Managing Performance Anxiety In Tennis

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View books by Andrew David Peden.

No more double faults! - Rated
Well maybe just fewer double faults after reading this book by Andrew Peden. And fewer bad moods on court and definitely less tightness at crunch stages in the game. Peden essentially normalises anxiety - it is necessary to feel at least some stress and tension to perform at your peak but too much and you might go over the edge. Unlike many of the tennis psychology books I have read, he doesn't just tell you why you do what you do, he gives you tips on how to keep your head under pressure. It could have been longer (just under 100 pages) but still well worth a tenner.

Performance Anxiety - Rated
As a student of psychology and a keen tennis player who often gets 'tight' at important points, I found this book really helpful. It is set out in two parts, the first dealing with the 'why' we feel anxious when playing tennis and the second the 'how to' do something about coping with anxiety (or to use the author's term 'managing' performance anxiety). I especially liked the chapter on breathing control to manage the physical side of anxiety such as palpatations and muscular tension; and the chapter on positive self talk to manage the mental or thinking side. I also appreciated how the author normalised anxiety as inevitable and even helpful - pointing out that if we do not feel some anxiety then we would not be motivated to practice (or to read this book I dare say). I would recommend this book to any tennis player - indeed to anyone who takes part in competitive sport.