The Inner Game of Tennis - (In a Nutshell)

A summary and analysis of the key ideas in Timothy Gallwey's 1974 book, 'The Inner Game of Tennis'. The ideas (as they relate to sports) are so ahead of the respective time. This book can be applied to many aspects of life and learning.
For more reading: docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=c...

[@SteveLagman]

This book changed my life. In weeks I went from a frustrated, self-deprecating, ineffective player to one who truly enjoyed tennis (win or lose). I have incorporated these non-judgmental concepts into my work (doctor) and into my coaching (youth basketball). Observation: Kids take longer to latch on to Inner Game concepts and some adults just can't seem master it all, at least not from reading a book. For me it makes so much sense. I am forever grateful for Gallwey's genius.

[@neekomax75]

Great comment, thanks man.

[@pedrokoury1352]

I am reading your comment 7 years later and in a different country (Brazil)...still, we share the passion for tennis and taking care of our minds and bodies. Isn't this wonderful? Cheers

[@niranthaweekul7833]

Thanks you so much ,Doctor. Your comment make me realise the important & power of the inner game.

[@nickcruz8070]

Me, too. It changed my tennis and my life in 1985.

[@photobearcmh]

I know your comment is old but I share your thoughts. This book completely changed my tennis life. It made me a better player and teacher. I would recommend it to anyone interested in performance.

[@interactioncommunicativeen5860]

I think this is a great book, not only for sports but for many other areas of life, including language learning...

[@zenpanda2]

this book is the absolute best book on tennis. it changed me as a player drastically and i am so much better. best example, i was playing a mixed doubles match, we were down 1-4 in the deciding tiebreaker. I totally cleared my mind and allowed self 2 to take over. blasted two amazing serves out of nowhere and inspired my partner to start playing better and we went on to win the match.

[@pedrokoury1352]

You go, friend

[@crizpy9119]

For anyone interested, this audio segment is taken from the audiobook "50 Success Classics" by Tom Bowden. Great book.

[@foxtaunt]

PPMD brought me here

[@Peanutz996]

Kreygasm

[@PKSTkimo]

+Keenan Ris the inner game of shinning ya ass

[@ELIPOWER]

Am using this for Smash Bros

[@jayscoolvideosa]

ELI POWER got netplay

[@Susi-xu5qb]

fortnite here

[@luigit0ilet]

melee here

[@Roz257]

Yes you are, from PPMD

[@oobs3059]

Same but to be honest it can be taken and used for anything competitive.

[@TacoVeldstraGrutte]

A revolution in tennis instruction...the book by Galway is a classic! ZEN!

[@sammm141]

This is just brilliant! So glad I came across this!

[@tsvetelinayordanova3783]

That is such an amazing knowledge!

[@joshuayang42]

This blew my mind. great job! I won't punish myself anymore...

[@fzzzzzzzy]

Nice summary.

[@thetruthwillsetyoufree9209]

"Effortless effort..." Brilliant 😎

[@pedrokoury1352]

"naturalness"

[@godsoffice5714]

@@pedrokoury1352 actually it's the opposite.

[@walterhayley7252]

@@godsoffice5714 , it depends...

[@PS-hy5pi]

Great video!! I am a horse rider, but l play music as well, l m trying to apply this principles to improve my horse riding and self confidence !!!

[@judgefrankszymanski9428]

Great summary.

[@orlenasauer1356]

This is fantastic, as a Pickleball player this will sure come in handy.

[@Giraffinator]

"In a state of flow." Yeah. I like the sound of that.

[@SciFiSciFi]

thank you scar

[@Antisemetic]

This is excellent, it has helped overcome my frustrations and self destructive behaviour on the court

[@punyparkerr]

My teacher gave me this title after I freaked out over state tests and wow... this book... 10/10

[@Gandalf20000]

I really would like to read this book. My dad suggested it to me to help me get over my mental blocks regarding my ability as a trumpet player. I've always thought teaching and leading by example was the best method, but I've never really applied it to my trumpet playing.

[@MarkSilcox2009]

Great and very inspiring. Minor correction "Through not being attached to the fruit of victory" is driven from the statement in Bhagavad Gita in which Lord Krishana says you only have right to karma (action) the fruit is not in your control.

