Tennis is mostly mental. You win or lose the match before you even go out there. - Venus Williams

You can tell, Venus.

I have lived the very same story in basically all types of sport I have ever practices. Especially in golf and tennis - where it's all about placing that ball at the perfect spot on the field - your mental strength is key to success.

If you don't have faith in your own game, you won't be able to win. All you need is confidence!

Funny enough my today's instructor noticed very quickly how important that confidence part is for my game.

So he shouted "C'mon with confidence!" at me before passing the next ball over.

It worked!

Both pressure and confidence always help me to show my best game.

If I know that someone's watching, for instance, and I still have the confidence that I can impress them, I'm able to deliver my personal 100% or even more.

It's all in your head.

You've got a quite classic swing, I like that.

He said.

I was born in the 80ies I replied. That's the good old tennis school.

We both laughed.

Tennis has become quite fast during the past years, my today's Pro explained. While the classic swing has created legends such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi or Boris Becker, the today's world champions play tennis in a different way.

Nowadays everything is focussed on pace.

Yet, since I don't have any ambition to break a world record here, I will stay with my classic 80ies style for a little while.

Thank you, Alfredo, for the great summer's kick-off! I'll be back at the Santa Barbara Tenis & Padel Club very soon.

To watch my today's 30 seconds of happiness just click on the picture above and watch the video on @dtube or check out this Youtube version:

Now go out hit some balls, steemians! It can be such a relief 😃

Much love,
Marley -