First time on the sand trap, I like the iron reviews section. Also please forgive me for my poor English, I moved to US just two years ago.
I am a professional tennis player, currently ranked in top 400 in world ATP and hope to be top 200 next season. I enjoy golf a lot, but am not good and am so inconsistent. I hope to be good after I retire as a professional. I am starting to play a few with my season over, but saw topic and wished to share my experience in tennis because it is one of my struggle.
What is does it take to be on ATP? Of course physical ability is necessity. I cannot say much else here. However, what do I personally spend my time to focus on? it is more difficult to say. Off season my focus is 100% physical. Improve stroke, Smart Coach analytics, strength and conditioning. Between tournaments and qualifiers it is similar. But all this is only training, not playing. It is all only training for tournaments which is 90% mental. I cannot change my form and muscle memory in the week before a tournament. I cannot change it during a tournament. If I try, I will be not good at all. Of course I workout and practice everyday during, but my stroke is continual at my level. So no need to think about it. Focus only on thinking sharp and calm and things like "attack always attack". Of course if problems with backhand, I work on it. But I am not changing it greatly it at the tournament. I try to focus my mind and let my training free.
I know it cannot be same for amateurs. But I do not need to think about other things, my sleep, eating, workout and practice schedules during tournaments are firmly scheduled.
I have mental coach too, but there is no exercise or drills. I see him a 1-2 hours a season. I see my regular coach for one hundred times more often. But I practice mental game whenever I practice or play, all the time. At least I think few players on tour does not read the books or have a lot of routine or effort for mental game. But same players can describe it something different. It is difficult to guess what they think mental game is.
What I think in training? Physical game always. What I think when playing? mental game always.
What is more important? If you are 19 and already top 200, physical ability. If you do not play for competition, physical ability. But for me it is like air or water, I cannot play my best without both, and I cannot reach my goals without playing my best.
I am sorry if this does not belong to the fun topic. thank you.
