The Art of Confidence

Confidence is a delicate form, it can take time to build but only a second to lose!!

If you are with Confidence then you have a strong belief in that area, with a strong belief in that area comes a great amount of energy with it. There are generally two types within this area for athletes, general confidence of own skills and specific confidence of particular skills. For instance Ali had one of the best general self-confidence abilities in the world by consistently stating ‘I AM THE GREATEST’.

Exercise…state a truth about your strengths in your game, and live it. Start with I AM…

Simple enough and if you give energy and act as if it is true and you will begin to believe this too.

Specific confidence is the ability to stand up and hit a particular serve to a certain place without fail. You are confident it will work.

Answer this question.....If I was playing against me how would I beat me??

Take your shots you utilise in match play and compare them with the following statements. For instance with your first serve in match play do you hope or know it will work?

I. I hope I can hit this shot (or perhaps you can pray for divine intervention instead)

II. I think I can hit this shot (this is just Stinkin’ Thinkin’ and it will not hold up)

III. I believe I can hit this shot (A great starting place but still requires work)

IV. I Know I can hit this shot (A great aspect but there is better to come, seek and you shall find!)

V. I will hit this shot (The mark of World Class Athletes)

Use the Tennis Tech List (click blue to access this) and fill this out to help yourself.

Use the scoring system below to help:-

I-1/2    II-3/4    III-5/6    IV-7/8    V-9/10

Coach Andy Dowsett