Creating Confidence in your Game

May 17, 2023

Confidence is a crucial part of our platform tennis game. Now that it is off-season, it is time to build that confidence within ourselves. But confidence does not magically appear, it is the result of our thoughts and actions. It also can take time to build confidence. Here are a few ways to create confidence on the court:

Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice, the more confident you will feel on the court. Make sure to practice both your strengths and weaknesses, but focus on perfecting your strengths to develop a solid foundation. Also, practicing with someone who is a positive on-court presence will make drilling much more valuable and fun.

Set achievable goals: Setting achievable goals for each match or practice session will help you build confidence as you accomplish them. Start with smaller goals, like hitting a certain number of serves in a row, and work your way up to more challenging goals like 15 backhand screen lobs in a row.

Visualize success: Visualization is a powerful tool that can help you build confidence. Take some time before your match or practice to visualize yourself playing well and winning points. This positive visualization will help you feel more confident and prepared.

Focus on your strengths: Every player has strengths and weaknesses. It is essential to identify your strengths and focus on them. If you're a great server or have a powerful overhead, use those shots to your advantage and trust that you can execute them consistently.

Stay positive: Platform tennis is a mental game. Staying positive is crucial to building confidence. Focus on the positive aspects of your game and use self-talk to boost your confidence. Remember to stay in the present moment and not dwell on past mistakes.

"I believe that building confidence involves discipline and preparation. If you do the right things, including practicing, hydrating, stretching, visualizing, eating nutritious, high-quality meals, scouting your opponents, or whatever it is that your process of preparation includes, on a consistent basis, and you stay disciplined with it, you can be calm and comfortable that you did the right things. For me that always means increased confidence. Knowing that I did what I thought was right (whether I was right or wrong in thinking they were the right things) gives me confidence in competing." --Filip Rams

Confidence is a choice! It’s something that we have control over as platform tennis players. While it's natural to feel nervous or unsure at times, we can choose to approach the game with a confident mindset. Keep practicing and believe in yourself; you'll leave the court calmer and stronger.

Photo credit @garrisonblock