THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS
The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
By W. Timothy Gallwey 1974
Reviewed by Billy E. Crawford
If I were a “betting man,” which I have been know to be on a few occasions, I would bet a number of our over 100 members has read, and re-read this classic book devoted to the MENTAL SIDE of tennis.
I was not one of this select group, until I received a copy at Christmas from our son.
Question: What is your “favorite” word you shout, whisper, or think when you hit that easy overhead into the bottom of the net—or double fault on match point?
Now, what do you think or say---in your most modest demeanor--- when you serve that ace for victory, or hit that driving forehand up the middle between the opposing double’s team?
Gallwey writes that these two different reactions are responses to the relationship between what he calls:
Self 1-the ego (mind)
Self 2-the doer (body)
In the 134 pages the author of The Inner Games of Tennis covers the implications of this relationship between mind and body .
Chapters include:
Discovering of the two selves
Quieting Self
Trusting Self
Techniques
Changing habits
Games people play on the court
The meaning of competition
In summary, the KEY areas I found especially helpful were:
Practicing the Art of Focus (concentration skills)
Pitfalls of “trying too hard”
Letting go of self-judgment
Supreme value of “Relaxed Concentration”
Did you think tennis was all physical skill and play on the court? You may need to dig a little deeper into your “inner game.”
You can reach me at billyecrawford@gmail.com
HAPPY READING
