Comments on: Controlling Your Emotions

By: HMiller

HMiller — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:42:06 +0000

I think it’s interesting that many of these posts cite Roger Federer as an example of the cool demeanor to emulate. I’ve heard he was guilty of horrible emotional outbursts when he was younger. I actually find this encouraging, since it proves the change CAN happen. We just have to find tools and tactics (I like the vision of teflon) to make it so. I’ve fonally made some good progress in this area recently. My husband has as well. Now if we can just get our extremely talented but much too “Passionate” 9 year old to embrace this. His expectations of perfection have caused him to lose many matches against players who only had one advantage over him – a cool head and the ability to move on to the next point.

By: JRad

JRad — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:30:18 +0000

Ritual is good way to control the emotions. If you are in the habit of ding the same thing after every point, you won’t have the option of pulling your hair out. I was taught that after every point I should immediately switch my racquet to the other hand, relax my hitting arm, and either retrieve loss balls or walk directly to the baseline for the next point. I used to be annoyed that pros would go to the towel after every point (even indoors or after being aced) but I think it is part of their method.

By: Assen

Assen — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:22:04 +0000

I recently watched a lot of tennis and had the chance to watch many of Federer’s matches on clay. He makes many errors but sticks to his tactics as long he is convinced it is the right one. He knows that if he plays the right way, he will soon find his rhythm and everything will fall to its place.

Fed recently had some poor matches, where he would make some really bad mistakes and never shouted at himself, never smashed a racket. One of these mistakes was a completely missed ball on matchpoint at the Madrid Open against Nadal – his greatest rival. If Fed does not get mad at his errors, then who am I to get mad at my errors? Since realizing this, I started to concentrate on sticking to my gameplan, rather than lamenting on my bad footwork or stroke technique. I also realized that if I wanted to play attacking tennis, I needed to accept that I would make more errors than my opponent, because I was going for those deep approach shots and angled volleys. Even Fed does not get them in nearly every time

By: Zak

Zak — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:33:05 +0000

When I first started playing I had terrible attitude problems. Mostly was due to playing my friends I got used to them allowing me to be a nightmare (at times on court). I never directed my anger outward always to inwardly. This changed when I started watching tennis on the TV. I noticed I gravitated to players with that cool demeanor. Like Federer, the man no matter what point it is, how many errors he makes, he looks the same. I cannot count the amount of times you might see him frame a ball, then the next point absolutely crush a winner. Its that calm, focused approach that helps him take one point at a time. So as it is now I cannot remember the last time I hit my racquet on the net cord after missing a volley, yelling at myself for hitting a ball into the net. Just try to remember even the best frame a ball too.

By: Ian Westermann

Ian Westermann — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:27:17 +0000

Nice, great comments, John.

By: Ian Westermann

Ian Westermann — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:26:42 +0000

Good stuff, Dana. It’s great that you realize there’s plenty of time left! Keep up the good work.

By: John M

John M — Sat, 15 May 2010 20:00:33 +0000

In dealing with errors, I try to play with a “teflon” mindset. Meaning that I try to play so that nothing, not my errors, or my partner’s errors, or the antics of my opponents, will stick to me. I try to visualize these things just sliding off of me and falling to the ground around me. A physical act that helps me in this regard is something I learned from watching Andre Agassi. After he made a bad error, he would literally turn his back to the ball and walk away from it in the other direction. This act of physical separation helps me get my mind on the next point.

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:44:01 +0000

Great stuff, Ian. I can really relate to taking the game too seriously. It seems like the older I get, the harder I am on myself, because I realize I have less and less time to “get good.” Then I forget to enjoy the game. Thanks for bringing me up short on this one again.

Also, I just can’t seem to convince myself that since even the pros make errors, I should expect to make some as well. For some reason, I think I should be better than they are and never make an unforced error. That thought in itself is an error. Thanks for reminding me about that again as well.

Maybe before it is all over for me on the tennis court, I will really learn to enjoy the game! Being in my 60s, that only gives me 40-50 years of good quality playing time left. I better start enjoying it fast.

By: Steveo

Steveo — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:40:03 +0000

Ian, this is a great article. I can tend to get very down on myself if I’m not playing well. I have to stop and make myself remember that I’m out there doing something that I love to do, I’m not a pro, and my future does not depend on me winning or losing. I especially like the comment about practicing negative emotions – this will give me something more to think about the next time I get out to play!