What matters isn’t how well you play when you’re playing well. What matters is how well you play when you’re playing badly. – Martina Navratilova
There is a reason that most people enjoy playing and feel more comfortable playing opponents that they know they can beat. You can show off, you never feel threatened, and you can take risks that you would not ordinarily take if you were playing in a more competitive match. It is just easy, and because it is easy, it does not require much thought or focus into what you are doing. This is also true when you are playing your best. When you are operating at your peak performance, everything seems incredibly natural. What requires thought and focus is when you are not playing your best. Fortunately, there are measures that you can take to perform well even when you are struggling.
Your primary focus when you are not playing your best should be that you have the ability to turn the tide. In the words of former heavyweight champion boxer James Braddock, “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” Tennis does not have a time limit. So, as long as the match is still going, you have the potential to win the match no matter how poor your performance has been up to that point. In order to be able to change the way that you are playing, you have to realize that you have the ability to change. This optimistic viewpoint allows you to take action instead of focusing on previous mistakes.
Once you recognize that even though you are not currently playing your best that you can turn the tide, you must revert back to what you were doing when you were playing well. There must be some sort of difference between your best and your worst performances. For example, if you are having difficulty serving, recall whatever was different when your serves seemed unstoppable. Take the same approach as when your serves were great, and your serve will likely improve.
Lastly, avoid being overly critical of yourself. Mistakes happen to everyone and they can be improved. When you have a negative attitude and are critical, it is likely that each mistake will only lead to more mistakes. Rather, you should take the mistakes that you make and learn from them in order to become a better player. There are going to be times when you are not performing at your best. However, taking these steps will help you to begin to perform well even when you are performing poorly.
There is a reason that most people enjoy playing and feel more comfortable playing opponents that they know they can beat. You can show off, you never feel threatened, and you can take risks that you would not ordinarily take if you were playing in a more competitive match. It is just easy, and because it is easy, it does not require much thought or focus into what you are doing. This is also true when you are playing your best. When you are operating at your peak performance, everything seems incredibly natural. What requires thought and focus is when you are not playing your best. Fortunately, there are measures that you can take to perform well even when you are struggling.
Your primary focus when you are not playing your best should be that you have the ability to turn the tide. In the words of former heavyweight champion boxer James Braddock, “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” Tennis does not have a time limit. So, as long as the match is still going, you have the potential to win the match no matter how poor your performance has been up to that point. In order to be able to change the way that you are playing, you have to realize that you have the ability to change. This optimistic viewpoint allows you to take action instead of focusing on previous mistakes.
Once you recognize that even though you are not currently playing your best that you can turn the tide, you must revert back to what you were doing when you were playing well. There must be some sort of difference between your best and your worst performances. For example, if you are having difficulty serving, recall whatever was different when your serves seemed unstoppable. Take the same approach as when your serves were great, and your serve will likely improve.
Lastly, avoid being overly critical of yourself. Mistakes happen to everyone and they can be improved. When you have a negative attitude and are critical, it is likely that each mistake will only lead to more mistakes. Rather, you should take the mistakes that you make and learn from them in order to become a better player. There are going to be times when you are not performing at your best. However, taking these steps will help you to begin to perform well even when you are performing poorly.