Improving Tennis Performance: Self Talk vs the Scoring Problem
Scientists have long known that positive Self-Talk improves player performance . There has been a lot of research done on this. Scientists also know that a player cannot dual task. A player cannot think of two things at the same time. See where this is going?! Put the research together and you get that Scoring in tennis interferes with player performance. First, Here are some research examples: Study: The costs of changing an intended action: movement planning, but not execution, interferes with verbal working memory. Results: Keeping a fact in working memory interferes with athletic planning. (Dr. Schack wrote me that izzers is a real life application of his research.) Study: You can do it! Scientists find urging yourself on in the second person is the key to sporting success Results: Positive self talk contributes to athletic success. Using the third person is better. The summary: The latest research shows that player performance is improved through positive
