The Inner Game of Tennis

The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

By: W. Timothy Gallwey

Narrated by: Dan Woren

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

An accessible, invaluable guide to mastering your “inner game” to ensure success on and off the court—part of the bestselling Inner Game series, with more than one million copies sold!

“Groundbreaking . . . [The Inner Game of Tennis is] the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes (“Five of my All-Time Favorite Books”)

Master your game from the inside out!

This phenomenally successful guide has become a touchstone for hundreds of thousands of people. Not just for tennis players, or even just for athletes in general, this handbook works for anybody who wants to improve their performance in any activity, from playing music to getting ahead at work. W. Timothy Gallwey, a leading innovator in sports psychology, reveals how to:

• Focus your mind to overcome nervousness, self-doubt, and distractions
• Find the state of “relaxed concentration” that allows you to play at your best
• Build skills by smart practice, then put it all together in match play

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Gallwey’s engaging voice, clear examples, and illuminating anecdotes will give you the tools you need to succeed.

©1997 W. Timothy Gallwey (P)2007 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Groundbreaking . . . The Inner Game of Tennis is just as relevant today as it was in 1974. . . . It’s the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes (“Five of my All-Time Favorite Books”)

For anyone who wants to perform

What made the experience of listening to The Inner Game of Tennis the most enjoyable?

I was surprised at how spiritual it sounds to me. It's there, right underneath the surface. The ending anecdote about being stranded in a snow storm, actually brought tears to my eyes, it was really moving...

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Inner Game of Tennis?

Apart from the above mentioned passage, the description of his teaching style vs the traditional one. So eye opening, gentle, and powerful.

Have you listened to any of Dan Woren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but for a while, I thought it was the author reading it, he commanded the material so well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of self I and self II are so recognizable that it feels like meeting an old friend...yourself, that is.

Any additional comments?

This is the original inner game and I have heard people say that it's the most powerful one. the principles described here are universal to all sports and all activities where performance and pressure play a part, such as for example music. I'm a musician and I'm not going to get the Inner Game of Music. This is the root and the original!

WHAT TO TUNE IN - WHAT TO TUNE OUT

? did you grow up in a culture of achievement and relentless criticism
? as a child, were your shortcomings frequently judged and exposed
? as an adult, do you feel you are, at times, holding yourself back

tim gallwey was a talented tennis instructor in a well-to-do part of california
that may not sound like fertile ground for important cultural observations
but gallwey's patient scrutiny and observation lead him to new and real insights

as his tennis players "...talked to themselves..." gallwey heard 2 competing voices
voice # 1 was berating, belittling, relentlessly scolding and critical
voice # 2 stood chastened and seemed to believe it deserved the reprimand

as you might imagine, voice # 1 can get in the way of exertion and performance
gallwey gives thoughtful practical advice on how to turn voice # 1 down a bit
with that burden lifted, he found his players were able perform to their capacity

the strength of gallwey's book is its' intuitive approachable presentation
timeless truths are delivered as friendly " easy to digest " examples
as you'd expect the book is not about tennis - it's about those inner voices

Great philosophies, not just for tennis.

Any additional comments?

As a martial arts instructor, The Inner Game of Tennis has helped me understand the body's natural way of learning and how to teach in a way that is more conducive to retained muscle memory. In only a week, I have seen great improvements in how my students are able to pick up complex movements at a much faster rate without as much effort on my part. Even students that have been notoriously difficult to teach, it feels as if I've unlocked their true learning potential. The reality is that I have finally learned to challenge them appropriately through the lessons I have learned from this book. Every instructor, no matter your sport, should read this book.

And I also played out of my mind in my last tennis match!

2nd time through and still learning

I have listened to this audio book twice and I have learned a great amount both times. You learn and it also gets you thinking. This book talks a lot about tennis but the principles probably apply to nearly everything in life. The world is shaped by the thoughts in your head and you can shape you're inner game or inner thoughts to benefit the outer reality.

The heart of coaching art!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Inner Game of Tennis to be better than the print version?

Yes!much more vividly

What did you like best about this story?

Easy understanding! And propounding discovery, no any useless talking, lots examples elaborate, great help!

Which scene was your favorite?

Self 1and self 2 theory!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No , I listen it from time to time,

Any additional comments?

I want to buy his other two books, inner games of work & stress! Please !

Just great for any sports and life!!!

Where does The Inner Game of Tennis rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It contains a message for life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Inner Game of Tennis?

How to allow your mind and body to perform at their best..

Which scene was your favorite?

Dealing with choking..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!!!

Any additional comments?

Easy to understand, and worthy every penny

Could be better if shorter

Any additional comments?

Spend too much time with obvious things, the important stuff could told in one hour.

Winning Book

Inspiring audio. Gave me the same inspiring feeling as I got from the book in the 80s.

The Only Game that Counts

I picked this up on the advice of a personal trainer who noticed I was struggling with calisthenics. It may be hard to believe a book could make training easier or more effective, but that has definitely happened in my case. The advice contained here truly opened my eyes on how to focusing and achieve my best possible game. This book is beyond highly recommended! Go for it!

Fantastic!

I have seen immediate results by using the techniques described in the this book. I highly recommend it.

Brilliant (audio)book

Deals with the mental game of tennis so well, from mental attitude towards learning and improving strokes, to your mental approach on court, how counterproductive your 'inner critic' is to your game, and how you should try and achieve 'psychological flow' (ie being 'in the zone'). Particularly good for overly pushy parents coaching their kids who don't realise that berating or yelling at their kids isn't helpful. Highly recommended for any tennis player at any level.

Not Just A Classic! Top Quality Too!

Tim's book is not just a Classic: it is extremely Classy too! A thoroughly excellent read. Tim breaks down the Inner Game and Outer Game with a skilled hand. Many many 'I's have been dotted and 'T's crossed with this one. Awesome read, Tim! Thanks a million!

Success is an Inside Out Job.

Mervyn Barrett
Inevitability Coach at 5sense Management Technologies Ltd

The Key Elements to Your Success are: Outcome - Action - Evaluate - Modify

The genesis of modern performance coaching

a classic must read or listen for anyone with an interest in performance coaching for themselves or others.

Repetitive and annoying, frankly.

There is a central message to this book- something to do with relaxing and allowing your unconscious mind take control. There, said it. If you listen to the book, you can hear the same thing said again, scores of times, in various different (and not so different) ways. And that's it. Again and again. And again.

Tennis and life

I have only been playing tennis for 10 months but love this game and this book was great as it focused on the attitude and way we approach the game which is many ways is reflecting the ways we approach life. Great book, highly recommended

Really helped my tennis

I was struggling with nervousness, trying too hard, and a sense of guilt for beating the opponent, all the things that the author touched upon. This book was really eye opening, helped me achieve relaxed concentration and play better. Hope to use some of these concepts for work settings too.

My bible!

Listen to this every couple of years .Love it. Helps me with life and tennis.

Good concept, dragged out

Very interesting book, well worth a read, but is at least 50% long for the content within.

Also, it is written in a very clumsy style in which the author seems not to understand the use of the word 'they'. Sentences will read "playing someone will be hard when he...", when there is no reason for the masculine to be used. A small thing but a definite distraction throughout.

classic

a great read - well beyond the realm of tennis, an insight into consciousness and its relation to human endeavour.

Great content and narrator!

As a long time tennis fan but a beginner player with only 3 classes in so far, this was really nice to listen to. I'm very interested in the mental aspect of sports and this book did a great job covering that. I'm looking forward to my next tennis class and to start applying these concepts in my game.