Concentration is the Key to Champion Tennis
When I first met Pauline Betz Addie I ask her was what is the single most important thing to playing tennis? Concentration she replied. At Pauline’s 90th birthday party, one of Pauline’s old tennis friend I asked her about if she knew anything about her perfect match. Peggy Dillon said that she watch the entire match. Nancy lost the round before in the semi-finals of this tournament to the woman Pauline beat without any errors in two sets. Pauline in 1943 won 48 straight points- a perfect match- in the Tri-State Singles Final. In 1986, I won a perfect set playing with Pauline playing against a dear friend the Pro at Edgemoor Club.
What is concentrating in tennis? For me it is a practice of bring grace to the entire bodily/mental experience of playing the game. The mind becomes quiet and the body listens, observes and respond to the ball. This comes about through hours of practice and targeting one’s shots to exact spots on the court.
Concentration also allows me to focus. Just as a camera lens I develop a process to be with and listen to my tennis sense, or a clearer focus understanding of my shot situation. Many hours of practice has resulted in me in tapping this body sense.
For example when I pay close attention to my exhaling on my shot this invites deeper relaxation when I learn how to better focus my mind.
As I practice hitting a tennis ball I learn how to deepen, quiet and meditate to sound of the ball coming off the strings. The more I help relax the more I can become sensitive to feeling my shots and directing them to their destination. Then I can “drop down,” gently focusing at a “visceral” level to a target process of placing the ball in a high percentage area that troubles my opponent.
Concentrating is a felt sense I instruct my younger students as rock climbing. A mindful process of being alert and awake to what will happen in the next moment with this imagine metaphorical process of what it feels like just now.
The key is that my concentration sense itself is always primary putting you into a zone. I become the shot. A Rod Laver forehand crosscourt or a John McEnroe backhand half volley drop shot- adjusting or replacing the handle until the fit is optimal. You know you’ve got a right fit when the felt sense itself gives a little shift, a kind of easing or opening, a sense of being truly recognized—like before serving seeing yourself hit an ace then making this visualization a reality..
Greater attention comes to your tennis game, when your center in the body. Through greater concentration I explore how to be more playful, exploring, and creative inquiry to working on my form and follow-through with each stroke. Training the “tennis mind” we learn to “go into” positive stroke visualizations of how to precisely hit the shot. Also this creates a more a way of lessening distractions, doubt and other counter productive thoughts.
Developing greater concentration come from more skillful mental exercising. Cultivating increased attention to playing tennis also creates a wonderful sense of being. This practice both unfolds a greater understanding and shifts me to play a more aware game. In turn concentration can resolve aspects of your game that feel stuck, creating forward movement. Increase awakening from moment to moment tennis play allows me to be will both relaxed and alert. Finally, concentrating on how to elevating my game improves both my tennis in all aspects of my life.
