Your Emotional State Affects Your Game

The greatest performances come from a state of enjoyment. We take risks, take chances, and are more creative in this state. If it feels great, we continue doing it. If it does not feel good, we stop the pattern. So you have to feel great out on the court all the time. If you are not enjoying racquetball, why are you playing?

Your ideal state is always happy, calm, relaxed, and in control. No worries. Your passion and love for the game are nestled in your gut, and your positive muscle memory is ready to act and react. You always want to enjoy the process and play from love and not fear. Remember, this is a game of mistakes, so keep your sense of humor and put it all in perspective. Pretend you are a wild animal before it attacks its prey—totally relaxed, muscles loose, and ready to kill. The animal’s mind is positive and emotionally calm. This is the perfect ready state.

There are many topics of “Emotion” in my book, “Championship Racquetball” in Chapter 9, P. 218, 219, 223, 226.

All my athletes from legends Jason Mannino and Sudsy Monchik, when they were playing the pro tour, to Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria who are presently playing the pro tour, ALL have “a sound emotional state when they are on the court and feel great when they are out there.”

Here’s how my Championship Team PROVES that “FEELING GREAT on the COURT & LOVING THE GAME” is a critical part of performing at their best:

Rocky Carson:

In the Raising Some Racquet For Kids on March 31 – April 3 near Dayton, OH and at the Florida IRT ProAm in Sarasota, April 28 – May 1, Rocky showed all the signs of emotional enjoyment. Rocky’s ideal state was happy to be there, calm, relaxed and in total control.

In the last two tournaments in the finals you could clearly see this:

1-During the finals in Ohio, Rocky beat Alvaro Beltran in the 5^th game tie-breaker 11-9, never acting negatively or feeling self-doubt. He wanted to be there and fought hard to go in for the kill at the end.

Even during the finals of Sarasota, FL, when Rocky was down 0-2 in games against Daniel De La Rosa, Rocky remained positive and emotionally calm. This is what allowed Rocky to dig out of the hole and win games 3, 4 and 5.

I was so proud of Rocky as we have been working really hard on his “emotional state” and coming from a very relaxed and calm place. I do hope this proved to him and others reading this that enjoying the game, having fun and coming from a place of love and not fear produces positive results.

One’s Emotional State is yet another required skill on the road to championship racquetball. ALL of the players I coach, from the professionals led by Rocky and Paola to the amateurs, know just how important it is to be“happy, calm, relaxed, and in control”. Their records speak for themselves…Rocky and Paola are BOTH 2 of the most decorated athletes in racquetball. Paola finished ranked #1 for the 6^th time on the LPRT, 6X US Open Champions, 4X World Champion and 4X Pan American Champion. Rocky finished ranked #2 for the 8^th time on the IRT, 4X World Champion, 2X Pan American Champion and US Open Champion.

I will continue to build your Championship Racquetball Game one level at a time so you too can be ready to become the champion you always dreamed of becoming, by giving you the playing tips and tools to make it a reality. Rocky and all my athletes “Championship Racquetball Games” stem from their focus on ALL 3 sides of the triangle working together so they can develop into top competitors. Without a shadow of a doubt, they KNOW just how important it is to do the work. They are living proof it works and their titles substantiate it.

For details on more personalized instruction, a weekend camp, instructional DVD’s and our book, Championship Racquetball) ALL which covers all aspects of the Sports Racquetball Triangle and more, please visit www.FranDavisRacquetball.com. Fran Davis is a 2004 racquetball Hall of Fame inductee; Racquetball Woman of the Year 2009; Coaches #2 IRT Pro Player / 1X US Open Champion / 4X and present World Champion, 2X Pan American Champion, Rocky Carson; Coaches #1 Women’s LPRT Pro Player / 6X and present US Open Champion & 4X World Champion, 2X Pan American Champion, Paola Longoria; Coaches Jr. World & National Champions, Jordan Cooperrider, Wayne Antone & Mitchell Turner; Master Professional Instructor/Coach USAR-IP.