IDEAL PERFORMANCE
The Ideal Performance State (IPS) is the key concept in tennis. It is the state where you play at your best, feel your best, and enjoy your tennis the most. TennisSuperstar.com focuses on the IPS and explores how tennis superstars consistently achieve it. These top players reach the IPS more frequently than their lower-ranked counterparts. Additionally, tennis superstars consistently maintain the IPS throughout points, matches, tournaments, and careers. TennisSuperstar.com offers numerous tips to help you achieve and maintain the IPS.
The Ideal Performance State (IPS) is a mental and physical condition in which a person performs without being distracted by past events or future concerns. In this state, you are fully present in your moment while simultaneously engaging with your surroundings. For example, in a business, an orchestra, or a team sport (including doubles), the IPS is when each team member is focused on their tasks while simultaneously being connected to the other team members, working together and supporting one another to achieve a desired result. As a singles player in tennis, you play in the moment with a focus on one ball at a time. At the same time, you are connected to the game’s rhythm with awareness and even anticipation of the opponent’s position, movements, and strategies, all without losing focus on your shot.
IPS = Your Moment + Human and Environment Connection
The IPS for a tennis player is when the athlete performs at their highest psychological and physiological level. Achieving this state requires mental focus, physical readiness, and emotional control.
Mental focus enables a tennis player to maintain concentration and stay present during the match. Physical readiness means that the body is energized and relaxed, prepared to meet the demands of the game. Emotional control enables a player to effectively manage stress, retain composure under pressure, and maintain a positive mindset.
Alongside the mental, emotional, and physical elements of the IPS are tactical awareness and technical proficiency. Tactical awareness enables tennis players to make smart decisions and adjust their strategies effectively during matches. Technical proficiency involves selecting shots that align with the player's capabilities and executing those shots to the best of their ability. Within the IPS framework, your courtcraft, movement, power, spin, control, and consistency are at their best.
TennisSupertar.com helps tennis players develop the ability to play in the IPS. While you can make these developments unassisted, working with a coach may be beneficial. A coach can personalize your learning experience and show you how to effectively absorb information you have gained from coaching lessons, tips, training, studying, and playing the game. This approach will help make your tennis experience more relaxed, enjoyable, and consistently at your best level.
As a coach, my primary goal is to guide players in developing the ability to achieve the Ideal Performance State (IPS). From a child's first tennis lesson to advanced players, the focus is on discovering the joy of relaxed concentration and being present in the moment.
Best wishes, Mark Plumridge
If you would like to learn more about the IPS, please email me at info@TennisSuperstar.com
JUST PLAY
The Ideal Performance State (IPS) will allow you to have pure and complete enjoyment in your tennis. Besides a satisfying performance at your best level, it will be a pure, in-the-moment experience free from stress and frustration. To achieve this, train to avoid negative and disruptive thought patterns that arise from judgments, comments, and other internal noise.
Be the player and not:
· The commentator. A running commentary inside your head during a tennis rally is distracting. Play without comment on the quality of your performance. Complaining about or complimenting your performance is not the role of the player.
· The coach. Overthinking mechanics mid-stroke—like “bend your knees” or “follow through”—splits attention, disrupts timing, and blocks flow. Trust yourself to perform at your highest level, focus on the ball, and simply play.
· The spectator/supporter. Experiencing the emotional highs and lows of a spectator or supporter can take you away from the IPS. Aim to play without the emotional attachment of a fan. An extra note here is that during a rally, complete your shot and move immediately to position for the next shot rather than standing and watching the shot you just hit. In doubles, you need to be prepared to play every ball; you can’t stand and watch your partner play. You need to assume every ball is going in and move without hesitation. There is zero time for questions like: Can I get that? Have I hit that in or out? Is it worth running? The split-second pause to consider can I get to the ball before starting to move for it could mean you don’t make it to the ball. Just go.
· The judge. Judging the quality of your shots or the opponents is distracting and detracts from the IPS. The ball you just played or are about to play is what it is. Labelling a shot or a player as poor, good, or great can bring feelings of doubt or overconfidence. Having said this, a quantitative judgment is required. That is recognising the speed of the ball or the amount of spin. In the IPS, you will be able to make the best tactical response with the best technique within your capabilities. Examples are if you quantify a ball as fast, your response could be a more compact preparation or a lob compared to a slow ball, on which you decide to attack with increased power. Qualitative judgments, such as "this is difficult," can foster doubt, while expressions like "this is an easy ball" may lead to carelessness and mistakes.
The best way to avoid distracting and negative thoughts, such as opinions and labels, is to focus on something else. Concentrate on the steps to reach the IPS and just play.
Best wishes, Mark Plumridge
If you would like to learn more about the IPS and enhance the experience of playing tennis, please email me at info@TennisSuperstar.com