Mental training is absolutely "in" – also as part of the training landscape in tennis. Whether you're a professional or amateur athlete, we all know the feeling. Your mind isn't in it, your arm feels heavy, your legs just won't cooperate. You miss shots that always come your way in practice, you feel pressure or even fear, and you unleash your aggression on the court. And in the end, you often leave the court with a defeat you just can't accept. If all of this sounds familiar and you want to organize and improve your tennis mentally, then the book "Mental Strength in Tennis" by Philipp Heger, published by Neuer Sportverlag, is highly recommended. The book offers a multifaceted insight into the complex world of mental strength , provides wonderful examples from everyday tennis life that you'll recognize in yourself, and gives you numerous solutions and concrete exercises to help you better access your best performance on the court.
In the first part of the book, the author demonstrates the importance of mental preparation for a match and why the start of the match is so crucial for every player. All known statistics show that the player who wins the first set is highly likely (between 78 and 90 percent) to win the match.
The following chapters cover a wide range of topics that contribute to mental strength. Specific recommendations for action follow at the end of each chapter. For example, the training champion will learn how to adapt his training to simulate competitive situations.
Some of the chapter titles are quite provocative. For example, chapter 6: "How to cheat properly." Admittedly, I was a bit confused at first. But this topic, too, is part of the mosaic of mental strength. How do you deal with unfair opponents without losing your composure, your focus, and ultimately the game? Here, the author provides plenty of practical examples and training exercises that allow you to practice handling contentious situations in a very concrete way.
Naturally, a chapter on rituals and routines a must in any mental self-help book. And it is. From a large number of different examples, you're sure to find a few routines that you can incorporate into your game and thus create more calm.
Mentally strong players usually manage to find the right balance between tension and relaxation . It's anything but easy, but it can be practiced and learned, even if there's no magic formula. However, the author's tips for reducing and increasing tension are quite helpful. The chapter on concentration presents practical exercises that can improve general concentration skills (not only) on the tennis court.
We all know that our body language
The match tiebreak described in great detail. This is no surprise, as it's often said that mentally stronger players win more match tiebreaks. The author examines this and other match tiebreak theories, sometimes refuting them with concrete figures and facts. This will surely alleviate many of your fears about a match tiebreak. The concluding tips on what to pay attention to before and during a match tiebreak can truly lead to victory.
The chapters "momentum" and the crucial points in a match are also interesting. Everyone knows that a match can completely turn around, sometimes multiple times. Simply being aware of this can help mentally and lead to greater composure. One's own behavior during crucial points can also be modified and practiced.
When discussing mental skills on the tennis court, the topic of flow essential – that state of absolute concentration and ease , where everything seems to come easily. As a reader, you'll find numerous examples of this complex subject that can help you achieve flow – at least for a while. Strategies for breaking free from the "vicious cycle" of a day when nothing seems to go right, when you're stuck in anti-flow, are also included.
Many people are familiar with it, but don't know what it's called. Even professionals like Sara Errani experience it when serving: so-called yips, muscle twitches that cause, for example, the ball toss during the serve to go completely wrong – time and time again. In the author's opinion, these yips are primarily due to mental reasons. This article presents initial approaches to reducing the yips.
Much of what the book discusses regarding mental strength in tennis can be directly applied to virtually all areas of life. This is the author's assertion, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Therefore, the book offers valuable tips and tricks not only for tennis, but also for understanding the complex "overall construct" of mental strength and how to work on it in different areas. Embarking on the journey of developing your own mental strength is a school for life , and this book can be a starting point and a helpful guide.
Philipp Heger is a DTB B-level coach and a VDT-certified tennis instructor, and with his debut book "Tactics in Tennis," he has now addressed the topic of "Mental Strength in Tennis." As a reader, you can tell that Philipp works at the grassroots level and has an excellent understanding of what goes on in the mind of both amateur athletes and ambitious tournament players. Not least, he knows from his own experience as an active player in the Oberliga (regional league) just how important the mental aspect is.
In tennis, the topic of mental strength has gained tremendous momentum in recent years. Many tennis players, from professionals and juniors to amateurs, seek advice from mental coaches. Rightly so – at least in the vast majority of cases. However, I seriously question whether children under 10 really need a mental coach. But generally speaking, it's important to address the mental aspects of the game and not just focus on the technical, tactical, and athletic aspects of tennis.
Anyone wanting to take their first steps in the field of mental health, or looking for a good summary of this multifaceted topic , should definitely pick up this book. I particularly appreciate the many concrete, practical examples that perfectly illustrate specific areas of mental well-being. The numerous tips and exercises are also helpful. However, those already more deeply involved with mental health may find that some sections lack more specific, in-depth solutions.
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