Inexact SCIENCE of Choking
- It’s OK to be NERVOUS — just don’t be AFRAID.
- Everyone chokes sometimes. No matter how tough you are, you’ll always be vulnerable. It simply means you’re emotionally ENGAGED.
- Toughness is being able to cope with choking not necessarily eliminate it.
- Projecting a positive powerful presence will help in controlling the choking response.
- Everyone faces mental challenges on the court. The key to overcoming them is to zero in on what is within your ability and ignore the rest.
- Choking is not all in your head. Try putting the onus on shot selections, not bending your knees, finding the right contact point, something simple YOU can control or change.
- Think in terms of hitting the RIGHT shot, not the wrong shot. Make sure you keep hitting the percentage shot not the “Hail Mary”.
- It’s your right to CHOOSE to be strong, to stay positive and engaged. CHOOSE to make the right decision, to stay positive and focused.
- DON’T worry about winning or losing a match. The outcome of a match is inevitable. You can affect the outcome. You cannot control how your opponent plays, the elements (wind, sun), bad breaks, or bad draws. You can however control how you treat each situation.
- Remember, attitude in tennis is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you handle it.
