Vic Braden's Mental Tennis

by Vic Braden

Whether you are a tennis novice, a beginner ready for competition, a club player with an eye on the tournament trophy, or a professional stuck in a rut, Vic Braden's Mental Tennis shows you that your mind can be the single best tool to reconstruct your game.

In his breakthrough book, Vic Braden demonstrates how to improve your physical performance dramatically and develop a winning mental attitude - both on the court and off. Vic Braden is America's favorite tennis coach, recognized and respected by professionals and amateurs alike. In addition to being a licensed psychologist, he has been a major force in tennis — as a player and a teacher — since the early 1960s. In Mental Tennis, he draws upon his unique background and years of personal research — tested on thousands of his students — along with the latest technical and statistical information, and shows you how to maximize the potential of your mind to achieve peak playing skills, while boosting your confidence and enjoyment of the game. With his characteristic humor and charm, and using entertaining and instructive examples of famous players and matches, Vic Braden identifies common problems that can undermine your performance on the court, and explores their causes. He provides important psychological insights, and expert advice on how to overcome mental obstacles — such as self-doubt; lack of focus; guilt about winning; the stress that stems from a fear of losing, being humiliated, or letting down your doubles partner - and challenges you to set realistic and healthy goals for improvement. In addition to methods for long-term progress and fundamental behavior modification, Vic Braden's Mental Tennis also provides quick triggers for immediate results; effective strategies to reverse years of bad habits; and tips on how to psych out your opponent, how to perform well under pressure, and how to maintain concentration and tune out external distractions. 

Genres: Nonfiction

263 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jules]

Vic Braden's life is ALL tennis. Some direction too detailed. Very good advice re calling ball in or out.
Tennis game hoping to improve now!

[Jay]

This book is interesting enough to read, but it is dated. Some of the mental advice is useful, but nothing is groundbreaking. It's worth reading if you devour tennis books, but all of Braden's advice stays at a basic level.

[JP]

Excellent treatment of a topic not covered as often as technique and strategy. Basic topics include: practice anticipating; go for consistently good execution, especially on critical shots; positive attitude; have a mental strategy in mind; focus.

[John Tipper]

Pretty much a follow up to Tennis for the Future, Braden's big book of the 1970s. A psychologist as well as a coach, he has some good suggestions about the mental aspects of the game. But he's not up to date on certain physical techniques and he puts too much emphasis on the mind/body duality.

[Kristin]

Excellent mental prep for matches! Helped with my focus and visualization.

[Karin]

Good book! Glad to know I'm not the only "crazy" one out there!

[Katrina]

This book provides solid information and advice but the players cited in the text make the book feel a bit dated.