Just the tip with Mason 🎾

Do you ever walk off the court feeling like you beat yourself or didn’t perform as well as you could have? Sometimes we get in our way by worrying about everything going on around us rather than the match and what us important to improving. Here are some tips to improve your mental game!

Focus on What You Can Control

• Set personal goals: Pick a maximum of three simple goals for the match that depend only on you, such as moving your feet fast or staying near the baseline.

• Ignore the outcome: Do not think about winning or losing. Think about executing the next single shot.

• Block out distractions: Ignore the crowd, the weather, and your opponent's ranking.

• Use other techniques to focus: In your head or out loud say bounce when the ball bounces and hit when you strike the ball.

Control Your Eyes and Breathe

• Fix your gaze: Keep your eyes locked on a single spot, like your strings or the tennis ball, to stop your mind from racing.

• Breathe deeply: Take slow breaths between points to calm your nerves and lower your heart rate.

• Use positive self-talk: Tell yourself short, encouraging phrases when you feel doubt or frustration.