[@lawpilot8526]

7/20/2021 It is the best book on tennis. The only error is in referring to the unconscious mind. No such thing. He should have said “subconscious” mind.

[@ethanokwuosa4164]

“to play to your best, you must live every second in the present”

[@xanh350]

this is not only good for tennis, its amazing for all sports

[@RelMexLive]

For life too I’m guessing?

[@xanh350]

@@RelMexLive yeh I would think yes.

[@RelMexLive]

@@xanh350 did you see any improvements?

[@dbrockrivera5003]

Jared Mccain brought me here

[@diegonayalazo]

Thanks

[@mcdamike]

I have to reread this book again. I'm making all the same mistake again during competition.

[@Antisemetic]

Wow

[@allgood6760]

I reckon this can be applied to Pool🎱

[@alexalexson1849]

This is why John Daly plays his best golf drunk

[@mellow5123]

Yup.

[@andy_in_nh9243]

Justin Dyal of Dialed In Training sent me here.

[@pamtaylor7181]

Trust yourself and look for the seams of the tennis ball.

[@lorddeecee]

I fucking love melee

[@cfreemful]

Being in the zone???

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

VIC BRADEN book Future if tennis and Vic Braden Mental tennis are books to buy It is biomechanics and science

[@spidolver]

tennnnnis

[@oscarvandeneijnde3760]

I got gc thx

[@P.H.888]

This is A Racket

[@WiqedWhiteGorilla]

Zuh-Ha-BEE!!!

[@effortless4588]

Using for untitled boxinng game

[@delight9311]

This is really outdated and incorrect information unfortunately, but it's understandable how he came to this conclusion. Yes, performance *is* boosted significantly when you don't focus on the little details of how to do things right, or better, but development is not. This is a misunderstanding of the difference between performance and development. A simple example would be if a basketball player knew that technically, he should be rounding a defender to the left, but cannot dribble well to his left so he goes right. Going right is the *correct* choice for performance because attempting to do what you can't do well is going to end badly, but it is the *wrong* choice for development, because we do not get better at things we do not practice, and deliberate practice and error correction is how you develop. This necessarily means you will drop performance while you practice the things you aren't as good at, but by doing so you will be able to -- at your discretion -- switch off the developmental focus and go back to performance where you will find that you will now dribble left when you need to without any attention put into it, because you did enough work that your mind now selects for it as an easy path. So the main take away I recommend people take from this is that yes, when you want raw performance (competitions), you switch off your mind from developmental focus, free up cognition and let your mind take you through the easiest paths it knows. But when you are practicing, and seeking to improve, you absolutely 3000% focus on the details, and just be aware of how to switch off that focus when you're ready to perform.

[@GFC1337]

Well said. This was exactly my thinking as well after I read the book. Without using self 1 I would have never learned how to finish a layup with my off-hand.

[@jgsource552]

So the information the video has is still correct in a way where it applies during the performance stage of a game and how it lets you perform at your baseline level, but during practice you want to get into the details and development which slowly improves baseline?

[@woah3108]

Jacob Collier brought me here

[@zahirjacobs716]

I had to stop listening because this guy talks as if he's giving a speech.

[@198boblob]

Zahir Jacobs he is giving a speech

[@ajb7786]

Most of this stuff is utterly false - you ARE thinking about all those things at your best and most fluid - you're just processing the information so quickly it feels like you're not thinking. The key is to get to that mental acuity. Most of the stuff in this book prevents you from ever reaching there and most of the motivation behind these techniques are based on coaches failing to find the proper teaching techniques and then throwing the baby out with the bathwater. And most of this books success, as is typical for the misguided, is based on excuse culture and idolizing strangers (i.e. I can't accomplish what I want because my mental and physical techniques have been improper, I don't know what the proper techniques are, but here's something that famous people have aggrandized so I'll just worship this source as the "secret" to something I still haven't found). You want to get good at something - stop assuming you're correct.

[@broncoguy4862]

You sure slam this book without much in the way of reason, despite years and years of positive reviews...although your use of cliche psycho-babble phrases is noted. Instead of uselessly griping about a book that's already proven itself to genuine critical thinkers, why don't you write your own book since you think your knowledge is superior?

[@camfrance10]

You must be fun at parties

[@walterhayley7252]

Exactly--stop assuming you are correct... LOL