Racquet Director’s Diary
Dan Lott, Racquets Director
I hope you are all coping at home and managing to fill this time with productive things. These really are unprecedented times. Clearly, many people are going to be very anxious at the moment and worried about their health and that of family and friends. With that in mind, I think it is important to stay active and use this time to work on our physical and mental strength. Our game does not need to stop …
Activities
Take part in our tennis challenges. I have posted some challenges on the Club’s YouTube channel along with some mini tennis drills the younger Members can all do at home to improve their skills. Please send me any videos of you all training at home and if anyone beats my score on the challenges let me know! I will continue to upload new content regularly so keep an eye on the channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiVTjCr8Pa4lS5pkOjaTlVQ
Think about how you could improve your game for when you return to the court – write it down! It’s proven that by writing your goals down you are more likely to achieve them. You can even let me know what you want to improve and I will post a video with some coaching tips on our channel.
Read – I recommend the following: –
Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert. This book teaches recreational club players how to win more often without even changing their strokes. The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinker.
OPEN, Andre Agassi’s Autobiography An interesting insight into Andre’s life and the struggles he faced on and off the court.
How to Win Wimbledon in Pajamas Great kids’ book that shares five mental toughness tips that will help them succeed on court.
The inner game of tennis by Timothy Gallway. Described as the ‘tennis bible’ by Billie Jean King. A bit more of a challenging read but will improve your game and allow you to discover your true potential.
Bounce by Matthew Syed. The former table tennis professional explores the myth of talent and the power of practice. One of my favourite books and a must read for anyone who wants to improve.
Watch
– The Resurfacing of Andy Murray. Tracking Andy Murray’s injury journey between 2017 and 2019. Andy is shown at his most vulnerable, from the front lines of surgical theatres to the intimate corners of his home. (Available on Amazon Prime)
– Venus and Serena. Inspiring to hear that their dad wrote a 78-page plan for both his daughters to become No. 1 in the world before they were even born. Amazing to see how he managed it in this documentary. (Available on Amazon Prime)
– Love means Zero. Documentary telling the story of Nick Bollettieri, perhaps the most successful coach the tennis world has ever seen, whose drive for greatness came at great personal cost. (Available on Sky Atlantic)
Our life as we know it may feel different but let’s channel our energy into something that will lift us from the unknown into new experiences, so we return to the court stronger.