Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game

by John F. Murray

Book Overview

"The game with yourself is often tougher than the battle againstany opponent. Smart Tennis shows you how to win the inner matchwhile having fun along the way."--Lindsay Davenport, world's #1ranked player for 1998

Become a More Competent-and Confident-Tennis Player

Smart Tennis is the secret weapon that tucks right into your tennisbag. Apply these proven principles of sport psychology to your gameand gain a winning advantage both on...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787943800
• ISBN13: 9780787943806
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A must-read for tennis players and coaches

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" Daily motivational messages: http://www.edtseng.com

This is a great book

Whether you be a beginner, a recreational player, of any age, or a professional tennis player this is a book people at all levels of ability will want to read. It is a great book for anyone who likes to play tennis. Dr. Murray writes very well and his insights on the mental aspects of the game, which are so important, will help all of us play better tennis.

Comments and suggestions

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

Integrated and On-Target

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...

Finest Work on the Mental Aspects of Tennis

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