Question 1526: Is all self-talk bad?

Thank you for your continued support.

1.In your previous reply, I was curious if self-talk, thinking, and speaking aloud—and whether these three are applied to the current ball versus the future or past, making for a total of six—are all slightly different things?

Due to the teachings of ※※※※ coach, I had ultimately come to believe that all self-talk is bad.

2. I have become lost on how to introduce strokes, volleys, and serves to people who are playing tennis for the first time.

Regarding 1.
I think this is a matter of how you define the meanings of the words "self-talk," "thinking," and "speaking aloud."

Can "self-talk" be translated as "talking to oneself"?

That does not mean it is "all bad."

It means that "some of it is bad."

For example, the self-talk (speaking aloud) that a train conductor does, such as "Right is clear, left is clear," is effective because it is directed toward the object that requires focus (safety).

The problem arises with self-talk that occurs fully automatically in the mind when it is not directed at the object that requires focus.

For example, a conductor thinking, "Checking is such a hassle," would fall into this category.

Why?

Because when they are thinking (mentally processing) "It's such a hassle" fully automatically in their head, their eyes lose focus and their attention is not directed toward the object that requires focus (safety).

In other words, it can be said that "problematic self-talk" arises from thoughts that are not related to the object that requires focus.

And in the case of tennis, only the current ball is the object that requires focus; for balls in the past or future, "self-talk," "thinking," and "speaking aloud" all function as "all bad things," to borrow your words.

Regarding 2.

As an introduction, I think it is fine to simply say, "Watch the ball closely."

Even though there are distinctions between strokes, volleys, and serves for convenience, if the image of each swing is already present, the body will move naturally if they watch the ball closely, so there is no need to teach them how to hit.

However, if they do not even have that swing image, please demonstrate it for them.

For example, in the case of a child who truly does not know tennis, they might just try to get the racket face on a hand-fed ball, flapping the racket around regardless of front, back, left, right, up, or down.

In such cases, the coach should demonstrate the swing or indicate the direction to hit the ball to help solidify the image.

Otherwise, I think it is fine to simply tell them to "watch the ball closely," persistently and repeatedly.

Why?

Because thoughts unrelated to the current ball, such as "I missed that one" or "I'll hit it better next time," tend to arise, and the mind easily becomes dominated by "problematic self-talk" regarding the past or future.

Therefore, please tell them to "watch the ball closely" persistently and repeatedly to help them form the habit of focusing on the target they should be focusing on.

This can be said to be both the "introduction" and the "goal."

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