Operation Doubles Tennis: TM: If I play this 10 times...

By Tomaz Mencinger
TennisMindGame.com

After a good baseline rally, you finally force your opponent to cough up a short ball. You attack down the line, and your opponent hits a running forehand a few inches from the line passing you cleanly.

You think, "Wow, I’d better not approach like that next time. I must risk more or not come to the net at all."

Is that the right decision? Very likely not.

How can you know whether you should play a certain tactic or shot?

First, ask yourself, "If I play this tactic/shot 10 times, will I win more than 5 times?"

Or, "If my opponent plays this type of shot, can they make it more than 5 out of 10 times?"

That way you can judge whether your tactic works LONG TERM. There is something you need to know about the mind—that its No.1 priority is to protect you from pain, both physical and emotional. When your opponent hits a clean winner past you, you don't like it because you feel emotional pain, even if but a slight one. Your brain reacts by signaling you to avoid that situation.

Your mind isn’t interested in the distant future, where you will experience even greater emotional pain when you lose the match. (I hope not, but most people do.) It wants to protect you from immediate danger, so you start doubting that you should come to the net.

When you think, "If I do this 10 times what will be the result?" you realize that you may have to sacrifice a few little emotional pains to win the match and avoid a bigger pain, gaining greater pleasure.

Look for long-term strategies and tactics that will help you win the match. Avoid hasty decisions based on your emotions.

Copyright 2006, Tomaz Mencinger -- all rights reserved worldwide

Tomaz Mencinger is the author of The Mental Manual for Tennis Winners and The Tennis Strategy Encyclopedia and an athletic consultant who works with nationally ranked juniors at the Tennis Academy of Asia in Thailand.