What to do if You Take Mental Naps During Matches

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about why tennis players can hit the ball well in practice but not their matches. And do the yips exist in tennis? Here's the question of the week.

SHERRY: "How can I overcome the yips on my forehand during competition? I seem to be able to hit it just fine during the warmup, but during matches I find myself tightening up and not swinging freely or normally. Why do my strokes change in matches?"

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to manage anxiety and stress when playing tennis.

JENNY: "I get really bad anxiety and stress playing tennis. I do enjoy playing it and practicing it, but I don’t really enjoy the competitive side because of all the stress it gives me. Instead of doing tennis, I was maybe deciding on doing track instead. I’m pretty good at that too and not scared. It’s fun and I enjoy it. I’m just scared that I might regret doing track in the future and not tennis. I would just really like some advice."

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about his son who protects his lead in the match. Here's the question of the week:

PETER: My son played a semifinal match and he was ahead 6-2 5-2 and playing amazingly. Then according to him, he started playing safe to close the match. The match went to a set tie break and lost 9-11 the set. He told us afterwards that he was bored at the 3rd set, which we translated it as having too much pressure and not being able to perform. He said that he felt as of he doesn't know how to play tennis. What’s your take on this?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about helping his young athlete with fragile confidence. Here is the question of the week:

ELVIS: I am a parent of an 8-year-old daughter, who makes a lot of unforced errors. I train her myself, even though I do not have formal tennis education. Last game, a junior's semifinal, she made 10 unforced errors within 10 points overall (10-7 overall score for her opponent). I wonder if there is any chance for these mentally fragile kids to succeed and became champions eventually based on your experience?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to stop pushing and instead switch to playing more offensive tennis. Here's the question of the week:

LUCY: I’ve won a lot of matches pushing the ball and driving all my opponents insane! Now, I finally learned to hit a forehand and I have a complete game in practice.  BUT when I compete, I go back to my default mode of pushing. I know I can win pushing. But I can't beat the top players doing it. How do I change my mindset from defense to offence in matches?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader who takes micronaps during points and not finishing off the point. Here's the question of the week:

OHN: I recently noticed that I sometimes take "micronaps" during points. Especially when I hit the ball well, I "reward" myself by resting, rather than aggressively preparing for the next shot. My guess is that this is because my conditioning isn't good enough, so my body is constantly asking for rest. This seems to happen at a subconscious level, leading to frustration when my on-court reactions are inexplicably delayed. How can I stay focused?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to turn around a match when down. Here's the question of the week:

TOM: I’m not sure if you’ve covered this subject before….  I’ve seen a tennis player get run over but not out of the match. Like they get beat 6-1, 5-2 and they turn the match around and beat the opponent. How the heck do they do that?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to help young tennis players retain their lessons. Here's the question of the week:

CHRIS: My nephew and I have been hitting since he was 7.  The struggle is I’ve been trying to get him to attend to the basics like watching the ball and rotating his body as he swings at the ball. He seems to get it in our practice session, but then doesn’t retain it the next time we hit.  It’s almost like it’s “Groundhog Day” with him.  Success comes in waves and then next time we hit, it quickly fades away and we start over some.

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader who is thinking about quiting tennis because her mental game is not up to speed with her physical game. Here's the question of the week:

ALEX: Yesterday I experienced a pretty tough loss against an opponent I had won over earlier this year. 6-1, 5-1 was the score when I had two match points. I guess I was afraid of winning, but I also started to think about the future and how nice it would be to go out for dinner and play another match tomorrow. I basically forgot to think about my game plan and win the match. Should I quit because of my weak tennis mentality, or should I continue?

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to not let important points derail your mindset for the match
. Here's the question of the week:

HENRY: Most times when I lose a critical point, I Iose all rhythm and feel for the ball. I will lose all confidence and ability to play at a high level. I will usually drop several games in a row and eventually the match. I have tried many different things to overcome this. I am hoping to find guidance to improve my game.

Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details.

Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents

• Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes
• Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report
• Read our Sports Psychology Articles
• Check out our ports Psychology Audio ProgramsS
• Check out Tennis Confidence 2.0 Audio program

*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Tennis Psychology Podcast on Spotify