How Not to Choke During a Tennis Match
The reaction to last Monday's victory by Andy Murray over Richard Gasquet was truly that of Murray mania.
To come back from 2 sets and a break down in the third set was in some peoples eyes bordering on Superman like proportions and when at the end of the match Murray rolled up his sleeve to display his biceps in an incredible Hulk like bodybuilder pose we all wondered whether the British number 1 really had a shot at the Wimbledon title.
That was quickly extinguished 2 days later when he was soundly beaten by Rafa Nadal in 3 one-sided sets which brought the reality back to the situation and made everybody realize exactly where Murray was in the pecking order of tennis at this point in time.
But what happened in that match with Gasquet, after all he was two sets up and indeed served for the match at 5 games to 4. Having not been troubled up to that point on his serve he was broken, lost the set and then lost the match - Did Gasquet CHOKE?
Firstly let's look at what choking is.
Choking is typically when a player who performs well in the practice situation is unable to perform anywhere near the same level in competition.
It can also apply to a player who can play well in matches when there is little or no pressure but "chokes" when faced with match situations that have more pressure.
This was the case with Gasquet who was coasting up to the point when he needed to play well to finish the match and then was unable to perform at the required level.
Typically players who choke become so nervous and filled with anxiety that they lose all "feel" for the ball. Feelings of self-doubt and anxiety set in and performance levels drop.
The first thing to realize is that choking is a mental problem, however your ability to take your "practice game" to the court, is critical if you want to be successful.
Here is how you can overcome choking.
Focus on the process, not the outcome.
Most of the stress you will feel will be generated by paying too much attention to the end result. The biggest hurdle you need to overcome is the fear of failure.
You need to learn how to focus on processes such as improving your first serve percentage or bending your knees on your shots or even reminding yourself about your game plan and what has possibly got you into a winning situation rather than the win or lose end-scenarios and "what ifs."
Practice in conditions that mimic competition.
Try to do "simulation" training to get ready for matches.
Practice is always more effective if you can mimic competition conditions. You can practise serving out for a match, maybe even starting from 0-30 to add a bit of pressure to the situation. If you do this often enough you become used to it.
This is precisely why players are encouraged to start competing at an early age - to get used to it!!
Stop Caring
The best players don't have any cares or worries about performance and are then able to play free (champions mentality). How many times have you seen a player at the point of defeat suddenly play amazingly well because the "they just don't care"?
Bjorn Borg who was one of the best "big-point" players in history put his success down to going for his shots because ultimately in the scheme of things it "didn't matter whether he won or lost"
Have a game plan
You should always have a game plan in place.
Even if you don't know your opponent you can construct a simple game plan to try to play to your strengths.
By making as many decisions as you can ahead of the match is good because decisions making can become difficult in the "heat" of competition.
NEVER expect to choke
Your expectations have a massive impact on your end performance. If you go into a match expecting to lose or choke then you are probably going to.
Try to recall situations in the past when you played well and played great shots.
Write those down in a notebook and read them regularly to remind yourself of them and they will stay at the front of your mind whilst pushing any negative thoughts further back.
Related Tags: mental, tennis, choking, andy murray, choke, richard gasquet
For information about products and services contact via http://www.tennis-training-central.com (FREE Top 10 tennis training tips) ebooks available at - http://www.footwork4tennis.com http://www.tennis-speed.com http://www.tennis-strength.com & http://www.beatallthetennisplayersyouwant.com Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Canadiens Early Season Struggles
Inconsistency has reared its ugly head once again. After a shutout loss to the lowly New Jersey Devi - Mens Magazine in the Toronto Market
Magazines are wonderful things. They are able to explore their particular area of interest in more d - They Won the Lottery But Then Lost it All
We all dream about winning the lottery and every time we watch those balls spin we think about what - Manchester City Imploding
Life changed for Manchester City fans the minute their club was taken over by the ultra wealthy Oil - Different Types of Sports Water Bottle
If you are an athlete and there is a competition the next day, there are a lot of things to prepare. - Poker Supplies a Person Needs to Play
There are a lot of people all over the world that enjoy playing poker on a regular basis. There are - Data on NCAA Football 11 (XBox)
EA Sports has always been the pinnacle for sports video games. The Madden franchise for NFL football - World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012
Golf is said to be the game of nobles. Over a period of time, the game has developed into a craze fo - Will "The Decision" Yield the Result? Lakers, Heat Seen as Likely Finalists
By far the biggest moment in the NBA offseason was the hour-long ESPN special in which LeBron James - The Evolution of the Game: Table Tennis
Table tennis was probably derived from the game "Royal Tennis," a popular diversion during medieval
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Rainbow, Brown And Brook Trout
Maine fishing has Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Trout are an important part of fishing tradition. - Gymnastics Floor Music
Over the last decade or two, gymnastics as a sport has undergone considerable changes in the way it - Texas Holdem Blinds - Understanding Blinds In Texas Hold'em Poker
Posting blinds is a very important aspect of the betting structure of Texas Hold'em poker. It keeps - Indoor Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters exclusively provide assistance to physically disabled people, who don't necessaril - Texas Holdem Tournament - Learn How To Run A Texas Hold'em Tournament
Texas Hold'em is a popular game, so next time you consider hosting a social function at your house w - The Nfl Channel And The Controversy Surrounding It
If you watch TV, and especially if you are a loyal spectator of the NFL Channel, you might have hear - Texas Holdem - How To Become Better At Texas Hold'em Poker
If you know the rules, if you know the game, if you know the odds, chances are you'll do well at pok - Essential Boxing Equipment For Every Boxer
When you are training to become a boxer there are a few very important pieces of boxing equipment th - Some Advice On How To Stay Motivated To Run
Staying Motivated to Run Do you have a hard time staying motivated to run? There are a lot of thing - NCAA: Three Good Coaches
There are coaches in each and every type of sport out there, and many of them are good at what they