Break Through The Slump!

All tennis players sometime during their career will go through a slump whether it is a couple bad days of practice, a stretch of bad tournaments, or even a year or more of bad tennis. As a result, players begin to get frustrated and many players, in particular junior players, feel like the world is coming to an end. Players then begin to tighten up on their mechanics and rush their shots a bit. Their confidence in their game decrease and they begin to get more nervous before their next match. A slump could even go as far as leading a player to quit the sport.

Relax! Breathe! Slow Down! The faster players are able to relax, take deeper breathes, and slow down their play, the faster they will get out of their slump. Ball machine practice is a great way for players to relax. They do not have the pressure of winning a match but rather can focus on regaining confidence in their mechanics. While on the ball machine, the player can practice their slow breathing by making sure they exhale during the shot and feeling their body relax through impact. Slow down your play by taking some time off whether it is a day, week, or more. Taking time off will help will help the player come back fresh and forget about what caused the slump. Slow down your play, whether it is practice or a match. Playing fast will cause you to rush your shots and in many cases will cause the player to have shallow breathing.

Players have to realize this slump is not the end of the world and they will eventually break through. Believe it or not, there is more to life than tennis. Players will come to many crossroads in their life that will outweigh this slump. You will get through this, how fast is up to you. Enjoy tennis and do not let a little bump in the road discourage you. See you on the court!

David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.