I started playing tennis while attending college in the upstate New York area (Binghamton). I immediately caught the tennis bug and found myself addicted to playing seven days a week for up to six hours a day. Luckily, I started with good natural hand-eye coordination skills and sound footwork, but I had to learn how to improve to beat my opponent by incorporating shot-making skills, mindful strategy, and, most importantly, displaying a positive attitude. This helped me turn many negative moments into a more positive outcome!
I started purely as a singles player but later was introduced to playing doubles and quickly needed to learn to play and communicate as a team. Remember, just because you have two top singles players teaming up doesn’t mean they will dominate and win. They may not be doubles specialists. This has been proven time and time again. Just ask the former doubles specialist team of the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike). They chose not to compete in singles competition, but instead specialize only in doubles play.
After we had moved into Sun Lakes (Cottonwood), it was decided that I would buckle down and get serious about improving my tennis skills and knowledge and, just like any tennis player, it will take more than just socially playing on a regular weekly basis. Trust me—that’s a fact! It will take a lot more than just that, and if you don’t believe me, then just ask my idol Roger Federer to confirm my opinion. If all tennis professionals are that good, then why do they have a coach? Remember, there are no shortcuts to achieving high performance. Excellence will not be given but, rather, earned and, in due time, will become mastered.
There are no easy answers from Alexa or Google that will provide you with the improvement needed for your self-performance. All the books and countless hours on YouTube videos will only give you general knowledge. More importantly, individuals need to be on the court to correct mistakes and practice until muscle and mental memory kicks in. It is then that you are on autopilot and have achieved the confidence on shot making. You control where you are sending the ball, and you are also controlling your opponent on the court.
All winners will continue to train and, sadly, all losers will continue to complain (excuse #1, excuse #2, frustration, anger, low confidence, meltdown. etc.).
Remember, perfect practice creates perfect. If you continue doing the same mistakes you have been doing, you “rehearse the curse,” then you have just simply wasted four years of time and skills development. Remember, the World Olympics are every four years. Athletes spend all four years and more training for this brief 16-day event which brings together the best athletes worldwide. If you are serious about improving and taking your game to the next level, don’t allow FONK to get in your way … Fear Of Not Knowing.