Mental Match Preparation - Ask Ian #13 - Tennis Lessons and Instruction

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If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.
:-)

[@Fitness4London]

Awesome video Ian. I'm always vigilant to crush the 3 demons: Tentitive, Tight, and Sloppy. Crush them with confidence, focus, and intensity.

[@EssentialTennis]

Fitness4London Awesome!

[@tracymitchell-floyd3392]

Hi ian, what is the best food to eat for tennis , before and after a match. Thanks Euan

[@Radnally]

Great advice. The first usta match i won, i was so focused on each point, i didnt even know it was match point when i won.

[@EssentialTennis]

That's AWESOME Radnally! I've experienced that a few times, but not many. Congrats on your excellent focus, keep up the good work.

[@jeangrey5808]

Good video! Thanks for the great advice

[@febatoon701]

Thank you Mr. Ian!! Super helpful.

[@maddieh9638]

hey ian-watched these videos all week during tryouts and i made varsity! honestly think these made a big difference! thanks!!

[@isabelsilagy7151]

Absolutely great advice! My mental strength and focus is something I struggle with often when competing in matches. Your advice has been really helpful and I'm going to try to apply this as best as possible for my tournament this weekend!

[@alicjahatzakis508]

My 11 year old just watched your video. Thank you for very helpful tips.

[@jovivh6584]

Thanks so much about this. I have a tournament tomorrow and I was really nervous about my expectations, but this helped me to realise I have to do the best that I can and well... To have fun :)

[@smjulioc]

Thanks for this!!!

[@robertcampbell2467]

Hello, Ian. I am happy that I discovered your KZbin program. I appreciate your insight and coaching. I appreciated your "be in the moment" advice regarding mental match preparation. I suggest that you encourage tennis players to also focus on their physical and mental state's "moment", specifically their breathing, visualization, and self-coaching. I have succeeded in overcoming my wavering focus and performance anxiety in matches by inhaling through my nose a few deep diaphragm breaths, visualizing, and "nego-replacement" coaching. I formerly tightened up serving at "ad out", which typically resulted in my double fault, soft serve, or choke reply to his return. I addressed this challenge by: 1. Releasing my physical tension by breathing deeply through my nose while watching my diaphragm expand and contract. 2. Replacing my self-defeating messaging by visualizing Roger Federer's sweet serve, while coaching myself to extend my full-height toss in front of me, focus on the ball, fully extend my arms, bend my knees, arch my back, hit up into the ball, pronate, and fully follow through. 3. I addressed the return by visualizing Agassi's return while coaching myself to bend my knees, focus, fully stroke up, pronate, and fully follow through to the appropriate side depending upon the return's placement, pace, and spin. I feel healthier, confident, and effective by breathing, Fed/Ag-mirroring, and replacing my negative internal messages with successful service/return reply stroke coaching. Be well, Ian. Happy Thanksgiving to your family and you. Cheers. Sincerely, Robert Campbell Denver, CO

[@EssentialTennis]

Robert Campbell Awesome thoughts and insights, Robert! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@nasser.fard1]

Well explained, Thaks Ian!

[@georgewachtel5333]

Ian - excellent topic. I recently played the #1 player in the country in my age group at the Clay Nationals. I knew i could not beat him; so i just focused on winning as many points as i could. ended winning three games and was very happy with my performance.

[@EssentialTennis]

George Wachtel That's great, congrats!

[@allenbrooks5241]

Wow Ian it's like you read my mind exactly. About a year ago, I played my first USTA tournament. Going into the tournament I was smack dab on the idea that I should be winning all of my matches. But my mentality had got the best of me. I had put so much pressure on myself to not waste my parent's money, and to get my name on the ranking list. I got so nervous and I lost both of my matches. It was really bad. I am about to play my first tournament in almost a year, and I am really trying to make sure my mental game is strong. Your words really helped me. Instead of focusing on getting a ranking or making my parents happy, I need to play every point and focus on that. I have gotten a lot better and I do feel that with my capabilities I could claim the title. And with the help of your video I will definitely know how to mentally handle myself so that hopefully I can win my matches. Thanks Ian

[@sarab6415]

This was very helpful! I subscribed.

