One Highly Effective Habit

I say it often. “If people didn’t have bad habits, I wouldn’t have a job.” Most everything we do as tennis professionals is work toward changing and improving habits. Think about it. How you swing, how you move, where you hit it, how much spin you apply is most all done by habit. What your rituals before serving look like, what you do on changeovers, how you prepare for matches, even what you eat- all down to habits.

We work, through correct repetition, on changing habits. We seek to make things more “automatic” so they are more consistent and reliable. We try to form or change your “muscle memory” so the way you feel natural executing a physical action feels comfortable, permanent, and bio-mechanically sound. “Good habits”’ through physical repetition, mental application, and emotional control, are the foundation of successful athletic performance.

At HP, we often talk of an overarching ideal that is the one highly effective habit that we strive for, and we say it aloud often. “Excellence is a habit.”” A simple four word statement that carries much weight and speaks volumes. Let’s take a closer look.

”Excellence is a habit” covers so much more than tennis. It implies that it is a goal in every endeavor.

A player striving for excellence on the court is also striving for excellence in the classroom, in the home, in the workplace, and in life in general. It is a mindset that we try to demand of ourselves, and it should filter into everything. Of course, we may not achieve this every time in every way, but that’s not what is truly important. It is the act of striving for excellence that has such a valued effect. If your name is on it, make it your very best. Excellence isn’t defined by comparing our efforts and accomplishments to others, it is by comparing ourselves to ourselves - and constantly pushing for the goal of “get better”. Along with the achievement that will come from striving for excellence, comes the feeling of accomplishment that we have given this our best shot, no matter the outcome.

As you approach this quest for excellence, consider the following:

demand it- of yourself, of your teammate, of your partner

expect it- as though there is no other option

do not assume it- it won’t happen without the effort

appreciate it- give yourself and those around you credit for the hard work and the rewards it brings

respect it- not everyone does it at the same time, or in the same way

When we talk about “excellence” in our program, we say “ We don’t train for mediocrity. We’ve never accepted it, and we never will.” Striving to make excellence a habit is the hallmark of our effort level and our motivation. As you move toward forming this highly effective habit, you will find