Tennis: Play the Mental Game [Paperback]

David Ranney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2006

The fact that you are reading this tells me that what you are doing in order to play well is not working. When you read, use, and practice the lessons found in my book, you will find that this way of playing will absolutely improve your tennis and sometimes immediately and dramatically.

Why play another day using techniques that don't help you play your very best? After learning the concepts and techniques found in only the 1st 4 lessons in my book, you may see some significant improvement right away. And the good news is that as you continue to learn and use the lessons in my book, you will continue to see improvement.

In my book you will get:
The complete listing of the Core Principles
28 lesson on the mental game that will make you mentally tough.
11 Strategy lesson that really work and you won t find them anywhere else.
6 Lessons on how to grove your strokes using the mental game principles.
14 drills to help you perfect your mental game.

For those of you who have read Tim Gallwey's book, The Inner Game of Tennis , my book is the practical application to it.

In addition, you will get my:
Action Plan for using my book most efficiently.
9 additional lessons.
Dick Leach s doubles e-booklet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...David Ranney unveils his core principles and guides us through a series of mini lessons...to hone our mental techniques. -- Inside Tennis November/December 2006

Although brief in length, David Ranney's Tennis: Play the Mental Game is long on useful information. -- Ron Waite, USPTR, Author of the column, Turbo Tennis

David Ranney’s Tennis: Play the Mental Game provides clear, easy to follow "mini lessons" and tips. -- Billie Jean King, winner of six Wimbledon singles championships and four US Open Championships

In his book..., Ranney provides a guide for players to help improve mental techiques ... and enjoy the sport more. --Tennis Times Winter 2006/2007

About the Author

I started playing tournaments when I was 10 years old. I became a nationally ranked player as a junior, played on the USC tennis team with Stan Smith and Bob Lutz (we were National Champions during the three years I lettered Varsity), played on the Junior Davis Cup team, and represented the U.S. at Junior Wimbledon when I was 17 years old.

After college, I began teaching tennis the traditional way until my conversion to teaching the Inner Game when I was in my 30s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 125 pages
• Publisher: Night Lotus Books (May 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978556828
• ISBN-13: 978-0978556822
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book to Read and Use, January 23, 2007

By 

T. Livingston (Ojai, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tennis: Play the Mental Game (Paperback)

What makes Ranney's book different is that it's not only fascinating to read, but it can be used again and again by reading a short section before each time you go out to play and then concentrating on implementing the principle in that section.. He concentrates on 4 Core Principles: Consciousness, Focus, Breathing, and Non-judgmental Play--If you just read about one of those principles before you play and then focus on it during your match, your game will not only improve, but you'll have more fun--one of Ranney's key points is that we hear "Watch the ball," so much that we assume we're watching it when we're not--he gives you exercises to really "see" the ball and you will be amazed how hard this is--but it gives you a goal for each point and with practice and concentration, you get better and better--then you focus on the next key point--breathing--and so on. An incredible bargain for the price.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tennis Transformation: On the Road to Relaxed, February 17, 2007

By 

John Stritzinger (Elkins Park, PA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tennis: Play the Mental Game (Paperback)

Since reading this book, I have been experiencing a transformation in the way I feel when I play. I used to shout an angry "argh!" or wack my racquet against the curtain between courts when I would miss YAES (Yet Another Easy Shot). And tighten up--yes choke--when the point meant win-or-lose. I felt resigned that this was just "the way things are" and I'd never be able to change.

After reading "Tennis: Play the Mental Game" my time on the court has truly become more enjoyable--and I really am playing better tennis (just as the book promises!). Focusing on the ball, watching the spin to the "blur of the racquet", noticing my breathing and practicing a long slow exhale on return of serves--these simple steps have me more relaxed and feeling very present when I play.

Some portions of the book are repetitious, a bit like practicing strokes, but overall the book made it easy to grasp the concepts.

It will no doubt take me many more months to be "in the zone" for most of the playing time, but after a few weeks, I am enjoying the ongoing transformation in how I feel when I play.

Thanks for a great addition to the mental game of tennis.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent workbook for the "Inner Game", July 30, 2008

By 

Vikram Prabhakar "Research-a-holic" (SF Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tennis: Play the Mental Game (Paperback)

Ranney's book is excellent: it is highly practical, focuses on reinforcing the basic core principles (e.g. repeating the same point from different perspectives) and keeps the whole book focused on the key concepts of focus, smoothness during a stroke (i.e., don't use any more muscles than you have to), visualization and playing without judgment.

I read the Inner Game (Gellway) and thought it was a great book. But I believe Ranney's book is equally important in helping apply those principles on a day to day basis in your game. Think of it as a workbook for the inner game - it'll tell you in simple, basic steps what to do on court.

These techniques have helped my game tremendously. While I enjoyed Gellway's book a lot, it would have been hard to put those ideas into practice without Ranney's book. I think the two books go very well together.

Like any new skill, breathing, watching the ball etc take a lot of practice before they become a consistent part of your game. I know I have a ways to go. But I also know that every time I do use those skills, I play as well as I can. And when I do that, I go home happy, win or lose :)