The Lesson Lounge - Tennis Warrior

Your Link to Professional Thinking!

Selecting the correct thought

No matter what you do in tennis it must be consistent. You have heard of the three L's in real estate, location, location, location. Well, in tennis it would be the three C's consistency, consistency, consistency. Consistency establishes momentum. If you want the momentum on your side be consistent. You need to be consistent not only physically but mentally. Physically by hitting the correct shots again and again. Mentally by selecting the correct thoughts again and again. Most players can understand being consistent with their shots, but being consistent with their thoughts usually seems a bit confusing. You must practice selecting the highest percentage thought for the situation.

For example, let us suppose you are making mistakes and you are on the verge of becoming upset. The two choices you have when you miss are: 1. Get upset and negative, become tentative and lose the next couple of points and even the match...or 2. Manage your mistakes and keep giving yourself an opportunity to win. By choosing number two (managing your mistakes) you are selecting the highest percentage thought for the situation. Selecting this thought consistently gives you the greatest opportunity to win over the long haul. It is as simple as that! You choose to get upset or you choose to manage your mistakes. The more you select to manage your mistakes the more mentally consistent you become. This is what high percentage thought selection is all about. The choice is yours. ...you CAN control what you think, you just have to practice.

Consistency establishes momentum. You must learn to be consistent with your thoughts as well as your shots. Consistency, consistency, consistency, when you become consistent both physically as well as mentally you become a formidable foe. The result, you are the type of player who is not put out by anything and you make your opponent beat you in order to win. You are mentally tough...and you know it!!!