from NY Times

http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/the-importance-of-momentum-in-tennis/

The Importance of Momentum in Tennis

The match is a good example of the importance of momentum in a tennis match. In Chuck Kriese’s coaching bible “Total Tennis Training,” he describes why this invisible force is so important for a player to understand: “Tennis more than any other sport, is a game of momentum. The absence of a clock to do the dirty work of finishing off an opponent, and a scoring system based on units used makes the flow of the match much more important than any lead that has been established.”

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What can a player do when momentum shifts? Alistair Higham, a British tennis coach, has written a fascinating book on the subject. “Momentum, The Hidden Force in Tennis.” He believes that there are five distinct phases of momentum and that players can learn to recognize what stage they are in. At one end of the spectrum, momentum is totally against you, and Higham suggests slowing things down, being deliberate and following rituals. In baseball, when a pitcher is getting knocked around, the pitching coach strolls to the mound hoping to stall the rally. Timeouts in basketball are used for this reason as well.

When momentum is turning against you, Higham suggests increasing energy and playing more aggressively. When momentum is neutral, each player is vying to not only win points, but also to begin to control the momentum.

Who Am I Playing For?

An interesting realization...?

Who am I playing for? Why do I feel, when not playing well, when not playing up to my potential, that I am being judged.

Older men. First the coach, years ago. Brian Horan in NH. Russ Steere at Rally Point. And now Jacques Faulice on the Newport team.

The other night, I played a horrible doubles match. By the second and third set, I was afraid to serve.

Afraid to serve.

I love serving.

Afraid to serve. Hoping not to have to.

I beat myself up a good deal when I play tennis. I care very much what others think about me. I care...too much. I want them to think I am good. I worry about what they will say when I lose. I am a tortured soul on the tennis court. I think a lot about what people will say.

Why?

How can I stop it?

What are its consequences?

The funny thing is--we won the match the other night. But I still felt lousy. I was embarrassed that Jacques saw me playing the way I did. I feel like I always have something to prove to these men. Even when I win, I feel as though I lost. How do i stop worrying about their judgment?

Steve Masso (6-4, 6-2)

Played Steve on a windy day, at NK high. First time I've played him. I only won because he made too many mistakes. Serve was off (again). Had several opportunities to close out first set and close out match and did not close. Stayed on the court longer than I should have.

What did I do well? Slice backhand worked well. Realized as I was playing that if I could just keep the ball in play, he would make a mistake, eventually. Consistency level was okay. Beginning to take returning-game more seriously and thinking more when returning serve.

Tips and Pointers

4 Ways to Maintain a High-Level Match

What typically separates elite players and mediocre players is the ability to compete at a high level consistently. This includes eliminating slow starts and performing at higher levels from start to finish.

Inconsistent performers are players who may get easily distracted or fade away, especially if the score is lopsided in their favor. For the inconsistent performer, footwork and stroke production/consistency wax and wane throughout the match. These players may hit a string of winners but then go off on an unforced error bonanza.

Simply telling yourself to double your footwork, or forcing yourself to take extra steps to the ball is one of the most effective methods of overcoming early jitters, tightness, or inconsistent play.

Before each match, you should feel ready to compete physically and mentally. If you are not ready physically, you will not be ready mentally and your performance will reflect it.

Re-focusing on the strategy or game plan throughout the match is another easy method of getting back on track. Focusing on the game plan you and coach have outlined offers a distraction from previous points/games/sets and gives you a future oriented task to move forward with.

You might notice one common thread among all these suggestions: each is a controllable factor. Tennis is full of uncontrollable areas, but performance and effort is not one of them. Ultimately, you are the one to decide how to respond to situations faced on the court.

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What I'm Learning

1. I don't take returning service games seriously enough. I need to fight harder. This is like playing defense in basketball. I make too many unforced errors just getting the return of serve into play. I need to fight to win the first point and/or get to 30 before the server. Because I have a strong service game and can usually hold service, I need to use that to my advantage by applying more pressure on my opponents' service games. If I can hold serve easily, they will feel more pressure on their service games.
2. When faced with a "big" match, a match that "matters" somehow, I am often not competitive. I grow indifferent, telling myself it doesn't matter if I win or lose, when I know damn well that it does matter. This is a seriously fucked up game I play with myself. I need to learn how to walk into a "big" match that "matters" with confidence and set a positive, dominant tone from the get-go. 

Tournaments (2009)

2nd Annual Norm Shapiro Memorial Tennis Tournament
July 10-12, 2009

2009 South Kingstown Labor Day Open
September 4, 2009

Learning to play tennis?

What kind of player am I?

Tactically?

Mentally?

Determine what key tactical skills you need to develop that are most important to your particular strategy. For example, if you are an aggressive ground stroker with a big forehand and a week backhand, the forehand inside-out is important for you. (8)