Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.
Founder of StayInTheZone.com
Want To Play Tennis In The Zone?
Junior players, senior players
and professional tennis players all want to learn how to get in
the zone and stay in the zone. Sports psychology can teach
players how to train their minds to play in the zone more often.
I have taught thousands of athletes how to use sports psychology
and self-hypnosis to enhance their athletic performance. Tennis
players have learned these techniques via meetings with me,
during phone consultations, at seminars and with audio programs.
Are You Out Of The Zone?Tennis
players who are struggling and are out of the zone make the
following kinds of remarks:“I am sick of losing to players I
should beat.”
“Why do I play like a champ
during practice and perform like a chump during the match?”
“I always lose my temper after I
make a few unforced errors.”
“I was up 5-1 and I just couldn’t
close out the match.”
“I got up tight and then I
started to hit short balls. The other kid started to jump all
over them and I was finished.”
“The pressure got to me. My legs
felt like they were attached to the ground and my arm felt like
it was made out of cement.”
“I lost my concentration, focus
and confidence when I couldn’t get my serve in.”
“This one player knows how to
psyche me out before we even start the match. I am intimidated
by his size and demeanor.”
“I get distracted by the media
and I can’t seem to focus.”
“My parents put a lot of pressure
on me and I can’t seem to get them out of my mind when I step on
the court.”
“I can’t sleep well before a big
match. I think about blowing points and losing and I wind up
tossing and turning all night. When I have to play my match I am
exhausted before I step on the court.”
“My heart beats fast and my palms
get sweaty. Once that happens, I don’t know how to calm down.”
“Sometimes I am so concerned
about what others are thinking about my game I just can’t seem
to perform.”
“I can get really self-critical
when I lose a match. I beat myself up for days if I don’t
perform to my fullest potential.”
Are You In The Zone?
Players who know how to get in the zone report these
kinds of thoughts and feelings:“I was confident and relaxed for the whole match.”
“My strokes felt smooth.”
“My footwork was effortless. I felt like I could run forever.”
“I was seeing the ball really well.”
“I felt like the racket was an extension of my hand.”
“Nothing could distract me.”
“I felt like I could place my serve exactly where I wanted to.”
“I played in the present.”
“There was no self-criticism and I had a lot of fun out there.”
“My balance and stamina were super. I felt like I could play
forever.”
“Once I learned how to control my emotions on the court, I
felt better off the court too.”
“I learned how to believe in myself and how to bounce back from
a bad match, a bad game or a bad point.”
“I know what to do when I start to lose my temper or my
focus. I practice self-hypnosis before points, before matches
and in between points.”
“I kept getting great depth on my shots. The other player was
on the defensive the whole match.”
“I learned how to focus on the path of the ball and eliminate
unforced errors.”
“Last year, I choked in the club championship. This year
I won in straight sets against the same player I lost to
last year. I kept myself in the zone for the whole match.”
If you or someone you love is a serious tennis player who
wants to master the mental part of tennis, there are three things
you can do to get the help you need to take your game to the
next level.
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