VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR TENNIS

If the mind is such an essential part of tennis, and it most certainly is, then visualisation is one of the most effective methods of controlling the mind to think and react in the way we want it to.

Visualisation can change us from sad to happy, from cold to warm, and from hungry to satisfied. The ways visualisation can be applied to our daily lives are almost endless. 

We often use visualisation without knowing we are doing so. We constantly play mental mind games to help us overcome moments that test us during our day.

I have seen these visualization "Mental Mind Games" work wonders to help players overcome their "demons" and to assist players to learn faster.

I have used three main visualisation techniques that have been very successful for me over the years. These three techniques are:

1. Evocative Role Model
2. Evocative Phrase
3. Evocative Animal

Here are actual examples of me using visualisation with players.

1. Evocative Role Model

Sunil (not his real name) had significant confidence issues when competing. He could not play at his best in competition because he became too stressed during matches and had very low self-confidence.

The training was helping; he was technically better than before, and he now knew how to construct points better. But unfortunately, when he played matches, many of his old demons returned, especially if the game was close and he was under pressure. I needed something to keep his mind positive and continue doing the topics we covered every day in practice. I had to find a way to stop him from reverting to his old negative habits.

I decided to give him an Evocative Role Model. This meant that he would have to imagine a player he admired a lot and displayed the same qualities he needed to adopt himself.

I would then instruct Sunil to "become" that player. He would need to copy everything possible about that player, including his walk, habits, playing style, and demeanor on-court. Most important, though, Sunil would have to adopt the mental makeup of his Evocative Role Model.

Sunil decided to "become" Jimmy Conners, one of the best players at that time and a player famous for his self-confidence and courage under stress.

We needed to study Jimmy Connors a little, and we talked a lot about the energy and self-belief Jimmy brought to the court in every match. We then went through a practice on-court, trying to copy Jimmy Connors's mannerisms and mindset. There was much fun and laughter as we practiced our Evocative Role Model.

The transformation in matches was immediate. In our first ITF Junior tournament overseas, Sunil went through the qualifying rounds and went all the way to the semi-finals.

The following week Sunil reached the final and had won respect and admiration of the players and coaches on the circuit.

The final chapter of this story is equally important to understand. Eventually, Sunil stopped being Jimmy Connors. It happened in a match in Pattaya, Thailand. Sunil was in a match and competing well until he stopped being Jimmy Connors for the first time in weeks!

A player will adopt the Evocative Role Model for a specific time, but eventually, it will fade. By this time, the player may have already become more able to maintain the mindset you desired initially.

If not, create a new Evocative Role Model and start again.

2. Evocative Phrase

One of the greatest boxers of all time came up with a perfect Evocative phrase during the prime of his boxing career. Everyone has heard Mohammed Ali's "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" phrase. The genius of this phrase is that it does what all the best evocative phrases do: it evokes a feeling, an image, and an emotion. They stimulate a response that can affect you on a mental and physical level. 

Creating an Evocative Phrase requires you to sit with your student and find a phrase that evokes a positive change in your student's reaction to a situation or a mental block regarding technique.

Having trouble staying mentally tough in tight matches? "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" might be the type of phrase that can help.

Come up with multiple phrases, mix and edit them until you end up with the phrase that touches the spot. Take your time. Using the correct phrase will evoke a strong emotion that will help you in your matches or enable you to perform a particular technique.

3. Evocative Animal

Like the previous two visualisation methods, the Evocative Animal approach needs to stimulate a particular emotional response to help overcome a mental block in matches or learn a new technique.

The player must develop an animal that will help them block the negative behavior or response. 

Tina (not her real name) was developing her net game. Like all new players to netplay, she was having problems executing her new volley techniques and being spontaneous with her movement and positioning. 

Tina came up with an Evocative Animal that helped her mirror the demeanour she wished to copy at the net. She decided on a Tiger as her Evocative Animal. A tiger image helped her move more quickly, change direction more easily, and close in on short volleys more instinctively, whereas previously, these qualities seemed beyond her capabilities.

Visualisation is a fun yet highly effective teaching tool that can address mental and technical challenges. It can be used as a last-resort backup when all else fails, or as an initial aid to help a player understand a concept or physical action.
All coaches need to have visualisation in their toolkit.