Tennis Rage: Controlling Frustration

As a fellow tennis player, I've had my fair share of angry outbursts on the tennis court. It's often pent up emotion that finally let's loose on an unforced error, bad serve or misplaced shot. Regardless of why, it's important not to let emotions get the better of you, as it will severely hamper your performance. There are exceptions to this, but not everyone is John McEnroe. Keeping a positive mentality is key to playing well throughout a match. Before getting into ways to deal with frustration, let's see how even professionals are prone to angry outbursts, some more extreme than others.

Racquet smashes are one of the most common ways for players to exert their anger. Sadly, I'm guilty of this. The instance of smashing the racquet feels relieving for a few moments, but soon you will be overwhelmed with regret. Tennis racquets can get expensive, so that's an investment down the drain if you are so inclined to smash it. So here's some advice... don't smash your racquets.

Now, How do you avoid getting angry? Well, for recreational players at least, remember you are playing for fun. That's why you play right? How can you have fun if you are too busy being angry? Try to remember the reasons you are playing in the first place. Whether it's for exercise or for fun, don't lose sight of that. Win or lose, there's always a next time.

Here are some ways I deal with anger that may be creeping up on me:

1. Think of something positive. This could be anything that makes you happy or smile.
2. Take deep breathes and relax your muscles. Anger makes muscles tense up and that creates tense shots. I like to take a second and breath to refocus my attention.
3. Hop up and down. I see professionals do this, so it must work somehow. I've tried it and it does seem to calm me down when I'm tense. Hey, whatever works.
4. Remember, points are done and over with in a matter of seconds. Don't give them undeserved attention. There will be more... many more. 
5. If all else fails, I normally wear a hat if I desperately need something to throw that won't break my bank account.

Next time anger seems to be approaching. Remember any of these steps. No one likes playing with a hot head. Stay cool and enjoy the tennis. It's a mental sport as much as it is a physical one.

Choosing the Right Tennis String

Your choice of string can greatly impact your performance on the tennis court. This is why it's important to know what options are available. There are strings that cater to the needs of all types of tennis players. It's only a matter of testing out what works best for you.

To begin there are four main string types. These are synthetic gut, multifilament, polyester and natural gut.

Synthetic

Synthetic gut strings are the most basic string on the market. They are low cost and will be the most common string when purchasing pre-strung racquets. Synthetics are considered an all-around type of string. They offer a solid hold of tension, crisp feel and a decent amount of spin. This is achieved with a solid core that is surrounded by smaller synthetic filaments. I would recommend these strings as the go to string for beginner through intermediate player. They aren't the greatest in terms of durability, tension holding, spin and feel, but they give a decent performance in all areas.

Multifilament

Multifilament strings are as the name states. Many single filaments are taken and intertwined to form the multifilament string. These are also nylon-based, but offer improved comfort and can add power to the racquet. Multifilaments are great for players who suffer from tennis elbow or who wish to have a similar feel to natural gut without the high cost. Some things to look out for though are that these strings lose tension rather quickly and tend to break much faster than synthetic guts. A good indicator of when the string is close to breaking is when you see the strings begin to fray from hitting.

Multifilament fraying

Polyester

Polyester strings are monofilaments, that is they are a string composed of one solid core. Typical monofilament strings are made with polyester, but less popular strings are also made of kevlar. Polyester strings offer greater durability than the previous strings, but lack power and can be uncomfortable. These strings are geared more toward players who can generate their own power and utilize the spin potential of polyester. Many pros on tour utilize a full or hybrid set-up of strings using polyester.

Natural Gut

Natural gut strings are made of single strands of cow intestine, hence the name "natural". These strings are the most expensive you can buy and for a good reason. They offer the greatest feel in strings and give a very lively hitting experience. Natural gut is also known for holding tension quite well. Be weary though, these strings aren't the most durable strings out there. Pros can afford to break them on a daily basis, you may not be able to. I certainly couldn't.

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There are numerous tennis brands that sell their own strings, so test out different strings and see what works best for you. Check out Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Express for a selection of hundreds of different strings. I personally use Technifibre NRG2 multifilament strings.

The Overhead Smash

This may come as a surprise to some, but the overhead smash technique is arguably the most difficult technique to master on the tennis court. Even top professional tennis players struggle with the smash. Novak Djokovic is currently ranked number 1 in the world, but even then has shown that smashing is not as easy as it looks:

Even the mighty fall sometimes, but that doesn't mean you should fear the overhead smash. With a bit a practice and preparation this technique can be a mainstay in your arsenal of shots.

How to: Overhead Smash

Step 1: Ready Position

The ready position will make or break your overhead smash. Begin by pivoting your body with your back parallel to the left or right baseline. Your toes should be pointed in the direction of the ball once you have pivoted.

As you are pivoting your body you will naturally ready up the arm to receive the descending ball that has been lobbed. It will feel very similar to your service motion, but note you sometimes may not be at the baseline. Ready your smash based on your position on court.

Step 2: SMASH

Once you have gotten into the ready position you are halfway towards a successful overhead smash. Your arm will be cocked and not it is time to strike the ball.

As the ball descends toward you keep your eye on it until after you have made contact with the ball. Most botched smashes will be because the player looked away from the ball too soon. Once you have made contact make sure to follow through in a forward, then downward motion. If you've made it through to this stage, you have most likely hit a winner straight passed your opponent. One can hope.

Now let's give Mr. Djokovic a shot a redemption for having done so poorly at smashing.

As we see in the video, even in a tight spot Djokovic follows these steps to perform a phenomenal overhead smash. Being closer to the net, notice how he follows through and then downward very quickly to keep the ball in. I would say you've redeemed yourself Djokovic.