The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

by W. Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game Way of Learning STEP 1: Observe Existing Behavior Nonjudgmentally Examples: The last three of my backhands landed long, by about two feet. My racket seems to be hesitating, instead of following through all the way. Maybe I should observe the level of my back swing…. It’s well above my waist…. There, that shot got hit with more pace, yet it stayed in. (The above is delivered in an interested, somewhat detached tone.) STEP 2: Picture Desired Outcome No commands are used. Self 2 is asked to perform in the desired way to achieve the desired results. Self 2 is shown by use of visual image and felt action any element of stroke desired. If you wish the ball to go to the crosscourt corner, you simply imagine the necessary path of the ball to the target. Do not try to correct for past errors. STEP 3: Let It Happen! Trust Self 2 Having requested your body to perform a certain action, give it the freedom to do it. The body is trusted, without the conscious control of mind. The serve seems to serve itself. Effort is initiated by Self 2, but there is no trying by Self 1. Letting it happen doesn’t mean going limp; it means letting Self 2 use only the muscles necessary for the job. Nothing is forced. Continue the process. Be willing to allow Self 2 to make changes within changes, until a natural groove is formed. STEP 4: Nonjudgmental, Calm Observation of the Results Leading to Continuing Observation and Learning Though you know your goal, you are not emotionally involved ...