The Inner Game of Tennis: The classic guide to the mental side of peak performance Paperback – 6 Jun. 2024

I was recommended this book by my coach Russell who has an exceptionally intuitive touch plus a surfer-dude-with-a racquet vibe (which is not easy in London). He has taught tennis for decades and keeps Gallwey's book by his bedside and often re-reads it. I can see why. There's not so much of the "hold the raquet with your knuckle on the first plane", "face this way", "move into the ball", "do this, do that" and more of a guidebook to how to translate SEEING the perfect motion to actually DOING it. I've had several instructors over the years and learned more from YouTube. Until now anyway. Gallwey digs into the conflict between the analytical/critical mind 'Self1' and the bio-mechanical-reflex 'Self2' which, he says, possesses everything we all need to play decent tennis. His angle is that we all need to learn how to analyse and really SEE what we are doing wrong and learn how to change for the better. How to relax and free-up your inner Roger Federer. He makes the perfect point that most students are so desperate to learn - and so hard on themselves - they can't get out of their own way. Clenched muscles don't make for a relaxed player. Ever noticed how the best tennis players are so relaxed and smooth and almost playing in slow-mo? That's where he is trying to take the reader. Ok, I know what I am describing smacks a little of 'Feel the Force, Luke" but it has worked amazingly well for me. And, as he says, many of the lessons have applications in everyday life (such as dealing with stress). I was more than amazed to learn (in 2020) the book was first written in 1975. It sounds like advertising blurb but I really wish I'd discovered it 20 years ago. Do yourself a favour; don't wait until you're 50 (cough). Buy this book.

Game changing amazing book Wish I had read it years ago

A short book, can be read in few hours, very enlightening, more than a self help book. Billie Jean rightly said it’s a bible of tennis but I think this is a real bible for living a good life. & This book reminds of Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kaheman - self 1 is actually system 2 an analytical & critical thinking mindset while self 2 is more of system 1 mindset an automatic thinking based on intuition with no or little effort a key to effortless tennis like Roger Federer.

This is beautiful. Every chapter just makes perfect sense. Gallwey has taught me many things through this masterpiece - how far in you can get away standing to receive even fast serves, that I was a "good-o" type player and why this mentality won't get you anywhere or at least any happiness, how you shouldn't *try* to win but instead make the *effort* to win, how breathing can transform your game, how awareness is the key to playing to your potential and thoughts are your obstacles, and so much more.The only thing I lament is that I don't remember what he says in this book everytime I step on court and instead sometimes end up reverting to my erroneous thinking! But I think I'm getting better. I'm determined to win the inner game! What one really needs is to find a way of drilling his advice into their subconscious! I can only recommend continually rereading it!You should also bear in mind that this book is a lesson on life as well as tennis, and can make you life more peaceful. I think Gallwey says somewhere in here something along the lines of "you can practise concentration to improve your tennis, or you can practise tennis to improve your concentration..." If you buy one book to improve your tennis get this one, no matter what level you're at. It will increase your enjoyment of the game.

Insightful

This is an interesting book, which was originally recommended to me by a martial arts instructor; even though the book is about the inner game of tennis, it does have a wider application; as other books in the series indicate: The Inner Game of Golf; The Inner Game of Music. You could read The Inner Game of Tennis and call it the Inner Game of...Karate, Judo, etc.The book describes concepts of Self 1 and Self 2, which is like the conscious and unconscious minds. In a nut shell, self one is like a captain of a ship that states the desired destination and self 2 is the crew. Once the captain gives the order (self 1) He or she gets out of the way and lets the crew carry out their tasks; therefore, if you want to develop a skill, the conscious mind states the intention/desired goal, while allowing your other than conscious mind to carry out the task of skill development. The Inner Game of Tennis is about how to go about getting out of your own way or how to stop self consciousness inhibiting your progress.I found the book interesting and it has helped me with my own sport; however, my wife, who is a tennis player found the book repetitive. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Just as “Jaws” is not a out a shark, this book is not about tennis. It’s exciting and full of wisdom. I look forward to allowing my Self 2 to flourish.

Great product that gives good insight into the psyche of any sport.