Customer Reviews

Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game (Smart Sport Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Murray does an excellent job of proving that "mental equipment" is helpful and beneficial to your game. I truly believe that you can't operate to your fullest physically without aid from the mental side of the game. The only thing that I was less than satisfied with is that he dedicates majority of his book to illustrate how mental equipment is important, but offers little assistance in improving your mental equipment. He uses excellent examples and truly illustrates his point clearly and directly. As for tips on how to improve your mental equipment, he has only offered about 1-2 pages worth of advice. For example, he spends 32 out of 34 pages of the chapter on attentional control, explaining the different types of attentional control, the problems with attention (such as:excessive stress, choking, etc.), and also explains how having selective attention and concentration is highly useful. He goes on to tell you the optimal effects of stress on attention. The only problem with all this is that after illustrating all the problems, and explaining where you need to be in terms of attention control, he offeres little advice to explain how to achieve the optimal attention control. In fact, only 2 pages out of 34 were actual advice on how to improve attention control and find that state of effortless effort commonly called the "zone" by tennis players. But, one must give Mr. Murray credit for writing a book on the mental game as very few books are written on this subject effectively. Afterall, isn't the human mind very complex? My suggestion is to buy the book if you want to learn about his philosophy on the mental game of tennis, but if you want advice on how to improve the mental game, then you might be slightly disappointed unless your satisfied with the 2 pages of every chapter dedicated to specific tips for improving.

The book starts with a test to help you determine where you have the largest opportunity for improvement, then each chapter covers a specific need area. The book helped me immediately in a match and I hadn't even finished the book. However, I'm having difficulty with the goal setting area as the writer recommends making goals that are measurable (i.e. % of 1st serves in). For me, I don't have a way to measure the starting point or the matches after. Otherwise, it is extremely helpful & I'm determined to find a way to measure these things.

Smart Tennis is the best explanation of mind-body factors in sport that I have read. Murray's knowledge of the tennis player's experience is exceptional. He provides a coherent and flexible set of suggestions that fits different court personalities and help players improve. A great book...

Dear John,

Your book Smart Tennis is very smart. Congratulations ! It was a pleasure for me to read it, to learn many new tips about mental tennis and to understand more about psychology.

I would like to give you my personal comments :

1. I am a tennis player and a management consultant. And I found many similarities between those two worlds : what is good for the tennis player is also appropriate for the management consultant. And it guides me in both sectors. 2. I appreciate the structure of the book and its positive philosophy. It's easy to read and to remember. Your book is my new « livre de chevet ». 3. I completed the test (TMBC) in Chapter 1. My first surprise is that my strength is Imagery and, for me, the most impressive chapter is Imagery. You have focused on new dimensions and it is very practical for me. 4. Your book seems to be complete from the beginner to the professional. But, you know, life curve for any professional is like an Inverted U : growth, top, and decline. What about the time when a professional realizes that he is at the beginning of his decline or really declining ? It's an important question and a painful period for a professional during which he needs psychological support. A question that can be answered, maybe, in your monthly column Mental Equipment ! Or in Smart Tennis II ! 5. I would have a suggestion : your Tennis Mind-Body Checklist (TMBC) could be answered on your Web Site (Dr. John's Smart Tennis Site) with the results and their interpretations. By doing so, it would be both a marketing tool for your book and an easy interactive tool for the tennis player or any other professional ! 6. Your book is so interesting that my wife, Suzanne, who has a degree in translation, thinks it would be a good idea to translate it in French. The market is so big !

I want to thank you for your smart book and for having taken time to read me. I would appreciate your comments.

A fan of your Mental Equipment column and a believer in your philosophy,

Jean-Paul Laberge, M.B.A. Québec, Canada jplaberge@sympatico.ca

This is carefully planned, practical and pragmatic guide for tennis players who want to conquer the psychological aspects of the game. Dr. Murray's decision to start the book with a personal evaluation makes great sense. I have counseled and coached highly ranked athletes who participate in tennis, golf, bowling, boxing,baseball and basketball. I got some great ideas from this book and I am certain that other athletes, therapists and coaches will too. This is a super book for anyone who wants to use their mind to excel at this challenging sport. Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. Author of-- How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis E-mail: info@skylineconsultation.com

I read this after reading "The Inner Game of Tennis", "The best tennis of your life", and some Vic Braden books. I only finished it because I bought it and wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything. If you've read any of the previous books / writers you'll be bored so its best to avoid the purchase.

On the other hand if you have never come across any of the above books / authors and have never read any tennis psychology books then it might be of use. I do think "The Inner Game of Tennis" is a better read though.

After reading `Winning Ugly' this book was very disappointing. Writing is boring and repetitive. It feels like the author only wanted to point out his importance by constantly emphasizing it. His idea would fit on several pages and really didn't need the entire book.

I reviewed an advanced copy. I assure you that Smart Tennis is the finest work on the mental aspects of the game that I have read ... and I have read most of them! John Murray's book will go a long way toward helping you discover the right way to prepare for and deal with the mental challenges presented by competitive tennis.

Ron Waite, USPTR Professional & Tennis Columnist

"Smart Tennis" is the solution for tennis players that have peaked at their game and can't seem to win the crucial points and matches, but have the physical capability to be a great player. Do you choke when down 0-40 in a game, or lose the tiebreaker after working hard to tie at 6-6? If so, "Smart Tennis" is for you.

I played a lot of tennis when I was younger, estimated at a 4.0 player, from age 30 - 35. Then, I took a short-term sabbatical because of long work hours, hanging up my tennis cap for five years. After selling my company at age 40, I retired and returned to tennis. However, I was shocked that tennis lessons weren't doing an adequate job. I became increasingly frustrated that my level of play was closer to 3.0 as I had too many unforced errors. I continuously beat myself up for being so incompetent. I seemed to be getting worse every lesson. So, I doubled my tennis lessons to two 2-hour sessions a week. Unfortunately, I performed no better six weeks later. I had the physical capabilities, but my mental game had fallen apart. I would repeat drills over and over wondering why I couldn't get the most simple techniques nailed down.

Prior to the Christmas holiday, I bought "Smart Tennis" and read it during my trip visiting friends and family. When I returned, I couldn't wait to implement the new lessons on the "mental" game. When I started reading the first chapter, I was amazed that all of the symptoms were very familiar, so I read "Smart Tennis" with great interest.

When I returned home, I played a colleague. In a recent ladder, I lost my match with this colleague, a score of 4-6, 3-6. I had too many unforced errors. When the ladder ended, the colleague and I began playing weekly. For the past few months, we have consistently split sets. However, since reading "Smart Tennis" I have dominated the past two outings: 1) 6-2, 6-3 and 2) 6-2, 7-6 and 6-1.

The colleague has been shocked that my level of play has changed so dramatically. I explained that "Smart Tennis" has revolutionalized my game, giving me the mental fitness to hit more winning shots and significantly reducing my unforced errors. The chapters on Attention Control and Imagery have made a profound difference in my tennis game.

As a good sport, I am also buying my colleague "Smart Tennis". Although I'll lose my great advantage, I can't resist sharing this great knowledge with a good buddy. "Smart Tennis" is a must for anyone interested in improving their tennis game.

Dr. Murray gets it...this wonderful book is not only easy to read and informative, but small enough that it can be carried around in your tennis bag, backpack or briefcase. I highly recommend this book!

Ed Tseng
Pro of the Year USTA/NJD 2005
Peak Performance Expert
Author of "Game. Set. Life. - Peak Performance for Sports and Life"

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