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Winning Ugly  By  cover art

Winning Ugly

By: Brad Gilbert,Steve Jamison
Narrated by: Charles Constant
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Publisher's summary

He's been called the best in the world at the mental game of tennis. Brad Gilbert's strokes may not be pretty, but looks aren't everything. He has beaten the tour's biggest names - all by playing his "ugly" game. Now, in Winning Ugly, Gilbert teaches recreational players how to win more often without necessarily even changing their strokes.

The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinking player - to recognize, analyze, and capitalize. That means out-thinking opponents before, during, and after a match - forcing him or her to play your game. Gilbert's unconventional advice includes:

  • How to identify the seven "Hidden Ad Points", and what to do when they come up
  • Six reasons why you should never serve first
  • How to beat a lefty, a retriever, a serve-volley player, and other troublesome opponents
  • How to keep a lead or stop a match from slipping away
  • How to handle psyching and gamesmanship

Winning Ugly is an invaluable combat manual for the court, and its tips include "some real gems", according to Tennis magazine. Ultimately, Winning Ugly will help you beat players who have been beating you.

©1993, 2013 Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison (P)2013 Tantor

What listeners say about Winning Ugly

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Tried and True

Love revisiting this book about once a year (and some chapters more often). It’s great for tennis and also for life!

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3 people found this helpful

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  • WM
  • 05-18-18

Book for beginners tennis (meant with no judgment)

This book basically teaches us to be prepared and play to our strengths.

If you played tennis competitively and took it seriously and looking to regain that "game"... this book may not be for you. As a high-school tennis player, i felt as though it was like taking a class of which was previously taken a few times in school.... or something like that.

However experienced we may be it is always good to be reminded about the many points mentioned in this book (hence my overall positive review).

It is of my opinion that one who is already prepared should pick up "The Inner Game."

WM

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improve

great stuff, must read/listen for serious tennis players. the often overlooked aspects of the game

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2 people found this helpful

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should be required reading be fore buying a tennis

you need this if you play tennis and care about the sport. also, a good read for general strategy. lessons have more application than just tennis.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great strategy at the highest level of Tennis

that is shared in a way that can help the recreational player to think differently and perform at a much higher level.

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  • MM
  • 10-17-16

great even if you rarely play.

the Great Book even if you rarely play. If your kids play, this should be a mandatory read overage 12. It works great as an audio especially for the younger kids.

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A must book & audio for anyone how is into tennis!

I loved it. The narrator is perfect. I have read twice the book and now l listen to it wherever l go. l like so much when Brad tell how he lost a match to Connors after he won it.

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Great book if ...

Would you try another book from Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison and/or Charles Constant?

…you're looking for something on the whole mental aspect of the game. This is not a book of mechanics, it's about mental and physical preparation and strategy.

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Excellent

A must for every serious tennis player. Read this book and use it and you will win a lot more matches

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Interesting insights

The author has some good perspective on winning tennis matches, but I think it could have been condensed into a much smaller book. It tended to be repetitive and I think the sections on what to keep in your tennis bag and how to be fit were filler sections. I fast-forwarded though those.

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