- Being too cautious or hesitant.
- Being better in practice than in a game or tournament.
- Serving or attacking just to “not mess up” instead of being aggressive.
- Poor body language.
- Undermining your own potential.
- Low confidence.
- Very nervous before games, getting set, or serving.
- Easily distracted during games.
- Struggles to bounce back after errors/mistakes.
- Too critical of yourself and obsessing about being perfect.
10 Tennis Mindset Red Flags (Explained)
- Being too cautious or hesitant. If you are not “going for your shots” in your matches then you are not really playing “your game”. This mentality is exposing a fear of losing.
- Being better in practice than in matches and tournaments. Something in your mindset is hindering you from playing free and easy without fear of mistakes in your matches.
- Playing “not to miss”, instead of being aggressive. Are you just waiting for your opponent to lose the point for themselves versus making something happen every point? Are you sticking to your strategy and controlling the points or are you being controlled and just trying to survive?
- Poor body language. Poor body language shows your competition that you are flustered, and generally compounds your own frustration. Poor body language shows your mindset is externally focused, as if to say “I want everyone to know that I don’t normally miss that shot! I’m better than this!”
- Undermining your own potential. Are the goals you are setting too low? Do other people believe in your ability more than you do?
- Low confidence. How do you carry yourself? Do you believe you can attain your goals? Do you trust your training and know that your techniques and strokes are there?
- Very nervous before matches, returning, or serving. Do you feel shaky or unsteady? Is your mind thinking all sorts of what ifs? What if, I miss this shot, what if, I miss this serve, what if I lose this match?
- Easily distracted during matches. Are you watching other courts? Are you looking around at friends or spectators? Is your mind wandering to school or work while you are on the court?
- Struggling to bounce back after errors/mistakes. If you miss an approach shot, are you carrying the emotion of missing that shot into the next point?
- Negative Self-Talk. Negative self-talk typically stems from being too critical of yourself and obsessing about being perfect. It also shows that you are taking yourself way too seriously and being a bad sport.
If your team or tennis players struggle with these Red Flags, it is important to address them immediately. Working harder doesn’t solve these problems. Maturing doesn’t solve these problems. You don’t get better at Math by studying English. You need to address the problem head on.
Each of these can be improved with the right Mental Reps. As tennis players we make thousands of physical reps a week (backhands, forehands, volleys, serving, footwork, etc). Take the right Mental Reps each week as well and that’s when you break through plateaus and Jump Levels!