Jeff Greenwald - The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies For Fearless Performance

I made the decision to pursue a career in sport psychology in 1976. I was Chief Psychologist and Executive Director of a large community mental health center that served the central and southern part of Colorado. When I announced my resignation to the center's twenty-three-member board of directors and explained that I wanted to pursue a career in sport psychology, it was as if I told them that I was moving to planet Mars to work. Dismay, confusion and disbelief was their response. In 1976, virtually no one had ever heard of sport psychology. I was leaving a fabulous job for a career that really didn't exist yet. How could I do such a foolish thing was the question on most everyone's mind.

Three decades later I'm still not completely sure what moved me to launch a completely new career path. I do know that the application of psychology to sport ignited passion and excitement in me that I'd never known before. I became intoxicated by the work and now feel so grateful for having had the opportunity to contribute to the developing field of performance psychology.

I think Jeff Greenwald comes from the same mold. I've known Jeff for many years and have seen first hand his devotion to the field, his attention to detail, his willingness to do whatever it takes to make a real contribution. I fully understand his passion and commitment. So much new ground has been covered by researchers, writers, and practitioners since 1976. Literally hundreds of books have been published world wide on the mental side of tennis but Jeff's book, The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance is in a very special class. I determine the value and contribution of new publications in the area of applied sport psychology by asking the following five questions: (1) is the book's content consistent with the latest and most responsible body of research in the field of sport psychology; (2) is the material written in a highly accessible, easy to understand language for athletes; (3) are the book's suggestions and recommendations practical and doable for most athletes; (4) does the book's content reflect an in-depth understanding of the complex dynamics and nuances of the sport it is intended for; (5) does the book offer new and original insights that are not available in previously written publications? Jeff's new book clearly meets all five benchmarks.

There are several things that I really like about this book. From the very first page, it is clear that this is not material written by an armchair psychologist. This is a book for players written by a real player. Jeff's competitive experience and his climb to number one in the world in the 35s brings depth, dimension and authenticity to his voice and to his suggestions. Tennis players seeking competitive help will not be disappointed by having to endure pages of abstract theory and research references. Although Jeff's work is based on sound theory and research, the book consistently delivers sound advice that can be translated into practice almost immediately.

Perhaps the most unique and valuable aspect of Jeff's book is the presentation format for his ideas and recommendations. Every one of the fifty chapters represents a short, highly specific learning segment for the reader. Tennis competitors can go right to what they need and get practical advice in an assessable, condensed form. Because of this, players will use this book as a valuable reference guide and repeatedly go back to it time and again in their quest to achieve mastery of the mental side of sport.

The real drama of sport is not the battle to see who has the deepest reservoir of talent and skill but rather who can summon whatever reservoir they have when it really matters in the crucible of unrelenting pressure. Jeff's approach to fearless tennis represents a real contribution to the field of applied sport psychology and is a must read for every serious competitive tennis player. You will not be disappointed.