ABS: The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey
Athlete Book Suggestions -- October
Welcome to the second edition of ABS, where I share my favorite reads to improve the mental game. I'm excited to write about The Inner Game of Tennis!
I have a special attachment to this book because my grandpa always had a copy of it on his coffee table, which I didn't know until after I had read the book. He played tennis until he was 85 (impressive, huh?), so maybe this book has something to it! Even though the book focuses on tennis, it helps any athlete looking to improve upon their technique and competition. Primarily, Gallwey does this through separating athletes into 2 different parts: Self 1, the brain, and Self 2, the body. He believes that an athlete performs at their peak when they let the body do its own thing without the interference of the mind. However, Gallwey understands this is much easier said than done, so he offers clear instructions on how to go about it--trust, experiential-non-judgmental learning, and relaxed concentration.
Full disclosure: this isn't a page turner. I skipped some of the parts on tennis form, so don't feel guilty if you do too!
Benefits of reading:
By reading this book, you learn how to learn. So, if there's something in your form or technique (for whatever sport) that you feel needs correction, this book will equip you with the mental skillset to do so. Page 79 especially!
This book touches on breaking old habits (spoiler alert: you have to create a new, more efficient one). If you have a bad habit in school or your sport, check out chapter six.
One of the main purposes of this book is to quiet the mind. I don't know about you, but that's something I struggle with, so I found it very beneficial!
Best page or chapter:
My favorite chapter of Gallwey's The Inner Game of Tennis was chapter seven, "Concentration: learning to focus." In track, you might hear a coach yell "Fast and relaxed!" If you watch track on TV, especially when they show the 100m slow-motion replay, you can see an athlete's face jiggling. That's because they're relaxed. Any extra tension slows you down. This chapter is great because it elaborates on this "relaxed concentration." Personally, I can tell when I am in this state or not, and it certainly makes a big difference in my races.
My favorite quote: [Directed towards the mind, or Self 1] "Look up to Self 2 [the body]. This is the attitude of respect based on true recognition of its natural intelligence and capabilities. Another word for this attitude is humility, a feeling that happens naturally in the presence of something or someone you admire" (Gallwey 41).
Key takeaway: Your body naturally knows how to learn and how to perform. Trust it to do so!
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