Tag Archives: Smiling while playing tennis

A :) Is More Intimidating Then Breaking Your Racket

Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanisms in a way that even chocolate, a well-regarded pleasure-inducer, cannot match.

In our last post, we talked about learning from our mistakes. In today’s post, we will cover why smiling is more intimidating then swearing or breaking your racket.

The Test of a Good Player

Ask yourself the following questions to measure your progress toward becoming a great player.

  • Covering the Court
  • Hit the ball
  • Control my shots
  • Setting up the points
  • Control my nerves
  • Learn from my mistakes
  • Intimidate my opponents
  • Pressure my opponent
  • Enjoy the battle
  • Handle the outcome  

Intimidate your Opponent with Smiling

One of the best ways to intimidate your opponent is to always look like you are enjoying the match. If your opponent makes a beautiful winner, acknowledge it by holding up your racquet and clapping the strings with your left hand as if you were applauding. If he hits a mis s­hit winner, there is nothing more frustrating than playing an opponent who smiles all the time. It gives the appearance that he knows he is going to win and he is not feeling any pressure. Some sports psychologists recommend smiling to their “patients” who feel intense pressure (choking) during a tennis match. Some say certain “good” enzymes are released when you smile that make feel better.

So stop swearing and throwing your racquet. This only encourages your opponent and start smiling.

Let me know how this technique helps your tennis game in the comments below.

How To Handle The Outcome Of The Tennis Match

The battle has finished. The two warriors meet at the middle to shake hands. Now, all that is left to do is to evaluate the match. Win or lose. Learn how to handle the outcome.

The Test of a Good Player

Ask yourself the following questions to measure your progress toward becoming a great tennis player.

  1. Covering the Court
  2. Hit the ball
  3. Control my shots
  4. Setting up the points
  5. Control my nerves
  6. Learn from my mistakes
  7. Intimidate my opponents
  8. Pressure my opponent
  9. Enjoy the battle
  10. Handle the outcome  

Handle the Outcome

Handling the outcome of a tennis match can be divided into 3 time periods: the conclusion, the aftermath and the period of the match when the outcome is being determined.

No matter how close and hard fought the match, the winner and the loser should be gracious at the end. When the match is over we return to real life and have to live with each other.

So encourage the loser and congratulate the winner. After losing a match, don’t beat yourself up. Try to figure out why you lost. Did you blow a lead by changing your game? Were you tired? Does one or more of your strokes need improvement? You will learn more from losing than from winning.

During the match, if you are struggling and getting frustrated, try not to show it. Frustration feeds on itself. Try to relax and tell yourself that the more balls you hit the better you will play. As we have learned in the previous post, remember to smile instead of cursing.  Shouting, cursing and throwing your racquet only ruins it for everyone including yourself so remember that tennis is after all a game. Most importantly, have fun, relax and enjoy every minute on the court.

And Smile 🙂