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RacquetWorld's Newsletter Racquetball Tip of the Month
Mind Games
By Pat Bernardo
Have you ever heard other players say
the game is 90% mental? That holds true for most sports. So I've put together
a few tricks of the trade I like to use on the racquetball battlefield.
The 3 Point Mini Game
Did you ever notice that you play harder on the very last point of a game?
You just have that never give up attitude or you find your self killing your
opponent only to stall out at 14. This little mental trick will help.
Play mini games to 3 in your mind. Keep track silently. You'll be amazed that
you'll actually play harder when your opponent may get that 3rd point against
you. Using this method you should play harder on 5 points of the 15 instead
of just the last one. If you win, you won't even have to play hard on 5
points.
This will also reinvigor a stalled effort to finish the game and this is
where I use this technique quite a bit. You're up 13 - 6 and the guy (or gal)
starts the comeback. You get that sinking feeling that you can't do anythng
right. Start the mini game. If you lose the first mini game to 3 but get a
point…you will feel disappointed that you lost but in the bigger picture
you're sitting at 14 now…wait to you see how it feels to know you still have
a chance and you didn't totally blow it….you'll be reinvigored and ready to
start the next mini game 0-0….fresh new chance…no sinking feeling…you're only
trying to get to 1 not that elusive 15 number in your head…and before you
know it…game over.
Quick Mental Notes
Here's an easy one. Let your opponent walk onto the court alone and start
warming up first. Nine times out of ten, he (or she) will warm up on his
strongest side. At least the side he is most comfortable with. All you have
to do is keep the ball on the other side of the court for an advantage. If
the person seems to be even as far as you can see, keeping the ball on his
"off" side will be a mental blow to him even if you don't see the physical
effect right away.
Thinking too much
We've all faced the opponent who was just on fire. Here's a little water to
help put him out. Let's say a guy just served 3 aces and you can't break his
rythym. During your ten seconds, just ask him a question about how he's doing
it. I would say something like "Do you pay more attention to your angle on
the server or how low you get?" Anything to make him "think" about what he's
doing. We all function better when we're not "thinking" about something. When
we're just doing it and feeling right we get into a groove. "Thinking" can be
distracting and get them out of the groove.
Ask the Ref or your Opponent
Your opponent just cut off your perfect lob serve and rolled it out….ouch!
Twice…Double Ouch!! I would turn to the ref and ask him if it was
encroachment on the safety zone. Now I know it wasn't….the ref and my
opponent know it wasn't but now my opponent has to think about it next time
he cuts off a ball and that may make all the difference.
A guy just served 2 aces…ask the ref if he front line foot faulted. Your
friend just aced you twice…ask him if he's sure he didn't step over the line
with his entire foot.
A double's team is taking up position on you after lob serving…ask if they
are leaving the box too early…this will slow them down.
Questioning repeat occurances can work to your advantage. I wouldn't question
1 time events like a 2 bounce get or a possible skip. These are cases of
either it did or didn't and questioning them when you know the truth I think
is unsportsmanlike.
I know some of you are saying that these last couple are underhanded tricks
and I wouldn't do them…I' not condoning all of them…but I want you to know
that there are players out there using these mental tricks against you…you
may have been unaware…but here at Racquetworld we believe knowledge is
power….so now you know.
Happy New Year Everyone…
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Your Comments on this Tip
Questions or comment…Pat@Racquetworld.com
You can forward any rules
questions to me at
Pat@Racquetworld.com
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