JACKIE BOHANNON
Guest Writer
news@lbknews.com
Unfortunately, your problem is not uncommon. Not only does it happen at the recreational level but in the
pros too! This is not something that just happens in tennis either; it transpires across all sports.
The term I like to use for this situation is called “choking.” It is a mental ailment that then effects your physical ability to perform. Choking can happen for a wide variety of reasons. The main reason is that the player starts celebrating their win in their head too early, or gets tentative and stops playing to win, but playing not to lose!
I always coach my players to play each point literally point by point. Don’t think about the score, and do not let that affect how you are playing. Obviously if you are losing badly, you should change strategies, but if you are winning stick with what is working, and try to stay focused until the very end. Often when we blow ginormous leads it’s a combination of factors. Players tend to tense up or start playing more cautiously, while the opponent has nothing to lose and starts swinging away and “treeing”. (Treeing in tennis is when a player can do no wrong. They hit lines, winners, and play abnormally well.) When the opponent starts playing better, then you start feeling pressure and then it snowballs from there. The most important thing is to keep your foot on the gas pedal, and never look back. When you are winning, playing at a faster pace, and taking less time between points is a good idea as well to keep to the momentum going. My best advice to you is to treat 5-1 like you did 0-0, play each point with high percentage shots, and don’t focus on the score whether you are winning or losing. Play every single point like it is championship point at the US Open!
Jackie Bohannon is the Director of Tennis at the Bird Key Yacht Club.
