You don’t have to play at a high level to enjoy the game. It is a simple game that is fun. When given your full attention, you are in control of your part of the game you are playing..

Tennis is a game of mistakes and the best of the best have learned to reduce them. That’s right, REDUCE them, not get rid of them. The main thing to gain from the application of the 3 Components for Excellent Hitting is a giant reduction in errors.

Being “GOOD” is a judgement that is too often a center of focus for people as they attempt to play. As odd as it could seem, most “GOOD” players are that way despite their errors. They simply PLAY with determination and intention. The serious business of judging good and bad takes the focus away from the 1st component, “KEEP SEEING” the ball. Mistakes are going to happen and they will be difficult to ignore especially when a player is trying very hard to “WIN”. A player can find him or herself volleying criticisms in their mind instead of seeing the ball they are about to volley. If a mistake is made the ball will always show the position of the racket when it was hit. This datum can be used to make adjustments when it is processed as INFORMATION and not as a judgement of good or bad. The 3 Components for Excellent Hitting, when applied, will overcome need to be “GOOD”. You simply will be too busy having fun to be concerned about it.

Sarah’s Story:

On a sunny afternoon, Sarah stepped onto the tennis court for a friendly match with her friend, Tom. She was an amateur player, but she loved the game and always tried to enjoy it without worrying about her skill level. As they began to play, Sarah reminded herself of the three components for excellent hitting.

During one rally, Sarah’s focus wavered, and she missed the ball. Instead of getting frustrated, she remembered the first component, “Keep Seeing” the ball. She imagined herself as a determined player like Amanda, who always played with intention, regardless of her errors.

As the game continued, Sarah made another mistake, hitting the ball out of bounds. She could have berated herself for not being “good” enough, but she decided to shift her focus away from judging her performance. She reminded herself of the second component, “Process Information.” Instead of dwelling on the mistake, she observed the position of her racket when she hit the ball and made adjustments.

Throughout the match, Sarah and Tom exchanged points, making occasional errors but also landing some impressive shots. Sarah concentrated on the third component, “Have Fun,” embracing the game for the enjoyment it brought her. As the sun began to set, they both realized they were too busy having a great time to worry about being “good” players. By applying the 3 Components for Excellent Hitting, Sarah discovered that she could enjoy the game of tennis without the pressure of being perfect.