Last December, I wrote a series of posts highlighting the “12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players.” Throughout 2023, the first weekend of every month features an in-depth look at one of those habits. The deep dive topic for August is “Mental Fitness.” The very best players in Adult Senior tennis diligently train their brains.
There is a fundamental mindset difference between the top-performing and most recreational tennis players. This can be directly observed through differences in attitudes toward periods of sub-optimal performance caused by mental duress. The best players in Senior Adult tennis train for mental toughness rather than dismissing lapses as an uncontrollable anomaly.
Competing in a tennis match can be an emotional roller coaster. Having the mental skills to maintain focus and concentration through those ups and downs is essential. In fact, the most competitive players in tennis intentionally train to perform their best under pressure.
What exactly that looks like can vary from player to player. Some specifically work on techniques to support a “quiet mind.” The belief behind that practice is that tennis performance is best in a mentally calm state with no overthinking. (Ahem.) Their mental training is designed to support the ability to maximize time in “the zone” of peak performance.
Paradoxically, many of the best players in tennis are more focused on performance rather than winning or losing. To be clear, winning is a priority for these highly competitive players. However, they have intentionally developed the ability to detach themselves from outcome-oriented thinking. That allows the relaxation of muscles and the mind required to enhance peak tennis performance.
Many of the top players use progressive muscle relaxation techniques to develop a consciously triggered relaxation reflex used during competition. Alternatively, some use breathing exercises to manage their mental state. Positive imagery visualization techniques are also popular. These skills are rehearsed and reinforced all the time to support competitive performance levels.
The fundamental difference between the top players and the rest of us is that they exhibit an intentional growth mindset toward their mental game. They approach the investment in mental fitness with the same seriousness they bring to bear on stroke technique and physical conditioning.
The mental game is something that the top Senior Adult players approach with purpose and intention. While believing these players have a natural disposition for mental stability on the court may be tempting, that attribute is usually achieved through arduous and painstaking effort.
This is something that almost all recreational players can do better if they put their minds to it.
Throughout 2023 I am exploring the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players. A complete summary of all posts on that topic and what is coming up for the remainder of this year can be found on the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players homepage.
