Tennis Psychology

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Session Notes The Playmaker
Addressing:

Between-Point Spiral

Those 20-25 seconds between points where your mind races through everything that went wrong, replaying the missed forehand while the next point is already starting. The time that should be for recovery becomes a breeding ground for self-destruction.

How The Playmaker Can Break the Between-Point Spiral in Tennis

Posted on February 3, 2026 ~ min read
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For: The Playmaker athletes in Tennis
Focus: Session Notes - Between-Point Spiral
Read Time: ~9 min
Session Notes February 3, 2026
Profile: The Playmaker
Sport: Tennis
Challenge: Between-Point Spiral

"Just relax between points. Clear your mind. Stay calm." You've heard this advice a thousand times. It sounds reasonable. It feels like it should work. But for you, an athlete driven by internal mastery and opponent-focused competition, this generic prescription misses the mark completely. Your brain doesn't work that way.

In tennis, between-point spiral is that 20-25 second window where your mind races through everything that went wrong, replaying the missed forehand while the next point is already starting. The time meant for recovery becomes a breeding ground for self-destruction. You're not anxious because you lack mental toughness. You're spiraling because your naturally reactive, pattern-seeking mind has nothing productive to process.

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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