Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master

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Simon and Schuster, May 31, 1994 - Biography & Autobiography - 224 pages
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 outthinking 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.

 

Selected pages

Contents

The PreMatch Advantage
3
How Equipment Can Help You Win
23
Stretching for Success
34
Defrost Your Strokes Quick
40
Overcoming PreMatch
47
Grabbing the Early Lead
54
II
67
Destroying Your Opponents Game Plan
80
Learning From the Legends
146
Tales From the Tour
163
Connors and McEnroe
165
Lendls Lethal Weapon
182
Breaking the Speed Limit
191
How to Handle Hooking
195
War With Wheaton
198
Tournament Tough All the Time
207

III
82
The Seven Hidden Ad Points
112
Stroke Repair
135
The Road to Number One
212
Andre Agassi on Winning Ugly
220
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About the author (1994)

Brad Gilbert is considered by experts to be among the world’s foremost tennis analysts. A former “Giant Killer” on the ATP Tour, his acute observations are now heard worldwide on ESPN. Gilbert has coached Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray among others. He lives in San Rafael, California, with his wife, Kim, and three children, Zach, Julian, and Zoe. Visit his website at BradGilbertTennis.com. Steve Jamison collaborated with legendary UCLA coach John Wooden on the national bestseller Wooden on Leadership. He lives in San Francisco, California. Visit his website at SteveJamison.com.

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