The Inner Coach
Tennis is a sport unlike all others because coaching is either not allowed or limited. This book, The Inner Coach, will teach the tennis player how to self-coach. Tennis is 90% mental and it is important for players to have mental references to guide them through a match and help them make the proper decisions. Every chapter is filled with tennis tips and thoughts that break down in detail every aspect of the mental game. Mental toughness in tennis is possible!” Dave Power
Whats In It?
Chapter 1: Philosophy Of Match Play
The Eight Essential Beliefs A Player Must Have For A Winning Mental Game
Chapter 2: Analyzing An Opponent’s Game
How To Assess An Opponent’s Strengths And Weaknesses In The Warm-Up And First Few Games
Chapter 3: Mastering The Three Battles
Developing A Winning Strategy – Forcing An Opponent Into A Negative Frame Of Mind – Pushing An Opponent Beyond His Physical Tolerance
Chapter 4: Secrets To Mental Toughness
Learning To Concentrate – Developing Confidence – Creating Physical Intensity – Warming Up Properly
Chapter 5: Playing Percentage Tennis
Controlling Aggressiveness – Margins For Error – Conservative vs. Aggressive – Overcoming Fatigue And Pressure
Chapter 6: Point Development
The Seven Weapons – Constructing The Point – Basic Components – Work The Point – Dictate The Point – The Options – Set-Up Shot – Finish Shot – Combination Approach – Defending Aggressive Play – Serving And Volleying – Returning Serve – Defending Serve And Volley
Chapter 7: Patterns Of Play
Establishing A Pattern – Breaking A Pattern – Stroke Patterns – Importance Of Patterns – Defending Against Patterns – The Importance Of Creativity
Chapter 8: Match Tactics
Exploiting The Opponent’s Weaknesses – Surprising The Opponent – Negating The Opponent’s Strengths – Changing Shot Placement
Chapter 9: Self-Coaching
Self-Analysis – Making Adjustments – Reminders – Preventing Mental Errors – Preventing Physical Errors – Preventing Mental Errors
Chapter 10: How To Compete
Importance Of Every Point – Significance Of The Score – Staying Within The Score – Advantage Of The Up Game – Playing From Behind – Critical Needs – Turning Things Around – Getting Back In A Match – Staying Positive – Protecting A Lead – Playing The Big Points – Serving For The Match – Returning Tips
Chapter 11: Getting In The Flow
Positive And Negative Streaks – Overcoming Mental Lapses – Controlling Tempo Between Points – The “Little Positives” – Developing A Second Wind
Dave Power is a two-time All-American at Indiana University and competed on the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Squad. He played in five Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the third round in singles at Forest Hills and the semifinals in doubles at the Australian Nationals (now the U.S. and Australian Opens).