[navy75]

For a little background, I've probably played 500+ matches between college matches, adult/junior tournaments, futures, etc. However, a couple of weeks ago, I woke up fine, hit the courts that afternoon to play a match, and literally couldn't put a ball in play during warmups. I've never experienced anything like this, and am still freaked out about it a week later. I'm talking hand feeds that would bounce twice before even going into the net, and then when I would try to hit it harder the ball would go into the fence on the other court. Plenty of frames and shanks off of balls hit to me at a snail's pace right down the middle of the court as well. It honestly looked like a baby who'd never picked up a racket.

I wasn't out of shape, had just beaten a solid 4.0/4.5 wall 6-0, 6-0 three days prior, and don't have any medical conditions that I know of. I haven't played since due to being so freaked out/embarrassed. I ended up getting a few games in the 2nd set off of a guy I normally give up a couple of games to tops solely due to first serves and volleys, but have never felt that degree of utter frustration and embarrassment at the wasting both of our time (1st set took probably 10 minutes)

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? What can be the cause? Was it just a one-time thing? I used to give lessons for God's sake, and I'm not exaggerating just how ridiculous it was. A 2.5 player would have been put off just warming up with me. For someone who is virtually always nonchalant regardless of opponent, I fear that I will have anxiety for the rest of my tennis career that one day a day like that might occur again.

[Ilovetheblues_86]

This is God teaching you to be more humble.

[jenkins.ray11]

Just stick to your sportsman spirit, sports people like us often face embarrassing situations and failures like this. These are to be availed as the scope of improvement and to get depressed.

[fast_clay]

i got the yips on serve for 18 months, the serve the major strength of mine... it happened after i lost a match in a regional final 75 76 in 2000 where i was serving for both sets and dumped a smash in the net in the 2nd set tiebreak... i can't describe to you how troubling tennis was for me during this 18 months, because at the time I just didn't have the want to step on court and hit the 5000 heavy, relaxed serves that are required to get rid of mental doubt while playing a stroke...

losing that final hurt the ego at the time, but that is a good thing... i felt i should have won the match, but eventually reasoned that it wasn't just me failing but my opponents strength (return, ground game) causing the failure - this opponent was a guy who would split sets with pat rafter in his junior days... the destruction of the ego, and extreme loss of confidence was a good thing and ultimately strengthens, not the way I played the game, but more the way i approached the game... i now played the game, not allowing the game to play me... a more relaxed approach encourages freer play...

i know that doesn't, at first glance help your particular situation as every situation is unique to the person, but i would like to comment that if good play is possible, then it is possible once more... with a blind faith in that knowledge then you can relax knowing that form will return... might be a bit of a test... but a relaxed approach, truly confident in the knowledge of your own true form will coax out that true form much quicker than a panicked approach where only fear aka tension rule - creating unnecessary tension is counterproductive and causes a cycle where bad form own all... not only that, you may also cause yourself and others in your immediate vicinity a nasty injury if you get too worked up about a loss of form... best to relax and place a blind, stupid trust in old adages like 'hard work pays off' and 'form is temporary, class is permanent'...

regards,

your mtf coach
fast_clay