How to use Detachment to Win More Matches

When you are first trying to learn a new skill, if you have an “outcome based” focus you'll usually end up quickly frustrated. That will make you want to give up.

Most people hate to fail. That's why it's so hard for them to change. First, to admit you need to change can, by itself, by looked at failing. Second, when you try a new skill, you almost never do it perfectly the first time you try it. You usually fail miserably.

The first time you tried to walk, you stumbled. The first time you rode a bike, you almost crashed it and scared your parents half to death. And the first time you try to improve any aspect of your tennis game, you'll probably mess up and experience a setback which will cause you to play even worse.

However, when you learn how to play with “detachment”, you can grow more quickly as a tennis player, improve at a more rapid rate, get passed sticking points in your game and ultimately win more matches.

There are two way to do this. To learn each of these techniques, click here.

Think Feedback Instead of Failure

Earlier we mentioned that most people are “outcome based”. What happens when you base your progress on your outcome is that you end up feeling like you failed if you didn't do it right. Instead, change your focus from failure to feedback.

You are not playing this next match to win. Winning would be nice. However, you're playing this next match so you can later study what you are doing right and wrong. You are using it for feedback to make improvements to your game.

With a feedback attitude, you won't get as disappointed if you don't get instant results, and you will be less likely to give up before lasting progress and change are made. Instead, you'll stick with the routines that will ultimately enhance your game, which will in turn allow you to win more matches.

The Amazing Pressure Deflater Machine

Detachment is also a good way to take the pressure out of the match. Sometimes pressure is your friend. Michael Jordan and John Elway are two sports figures who come to mind who just thrive of pressure.

However, those individuals are rare. That's what makes them so legendary. If you can't use pressure in a positive way, then it's best to neutralize it all together.

Next time you're in a tight match, the game is on the line, and you feel the pressure getting to you, here's how to deflate it. Detach yourself by asking yourself this -- “In the grand scheme of things, how important is winning or losing this match?”

I don't think it will make much difference one way or the other a thousand years from now. So in reality, it's not a big deal. Once you realize that it's not a big deal, you can then play the point without carrying around the burden of pressure. And guess what? With that burden lifted from your shoulders, you are more likely to win the match.

Isn't it crazy how not caring if you win can, in some cases, help you win more? I don't know how it works exactly, but I just know that it does work.