The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

I was extremely frustrated after losing all of my games in a tournament and was at the point of thinking that perhaps I just wasn't good enough - what made the agony worse is that I knew I was good enough but somehow it just didn't show at all during the tournament. This book made me realize that the problem is not with my skills but in the way that I think. I felt like the first section of the book read my mind - the conversations in my head, the judgments I made about my skills, etc. Later on, it went on to give techniques on how I can overcome it and that certainly helped!

Any athlete/wanna be athlete or those with performance/test anxiety needs to read this. I don't think it's too much to say that this book should be in everyone's library. All around terrific lessons and realistic, applicable guidance. I'm making my jr. and sr. H.S. kids read this over the summer.

The best advice I received about writing is to write anything that comes to mind, then later edit it. I always wonder why... In this book, the author expands and articulates on the concept (advice) by describing these two as Self 1, The Ego/Critic and Self 2/Our amazing Body and Mind. The key is by leaving Self 1, one can access our natural learning preferences/ability... Letting go, trust, see and feel are important tools. Get the book to unlock the greatness in yourself!

There is no better book on the process of becoming or aspiring to behave like an elite athlete in a sport where you are constantly physically and mentally tested every two seconds. If you are a 4.5/5.0 player this is still the book to read, absorb and use to force disciplined, focused practice sessions.

It is amazing that nothing has come close to this text other than Winforever in the last thirty plus years

I read this classic when I was a competitive tennis player in high school, and it was very instrumental. Now, so many years later, as a trained therapist, career coach, writer and leadership trainer, I see that these strategies for getting out of your own way and clearing your path to reach your highest potential are even more relevant today. Important read.

This book was recommended to me by a fellow Bowler and I have gotten a lot out of it despite the fact that it is written for the Tennis Player. If you are a Bowler or perhaps pursue another sport but find that you are easily flustered or are unable to execute due to being too tense, you may find the tips in this book quite helpful.

I fully buy this mental approach where the player plays with the skill he or she has and does not cheer or boo any particular shot. This author describes it very well over the pages. It also reinforces this approach to life in general. Great read.

A very interesting book with lessons that can be applied to both the game of tennis and life in general. A book that I will go back to often to reexamine my game.

It is amazing really how much the mind affects what you do - and how it can hold you back from doing things well.

The simple exercises that really work to keep you in the self 2 game have helped me and made sports more enjoyable. I have been a competitive athlete for decades and have achieved a level of peace from this work.

The simple exercises that really work to keep you in the self 2 game have helped me and made sports more enjoyable. I have been a competitive athlete for decades and have achieved a level of peace from this work.

The Inner Game of Tennis
From a mental aspect, tennis is arguably the toughest sport. You're all alone out there. In team sports there are teammates/coaches, boxing there are corner-coaches, golf there are caddies, and so on. But in tennis, there are not coaches to tell one what to do, or teammates to encourage one another. When a person is all alone, they tend to think. And sometimes, overthink. The book, "The Inner Game of Tennis" focuses on taking out overthinking. It breaks down a player’s thoughts process as a match goes on. For example, the book states, "First the mind judges the event, then groups events, then identifies with the combined event and finally judges itself." By using this step-by-step breakdown of events, it gives the reader a better explanation of not only what to do, but also how to do it. Additionally, the main chunk of the book splits the body into two parts: Self-1 and Self-2. Self-1 is the mind that thinks the entire match and makes too many mistakes. Self-2 is the subconscious mind, in which one does not think but simply plays. The whole goal of the book is to unlock Self-2, while getting rid of Self-1.
If I had to rate this book, I would give it four of five stars. The book is an informational powerhouse for those who are looking to improve their game. For me, the best part about this book is that it is not made specifically for recreational players. As I hope to play tennis in college one day, “The Inner Game of Tennis” helped me so much in how I approach the game. It has done wonders for my overall tennis, whether it’s fixing my forehand or not choking on a big point in the match.