Create a Pathway to Success

Remember when you learned to tie your shoelace; how challenging it was? How proud you felt when you pulled the bow into place? Now that you can do it easily, it is no longer challenging or fun; you just do it!

If playing tennis was as easy as tying a bow, most of us would get bored and move on to another, more challenging activity. Funny that the very challenge we love is often the part of the game that gives us the most aggravation. Why not learn to love the challenge, just like you used to love practicing tying your shoelace?

This is easier to do when you know what to do with a challenge. Instead of thinking critical thoughts after a missed shot, such as "I am so stupid" or "I can’t believe I missed that again!" you can use a missed shot as an opportunity to refocus and remind yourself what you would have rather done.

Thinking about choosing a different stroke, following through, or being more confident, can help you to forget about the missed shot and will create the path for success on the next shot. Doing this takes practice, reminders and more practice; just like learning to tie a shoelace. If things go well you will know just what to do when you miss a shot.

Keep in mind you will never get the game totally perfect, so tennis will never become as boring and uneventful as tying a shoelace. You can count on tennis providing years of fun and challenge!