The Inner Game

This is important, Gallwey suggests, because there is a constant inner conversation going on in all of us. One part of us tries to focus “on the game.” While it tries to play tennis or speak English, the other part is always giving instructions – “do this, don’t do that” – and evaluating, or criticizing, what we’re trying to do. When the second voice is louder, and we begin to worry about how well we’re doing, we don’t play or speak as well as we could.

via An English lesson from a tennis coach — Successful English.

Tags: English, Englishlesson, Lesson

The Inner Game of Tennis has long been something of a bible for performing musicians. I was first introduced to it in college perhaps even earlier. It is literally a life-changing book, and is especially helpful in figuring out how the mind works, why we get nervous, and most importantly, how to deal with that nervousness, overcome it, and perform at your highest levels.

via The Scene: Inner Game.

Tags: Innergame, Juilliard, techniques

While Tiger’s success was the driving force behind the change, the tipping point may have been Ernie Els’ victory in the British Open in 2002. Helped by Jos Vanstiphout, Els cruised to victory at Muirfield, St. Andrews. That spurred changes. Today, more and more sports psychologists are advising golfers about golf’s mental side. They’re also writing books about it. One noteworthy book is Tim Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Golf, fashioned after his breakthrough book, The Inner Game of Tennis.

via A Golf Lesson On Beating Tiger Woods « jack wills blog.

Tags: Tiger, TigerWoods, Woods

And we talked about Tennis, since I was suffering from some neck pain related to my competitive tennis play.

And in a eureka moment, he said, “And there’s that guy who wrote that book about tennis.”

My eyes lit up. “Timothy Gallwey.”"That might be it.”"You mean The Inner Game of Tennis, by Timothy Gallway?”

“That sounds right.”Holy Cow! He had hit me square in the heart. Not only had The Inner Game of Tennis formed a HUGE part of my youth, and my understanding of tennis as an exploration of self, but more recently I had gotten in touch with Timothy Gallwey, in order to support the publication of his new book, The Inner Game of Stress.

“YES!” I said. “The concepts of the Inner Game have been part of my life for a long time. I think they’ve guided me more often than I know. I mean, I learned them when I was about 14 or 15.”"Well, there you go.”"I was trying to learn about tennis, and this “self 1″ and “self 2″ concept was a bit over the top. BUT… It worked.”"That’;s what I’m saying. I think you have your training. And it’s something you’ve been working at passionately for years.”"Yeah, since I was about 10.”"And you still love it.”So we talked about tennis and Timothy Gallway for a bit and I said something about the tennis racquet being sort of like a sword. And the game being fairly analogous to a duel. And in telling him about my game, I was describing my serve as a powerful weapon.

“The first cut,” he said.In principle, the serve is a single motion and attack, when executed effectively puts the opponent on the defensive. In my game it is my single strongest weapon. Nothing gives me more confidence than to have my opponents complement my serve at the end of a match. At the completion of a doubles match, hearing “We just couldn’t get a handle on your serve tonight,” is truly the highest complement one can receive in tennis. In addition to the WIN, that is.

I’ll go fish out my Gallwey book. And both my friend and I made a point to go seek out the new book The Inner Game of Stress.

Now I think I’d better go hit some tennis balls before the weekend rain starts again.

via The First Cut: Applying The Way of the Sword to Life and Tennis | uber.la.

Tags: Inner Game of Tennis, mental approach, success, Tim Gallwey

Al Roderigues handed me the book: “The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance,” by Timothy Gallwey.

“I don't play tennis, Al,” I responded, confused.

“It's not about tennis,” he explained. “It's about attitude. About changing it, becoming master of it.”

via David Ellison: The game of self-control – Inside Bay Area.

Tags: Al Roderigues, Coach, coaching, Inner Game of Tennis, The Inner Game, Tim Gallwey

I found the book in the library and was surprised at how thin it was. Then I noticed there were no pictures. I thought “What kind of tennis book has no pictures? ” I started to read there next to the shelves and my life has never been the same. I wound up captain of my highschool tennis team, all-state selection, and along the way crushed the bums who used to beat me.

via The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance « karycumby.

Tags: Guide, Inner Game of Tennis, innergametennis, MentalSide, PeakPerformance, Tim Gallwey, W. Timothy Gallwey

When I came across NLP in the late 1990’s I saw it’s potential to fill the gap and therefore accelerate the development of skills and competency, improve consistency, quality and standards and also, for me, to do so in a fun way. It took me back to a book I had read called “The Inner Game of Tennis” by Timothy Gallwey which I believe really kicked off the development of coaching.

via NLP Coaching Training « Bryce Redford – The Bodymind Coach.

Tags: coaching, mental approach, Neuro-Linguistic, NLP, Performance, Programming, sports psychology

In his seminal book, The Inner Game of Tennis, Tim Gallwey presents an almost “zen-like” approach to playing this great game of ours. I am not certain what edition this book may be in at the time of this writing, but it is still on the shelves of many bookstores, and still enjoys many sales. The lasting quality of this great book in my mind speaks to the value and validity of its content.

via Tennis Server – Turbo Tennis – Confidence and “Slumps”.

Tags: coaching, inner game, Inner Game of Tennis, Performance, potential

With the conclusion of the tennis Australian Open, the book “The Inner Game of Tennis” comes to mind. It was written back in 1972 by Timothy Gallwey when the mental game was little understood and his approach was considered radical. Now it is commonplace to realise that a game is 95% in the head. Look at the recent tournament in Melbourne. How does someone play brilliantly one set and then completely lose it the next or vice-versa. You see the mental strength of Serena Williams, able to access another gear when things are down. Roger Federer able to stay cool as he knows he has the ability to mentally outlast any other player.

via Success Beyond Sport for athletes, retired & current – The Inner Game of Tennis.

Tags: athletes, innergametennis, retired, Sport, success

Tim Gallwey, who wrote “The Inner Game of Tennis,” said athletes such as Henin and Clijsters who devote their lives to sports starting as youngsters often have to get away from the game to regain control of their lives.Gallwey, 72, who was captain of Harvard University's tennis team in the 1959-60 season, said such athletes have a psychological advantage when they return from retirement.

“They’ve had time to step back out of the normal disciplines and grinds of any sport,” he said in a phone interview. “They get to come back with renewed energy and self-determination. Instead of something they have to do as a pro, it’s something they want to do. I admire them, because they’re going back with eyes open.”

via Henin Makes Australian Open Final on Own Terms – NewsFlash – MassLive.com.

Tags: Inner Game of Tennis, innergametennis, mental approach, Motivation, Performance, tennis, The Inner Game, Tim Gallwey