In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can find their optimal level of intensity on the practice court and in matches. The co-hosts outline some of the research concepts relating to Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) and the Inverted-U Theory which shows the relationship between pressure and performance (also known as the Yerkes-Dodson Law). They discuss how tennis players can use mental preparation to control their intensity levels, and review specific ways that tennis players can increase or decrease their levels of intensity on the court during matches.  

Aaron Donald pre-game speech (self-talk) - https://youtu.be/y4P7D5fEXJI  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.