Arrive to Win!
How to start using the mindset of a pro to help you improve your tennis in as little as 5 minutes every day before you walk out onto the court
There are many benefits to physically warming up before a training session or a match, may articles have been written about physical advantages to doing dynamic pre performance exercises. Not only are you warming up your body ready to play but the same studies have shown a positive psychological response also. However, while most people make an effort to warm up physically how many of you are actually warming up mentally as well? You don’t have to be a professional to see the benefits, you just have to be willing to work on it!
Try some of these the next time you are on the court
Physical Warm Up Corresponding Mental Warm Up
Gentle jog/run Motivation - Happy to run, ready for action
Mobility Drills Emotional Control - Focus on your Breathing
Dynamic Stretching Focussing - Awareness of body response
Final Activity Control of thoughts - Being Positive
Technical Warm Up Corresponding Mental Warm Up
Mini Tennis Motivation - Having Success
Gentle hitting from baseline Emotional Control - Relaxing the muscles
Using the whole court Focussing - Concentration on impact point
Playing some points Control of Thoughts - Use of Rituals and Routines
Visualisation is another key aspect often overlooked, when you are on your way to the courts to train or play a match, this is a good place to start thinking about the tennis that you want to play today. Are you struggling with that return of serve? Close your eyes and watch yourself crush a few returns back into play. Forehand Keeps hitting the net? Watch yourself hit Forehands that clear the net with ease time and time again. Whatever it is that you want to achieve a little bit of visualisation goes a long way!
For the striving Junior player, start your visualisation practice a week out from your event. spend 10min every night before you go to bed visualising yourself arriving at the venue, going through your dynamic warm up, warming up on the tennis court and then watch yourself play some points out hitting winners, serving aces, making great returns and playing your best tennis.