W. Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game of Tennis

1. IDEA 1

   Two selves are on the court

   Gallwey describes two selves in every player: Self 1, the thinking voice that gives orders and judges, and Self 2, the body and its natural ability. He argues that Self 1's interference often spoils Self 2's performance.

2. IDEA 2

   The inner game decides the outer

   Every game has an outer contest against an opponent and an inner contest against doubt, nervousness and lapses in focus. Gallwey argues that winning the inner game is the key to playing well.

3. IDEA 3

   Stop judging every shot

   Labelling every shot as good or bad, Gallwey says, makes players tense and self-conscious. He recommends simply noticing what happens without judgment, which lets the body learn and adjust naturally on its own.

All 8 ideas from The Inner Game of Tennis →