In this episode, Brian and Josh dive into the topic of choking and cover strategies that tennis players can utilize when they feel a match starting to slip away. First, the co-hosts discuss a few root issues relating to choking including identifying oneself as a "choker" or expecting that you will choke because you've choked in the past. Additionally, they examine how focusing too much on the score and the outcome of the match can cause players to play hesitantly so as to avoid losing rather than playing to win. Lastly, Brian and Josh review how implementing mental skills including mindfulness, self-talk, and visualization gives tennis players the best possible chance to handle choking situations well when they encounter them.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!