PSYCHOLOGY OF THE GAME

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 8

PSYCHOLOGY OF THE GAME

Concentration An Essential

Tournament or match play is exactly opposite to practice. In practice you always do the same thing. In match play you never do the expected unless it is simply a case of “putting the ball in play.” The two greatest factors in match play are to put the ball in play and never give your opponent the shot he likes to play. Remember that 80 per cent, of all the points in tennis as a whole are lost by errors, not won by earned points. Therefore, by always making the other fellow play shots he does not like to play, you will swell his error column and his errors count for you just as much as your earned points. If he can’t handle a chop then chop to him. If he hurries his strokes against a net man advance

at every opportunity but do not persist overmuch with one form of strategy for its effectiveness is gone when your opponent solves his problem. The ability to vary one’s game is not in the racket work alone. It is largely mental. One must change one’s mental attitude with every change of stroke. When you drive think “drive,” when you chop put all your mind on “chop.” The ability to change a mental attitude with each shot requires absolute concentration. There is more to this question than merely mixing strokes. There is the far greater one of changing the style of one’s game.

In general never change your style when ahead. Do not take chances when winning! The time to take chances is when you are losing. Do not change your game if you lose a set provided that set is close, 6-3 for example, where a service is lost once. If that set were 6-1 or 6-0 and you have been playing anywhere near form then change your game at once for you are outclassed with the original type and might just as well take a chance.

The whole secret of tennis success outside of actual stroke perfection (which anyone can learn in time) is always to keep mentally alert.

Use your brain at all times and under all conditions. When you err never mind for you gain more than you lose even though it may not be recognised.