JAK'S MONTHLY ESSAY SERIES: Achieving Your Personal Best

“I PLAY BETTER WHEN I DON’T THINK”

By Jak Beardsworth

There’s a familiar phrase that you, no doubt, have heard frustrated partners utter previously – you may have even had said it to yourself. Here’s another one of those kinds of common comments: “I play better when I don’t have time to think.”

Naturally, I’ve heard them all, repeatedly, for many years while trying to wean players off of that kind of illusory mind-set.

Unfortunately, although typically perceived literally, these kind of player comments are not accurate, and are vastly misunderstood. Thinking – brain stuff - actually does occur when playing and performing well… but in pictures, that’s visualization or imagery. That’s still “thinking ,” just not the often misunderstood paint-by-the-numbers type when your brain is thinking robotically, or analytically – do a, then b, then c, then d, then e, etc. When you’re primarily focused on specific technique and mechanics, and/or a dreaded 10 point stroke check list right in the middle of trying to make a finite clean shot without brain clutter, good luck.

A very ineffective approach to say the least. Paralysis – dear in the headlights - through too much motor skill analysis – the middle of a match is no time to hone your technique - leading up to, and shakily through, the shot contact point.

Best to better understand that the brain – which works in close concert with your eyes - doesn’t work very well when that’s your approach because non-visualization, analytical thinking actually interferes with one’s ability to simultaneously track/watch the ball…the proverbial, classic walking but not being able to chew gum at the same time syndrome.

Thinking in pictures – visualizing in your mind’s eye (the brain is incredibly fast at doing this, and smarter than you are!), as quickly as possible upon recognizing an incoming shot (BTW: Federer’s self-proclaimed greatest natural skill which he noted on his website a few years ago) - on ALL of your backcourt groundies/return of serves/serves/and approach volley situations including directional intentions, of course, while simultaneously prioritizing marginally over the net.

Note: Again, this approach to “thinking” does not interfere with ball tracking!

Using the net, and an imaginary “window” above it to hit through, as the primary intentional reference point – instead of it being primarily the landing point/placement of your shot - is paramount since accomplished, aspiring 3.0+ players and up do not miss right/left very much compared to either too high – out, or too low – in the net

Do you throw multiple darts during a pub game without visualizing the bullseye? Ever? Even one time? No! Then it follows why do so many, particularly when challenged by a very difficult approaching ball, default to over there somewhere, if even that!

Consider my new favorite, very applicable, ancient Chinese proverb: “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.

Copyright© 2007- 2025 by Jak Beardsworth Tennis. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

COMMENTS WELCOME: JB1tennis@comcast.net

Past Essays

Check back often for more essays.

• June 2025 -“I PLAY BETTER WHEN I DON’T THINK”
  [read more]
• May 2025 -THE BIG ROLLER–RHYTHM BUSTER
  [read more]
• April 2025 -OFF THE GRID BODY POSITIONING
  [read more]
• March 2025 -CAN YOU HANG?
  [read more]
• February 2025 -Roy Emerson Explains The Way To Your Best Tennis
  [read more]
• January 2024 - Win the First Set. Lose The 2^nd. Then the Tb Crapshoot.
  [read more]
• December 2024 - Believing In Your Shots
  [read more]
• November 2024 - The Walking Wounded
  [read more]
• October 2024 - HEY!… MAYBE IT'S JUST YOUR GYRO NEEDING RECALIBRATING
  [read more]
• August 2024 - The Game's Most Difficult Skills & the Most Taken For Granted
  [read more]
• June 2024 - KNOW YOUR DOUBLE'S IN-POINT SITUATION WHEN BACK or RETURNING SERVE
  [read more]
• April 2024 - Coulda, shoulda got that: The Art of Poaching
  [read more]

• May 2025 - THE BIG ROLLER–RHYTHM BUSTER
  [read more]
• April 2025 - OFF THE GRID BODY POSITIONING
  [read more]
• March 2024 - Get Your JuJu On
  [read more]
• February 2024 - Giving Opponents too Much Respect
  [read more]
• January 2024 - Rally Ball Or Pull The Trigger
  [read more]

Essay Archives

Click a year to view more essays