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Are you Fearless on Court?

So you just can't convert a break point, win that tie-break or hit like you do in practice? How's your head? Both teams and athletes are spending bucks and time on their mental games these days. Heinz Gunthhardt, Ana Ivanovic's new coach for example, is working to get a struggling Ivanovic to "un-think" her game.

The Fearless Mind: 5 Steps to Higher Performance, is a great new read on the topic. Author, Craig Manning, PhD, has played tennis on both collegiate and pro levels in addition to coaching BYU’s Division 1 tennis program into a national Top 20 program.  He has practiced and played with many of the world’s top professional athletes, including Pat Rafter and Wayne Arthurs. He is now a sports psychology consultant and as such had six client athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

 Manning explains how athletes can become successful through developing a fearless mind that sets realistic goals, beats mediocrity, embraces greatness and ultimately builds game. Most of his examples come from the court, useful from this reader's point of view; I don't get as much out of psych books that use football and such to illustrate points.

"High-performing athletes are very disciplined at directing their attention to the task at hand and not feeding their own egos," says Manning. "It is important to be setting goals that drive effort. They must also be ones you have control over." For example, You have control over executing balls. A goal for the weekend warrior might be: If you generally make 2-3 balls cross court before missing in a match, make your immediate goal to hit 5-6. Goals for high-level players would go hand in hand with their level of play.

The Fearless Mind refers many times to keeping a "Mental Skills Journal" that keeps goal records. You can buy one Manning has created at Visualize One.

The Fearless Mind is published by Cedar Fort Inc, and retails for $14.99. I got a lot out of it.

Motivation: James Blake. He keeps, going and going and...watch.

First in a new Tennisidentity.com category MOTIVATION. We all need it on court and some people are truly inspirational. Check out this ATP World Tour Insider video on one of my personal favorites, fellow New Englander, James Blake.  Check it out here.

Tennis players, mind your mental toolbox. Roger certainly does.

Anyone who has competed in tennis at any level will agree, tennis is a heady game.  Despite years of training and fitness, most pro players spend time honing their ‘mental tools,’  strategies that go beyond strokes, footwork and ball placement. Those rising to the top of the ranks are masters.  Roger Federer is a perfect example.

“The truly great athletes get into a ‘purposeful calm’ when they are at the height of competition…blocking out any adversity caused by physical ailments or other areas of the human experience,”  says Jim Fannin, Peak Performance Coach to seven former top ten players (not RF). "In order to get into what many call ‘the zone,’ athletes need to focus solely on real-time information, to effectively eliminate between thirty and forty percent of excess thoughts so they can have more clarity while they compete.”

So what’s a rec player to do? Fannin’s ‘mental toolbox’  is built around the word S.C.O.R.E.® which stands for Self Discipline, Concentration, Optimism, Relaxation and Enjoyment. Each word is associated with specific strategies to help your mindset stay focused and in that purposeful calm.  Fannin says that when all five components are balanced the zone will kick in.

A few starter tips: Keep your game under and within your control. Play higher over the net, play slower and deeper to gain control. Fannin calls the opposing side of the net your information center. Watch it vigilantly to know what’s coming. Use a take, not hold, mentality when serving and use small unnoticeable tension releasing exercises between points. Your jaw, for example, should be unhinged when playing, contributing to an all-over relaxation that will benefit your game.  Remain positive, and state an affirmation while you play, even after an error.  Enjoy yourself. Think of a song that keeps your engine running. Bring it on when your energy reserves are low.

Where can you get more? You can check into a place like The IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy which builds mental training into its programming or you can hire a coach dedicated to this realm of the game; many work over the phone.  There are also websites like, FuzzyYellowBalls, that offer regularly updated material on the subject.

Fannin’s coaching is available on CD /download – he of course does offer live support as well. His Tennis in the Zone can be found on his website. For anyone who can’t afford to travel or hire a personal coach – and that’s most of us – this is a real helpful and game improving listen.

Please drop a comment below if you’ve found any other sources to be particularly helpful on the subject.

Image: Nike