have kept notes in his racket bag which he would refer to on changeovers – not a bad idea for serious club players. No doubt it included key reminders regarding both what it took to play his own game well, and I suspect some thoughts on how to best deal with the opponent at hand.
In the spirit of David Letterman, here’s a Top Ten Crib Sheet to get you through the long hot summer months when your game is not firing on all cylinders.
10) Did you arrive early enough to prepare both physically and mentally?
9) Are you pacing yourself between points or rushing around with your hair on fire?
8) Are you split stepping at every opponent’s strike of the ball or standing lump like?
7) Is your racket loaded and prepared early enough or still in the holster?
6) Are you using loosening rituals on both serve and serve return or mimicking a robot?
5) Are you strangling your grip in fear or optimally relaxed?
4) Are you breathing at impact or holding your breath for dear life?
3) Are you visualizing your shots or just hoping for a good result?
2) Are you really watching the ball or only seeing it fleetingly through your periphery?
1) Did you remember to keep this list in your racket bag or did you leave it on the kitchen counter next to the grocery list
Questions and comments are welcome at anytime for all tips present and past via email.
This Tip of the Month is copyright© 2009 by Jak Beardsworth Tennis. All rights reserved. Copies may be made only with the permission of and by Jak Beardsworth. Contact him here.
Tips Archive
- July, 2010 SUMMER SCHOOL COURTSIDE CRIB SHEET [read more]
- June, 2010 THE 2-HANDED JUMP BACKHAND: The Dumbest Shot in Tennis [read more]
- April, 2010 THE STANDING AROUND SYNDROME [read more]
- March, 2010 THE ELUSIVE SERVICE TOSS [read more]
- February, 2010 PREPARING TO START THE POINT: Serving and Receiving [read more]
- January, 2010 DEBUNKING THE MODERN GAME [read more]
- December, 2009 RELAX – IT'S JUST A RALLY BALL [read more]
- November, 2009 DEFEATING THE POACHER [read more]
- October, 2009 PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE [read more]
- September, 2009 SERVING SUCCESS: Warming-Up vs Match Play [read more]
- August, 2009 THE SPLIT STEP: Defending the Court, Rushing the Net, and More [read more]
- July, 2009 THE THIRD GROUNDSTROKE [read more]
- June, 2009 HOW MANY HANDS DOES IT TAKE? [read more]
- May, 2009 THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL [read more]
- April, 2009 PLAYING IN THE FLORIDA WIND [read more]
- March, 2009 Letting them Play for Peak Performance in Clubland [read more]
- February, 2009 SUPPORTING YOUR GAME [read more]
- January, 2009 RESPECTING THE GAME: Top 10 Do’s & Don’ts [read more]
- December, 2008 Getting the Warm-up Right [read more]
- November, 2008 Visualize...Realize: The Mind Body Connection [read more]
- October, 2008 Reading Their Mail [read more]