Full Description
In tennis, the scoreboard can't be trusted.
A player can be dominating from the baseline, winning point after point, only
for everything to unravel within minutes, with nothing changing technically. No
injury. No bad luck. Just momentum, the hidden force that shapes every match,
and the one force most players never learn to manage.
Momentum is what separates the player who
knows how to win from the one who simply hopes to. It is why the
better player doesn't always win, and why some competitors always seem to find
a way through the most challenging moments on court. Understanding and
mastering momentum offers the real winning edge.
In this groundbreaking book, former LTA National
Coach and Head of Coach Development Alistair
Higham, and Sport Psychologist Dr Ana Soares, combine decades of elite coaching
experience with cutting-edge research to give players and coaches a complete
framework for managing match flow. Drawing on the experiences of world-ranked
professionals, GB international players, and the latest academic findings, this book is aimed at tennis players and coaches at
all levels and covers:
The phases of a match - how
matches move through predictable stages and how to read the state of play in
real time
The scoring system - how tennis's
unique structure creates pressure, opportunity, and psychological turning
points
Turning points - how to
identify, trigger, and embrace the critical moments that decide matches
Tactical game management - when
to stick with your game plan and when to change, and how to adapt under
pressure
Mental skills - routines, self-talk,
visualisation, attentional control, and how to find your ideal performance
state mid-match
Strategic thinking - how to
zoom out, assess your options at the change of ends, and commit to clear
decisions
Learning from match to match - how
to review performances and build momentum management into your long-term
development
Coaching matchplay skills - includes
more than 25 practical on-court drills and exercises to develop these skills in
training
Whether you are a player trying to hold a
lead, stage a comeback, or finally understand why close matches keep slipping
away, or a coach looking to give your players a genuine competitive edge, Momentum:
The Winning Edge in Tennis will improve the way you play every match.
Contents
Preface
PART 1: MOMENTUM
Chapter 1: Momentum: The Winning Edge in Tennis
Chapter 2: Introducing Momentum
Chapter 3: Momentum and Turning Points
Chapter 4: The Link Between Momentum and Performance
Chapter 5: The Phases of the Match
Chapter 6: The Scoring System
PART 2: UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MANAGE MATCH FLOW AND MOMENTUM
Chapter 7: Understanding How to Manage Performance
Chapter 8: Understanding How to Manage Potential Turning Points
Chapter 9: Understanding Strategic Thinking
PART 3: MANAGING MATCH FLOW AND MOMENTUM
Chapter 10: Developing Your Tactical Game
Chapter 11: Developing Your Mental Skills
Chapter 12: Managing Performance
Chapter 13: Managing Potential Turning Points
Chapter 14: Strategic Thinking
Chapter 15: Learning from Match to Match
Chapter 16: Coaching Match Flow and Momentum
Chapter 17: Conclusion
References