[@EssentialTennis]

So glad to hear it was helpful, Sara!

[@dkangan]

As I listened I found myself thinking that it is a game only if there is a possibility of winning or losing, and that if you expect to do either, you are that much less in the game. I like the approach you recommend.

[@EssentialTennis]

DK Ang Cool, thanks for watching!

[@paoloforti3762]

Hey Ian, grat video as always. Simple and effective. Your philosophy reminds me of the japanise world and philosphy of the "Shoganai" that dates back to the old Samurai's battle plan. Thanks so much

[@EssentialTennis]

paolo forti Interesting, I'll have to look into that!

[@nathanmiller6051]

Wow! Classic Ian Westermann! this is like finding a brick of gold 🙏👍🎾🥇 Definitely one of the most gifted tennis instructors! I watched this video back in the day but glad to see it again. Thanks Ian great job my friend 👊

[@EssentialTennis]

❤️🙏

[@madwarrior1920]

This is by far my favorite video from you. This will help me in my next tournament. Tanks!!!

[@EssentialTennis]

Jesus Hernandez That's what I love to hear, Jesus. Thanks for watching!

[@jacquelinehanna2532]

It would be really helpful to do a video on how to over come a plateau in your training and game play

[@Alvarocious]

This should help me mentally but you wouldn't happen to have a video on how to physically prepare for a tournament as in routines or stretches or hydration would you? (:

[@oliviamou60]

Notes: Human Nature: expectations-> what if I lose? Everything goes haywire. -> nervous, tight play Level of play ⬇️ Playing the “better” play: Feeling negative and expectation beforehand. E stop trying. Low intensity and focus. How to combat: Give yourselves a chance to be competitive so it doesn’t become a wasted opportunity. Do everything in your control to win. This includes managing your anxiety and saying things like:”I watch the ball after every point.” Look at your strings and don’t look anywhere else. Be in the zone.

[@DaveTrojan]

Come to Phoenix/Scottsdale! Lots of great players here who would love to meet and learn from you!

[@EssentialTennis]

Dave Taylor Be right over ;-)

[@spartyutube2020]

Dear Ian, what's the best way to deal with rain delays? I had a night match (a really important league doubles match) rescheduled to 2 days later 7am in the morning. So instead playing in the excitement of our teams there at night, we will be playing in the morning with nobody watching. I spent all day preparing physically and mentally and now it feels I'm spent mentally because of all the waiting and squeegeeing we had to do. I have 2 days to psyche myself up again. Any tips for me? Thanks!

[@GetagoMC]

Bout to play a match the determines where I go either JV or varsity and my opponent is very strong. Wish me luck 😄

[@EssentialTennis]

GetagoMC Hope you played well!

[@monkeyninja150]

Hey ian i was just wondering about the cinncinatti footage, how it goin with that?

[@EssentialTennis]

monkeyninja150 Our trip was incredibly productive! Got back last Saturday with over 1,800 video clips :-) We'll start rolling things out in the next few weeks. Lots of work to do just to organize it all.

[@br6827]

Hi Ian, i love your videos they have been really helpfull to me, anyway just wanted to let you know that you have been challenge to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (Top-Tennis-Training)), hope you accept the challenge, will be really funny to see, ok thanks, bye.

[@mooseinbush]

Hi Ian...good suggestion when preparating for any match! Will be very helpful to me in future matches. Small suggestion...you could 'beef up' the background to give it the same professionalism that you have in your lessons. At a minimum, the background is distracting.

[@EssentialTennis]

mooseinbush Thanks for watching and thanks for the input!

[@padmashreeanil7477]

What to eat before a match

[@dr.madhuriaglawe1998]

Sir how to face the climate which is totally different in which you practiced before Thank you

[@EssentialTennis]

Great topic idea!

[@dr.madhuriaglawe1998]

@@EssentialTennis Sir when will it be posted?

[@exnaruto1]

First :3

[@EssentialTennis]

exnaruto1 Congrats.