Winning Ugly

By: Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison

Narrated by: Charles Constant

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

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

Essential Tennis Tome

Lifetime tennis player, three-time All-American, and this is the first time I've read/listened to this book. Shame on me! This book is so good for players of all abilities. No matter how much you think you know, you'll learn. I will be relistening to this often to keep my skills sharp!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

improve

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

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

best tennis book ive read.

better than agassis which was really good...and sampras which was also very good and better than the inner game of tennis which I also highly recommend. this book however was the best of them all.

Hyped and Outdated. Not as Effective

A public online tennis forum is easily more effective. Join one. Development requires a feedback loop meant to calibrate your thoughts as it translate into your game. The book is helpful for 3.0 players; solid 3.5s and up should consider something else.

A must for all tennis players!

Wish I had read this 40 Yrs ago! Great understanding of the mind game of tennis with a humorous tilt. Interesting and extremely helpful!