Posted on June 30th, 2023.

Don't get me wrong!

Attitudes do matter!

I am a big believer that students and coaches should have good attitudes to play or partake in sports. Attitudes do matter in tennis. Respect for opponents, officials, coaches, parents, and other people is an important value in life and athletics. Positive thinking goes a long way toward success as well. Attitudes of hard work, discipline, "sweat equity", perseverance, and patience play pivotal roles for the person attempting to reach goals in sports and life. There are many values that tennis can promote. The value of teamwork, respecting teachers, exercise and diet for health, as well as passion, fairness, grace under pressure, and the pursuit of excellence So, these are just a few of the fruits of players and coaches who have good attitudes. But the Vic Braden quote above has to do with the idea that, in tennis, a player needs more than a good attitude to be a top-level player. The player needs technique, which is biomechanics, footwork, and proper physics applied. Strength, speed, flexibility, and stamina are also factors, but they can be developed secondarily through appropriate and knowledge-driven technique.

How to Become a Better Player

"Learn solid fundamentals on all of your strokes, and it will take the pressure off of your willpower."

To become a player who can reach tennis goals, you will need more than a good attitude. If you have poor technique but a sharp mind and think positively, your success chances are smaller than they should be!

Learn solid fundamentals on all your strokes, and it will take the pressure off of your willpower. Yes, you should strive for a good attitude, but do not neglect good technique. Technique is applying physics (science) and bio (body) mechanics to your game's shots and strokes for results. Good technique equals good results.

Having a good attitude with bad technique would make you happy or pleasant, but it would give you a much lower chance of winning. Thus, as Vic has quoted, you would become a happy loser. You can't win all the time, but good technique gives you a better chance to compete at a higher level. Two opponents with equal physical and mental ability will be even "on paper" until one decides that technique is important to work on. Then the equality goes "out the door"! The player with better technique will hit better shots more consistently.

So, find a coach that understands this, and you can move toward less frustration, more improvement, and enjoyment, and become a happy winner!