Books : The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.342019
EAN: 9780679778318
ISBN: 0679778314
Label: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 160
Publication Date: May 27, 1997
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Release Date: May 27, 1997
Sales Rank: 5197
Studio: Random House Trade Paperbacks
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Editorial Review:
Product Description: The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Now available in a revised paperback edition, this classic bestseller can change the way the game of tennis is played.
Amazon.com Review: A phenomenon when first published in 1972, the Inner Game was a real revelation. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The former is played against opponents, and is filled with lots of contradictory advice; the latter is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety. Gallwey's revolutionary thinking, built on a foundation of Zen thinking and humanistic psychology, was really a primer on how to get out of your own way to let your best game emerge. It was sports psychology before the two words were pressed against each other and codified into an accepted discipline.
The new edition of this remarkable work--Billie Jean King called the original her tennis bible--refines Gallwey's theories on concentration, gamesmanship, breaking bad habits, learning to trust yourself on the court, and awareness. "No matter what a person's complaint when he has a lesson with me, I have found the most beneficial first step," he stressed, "is to encourage him to see and feel what he is doing--that is, to increase his awareness of what actually is."
There are aspects of psychobabble and mysticism to be found here, sure, but Gallwey instructs as much by anecdote as anything else, and time has ultimately proved him a guru. What seemed radical in the early '70s is now accepted ammunition for the canon; the right mental approach is every bit as important as a good backhand. The Inner Game of Tennis still does much to keep that idea in play. --Jeff Silverman
Average Rating: 
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I have been a student of the Inner Game of Tennis for over 30 years now and Tim Gallwey's book is still the best book ever written describing how the mind and body work so that we can play at our very best. Tim has completely changed not only my playing but my entire tennis life and as a result, I have written my own book called Tennis: Play the Mental Game which will teach you the practical applications to playing the inner game. I recommend to all my book owners and students that they read Tim's book. There are many other so called sports psychologists out there that try to say the same things Tim is saying but they just don't succeed. Tim's book is and will be a classic for as long as people play tennis. David Ranney, www.maxtennis.com.
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This is a very helpful guide that allows you to 1. recognize when the mind and your inner thoughts are conspiring against you and 2. help control the negative thoughts, so that your game can improve. Tennis is very much a 'mind game' and this book gives great insight into that inner game.
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I read this book after reading an article about Pete Carroll. The ideas behind the book seemed right on and I can completely understand why it is seen as such an insightful book. That being said the premise is play with out thinking, react, and play on your sense. In the first two chapters this strategies is laid out in front of you then the rest of the book is dedicated to try to make sure you don't think. That's a lot of reading about not over thinking. I found it to be funny that you were reading so much about trying not to think it actually made it harder not to think. But it is well written and has some valuable tools for coaches to use when teaching young athletes.
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While this book has tennis undertones, the implications range well beyond the tennis court. The lessons are useful for all athletes that are "in their own way" of performing at their best. The mental training suggested is simple, yet effective. As a coach, the simpler the better for my players. I've used the ideas with my players already.
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Does it matter how and what we think about while we are playing tennis ? Yes, it matters so much that it affects our tennis performance significantly and could even affect our mental well being. W. Timothy Gallwey obviously understands both tennis and psychology very well and has written an excellent book that very clearly explains why it matters how we think about our tennis performance. As a long time tennis player I enjoyed reading the book and learned very much from it. I am eager to start applying Gallwey's advice as soon as possible. If you often scold yourself everytime you make a " mistake " and / or you are trying too hard but not quite achieving the performance you aim in tennis then you can not afford to not read this book. I read it twice and I recommend that everybody read it again and again every few months.
Many tennis instructors do not know the psychological aspect of the game that is so well explained in the book. Their ignorance is obvious from the incessant verbal instructions they give their students.
The harmful and correct ways of thinking explained in the book are not limited to tennis ; they can be applied to our self talk about anything and to any interaction between humans such as parenting, marriage, social, work and other relationships.
The types of scolding comments and even positive instructions and praise we make to ourselves either silently or aloud when we are playing tennis are self defeating ; they ... Read More
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