Whether you’re looking to improve your serving skills or learn how to maintain focus whilst playing tennis, books are always a good place to start. There is a book for everything, including scientific books about mindfulness in tennis.
We decided to compile a complete list of our TOP five books. These books explore the science behind the focus and ‘flow state’ required to win a game of tennis. If you want to gain mental clarity and develop a deeper understanding of the sport, these are absolute must-reads!
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Ultimate Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Gallwey
Described by many as the ‘bible of tennis’, this multi-million bestseller explores the battle against self-doubt and anxiety when playing tennis. This book isn’t just a guide to help you improve your technique, but it’s a profound and impactful account of mindfulness and tennis. Gallwey lays out a highly sophisticated approach based on reflective thinking to develop your awareness and mindfulness when playing tennis next.
Flow in Sports by Susan A. Jackson and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
When somebody is genuinely present, focused and excelling in something, it is often described as a ‘flow state’. In this book, the authors analyze the factors that affect your perception of flow state when taking part in an activity. These techniques and factors can be related to just about any activity, and tennis is no exception. If you’re looking to explore the flow state and capture the spiritual side of tennis, Flow in Sports is a book for you.
String Theory by David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace is one of the greatest sportswriters and journalists that has ever walked this planet. He is mainly well known for his writing about tennis, discussing everything from physics and movement to showmanship and psychology. Wallace wrote a tremendous amount about tennis sciences throughout his career. His five most famous essays have been compiled into this bookcase essential – String Theory. Whether you’re a fan of Wallace’s work or are new to the world of tennis literature, this book comes highly recommended.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
When it comes to self-improvement books, not many are as well respected as The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. This fantastic book discusses the relationship between our habits and our environment. It’s a great book that can be applied to just about everything, in addition to helping us understand more about how habits work. Why not use this information in your tennis practices?
The Physics and Technology of Tennis by Howard Brody, Rod Cross, Crawford Lindsey
This is one for all the brainboxes out there – The Physics And Technology of Tennis is a fantastic collaborative effort to explain the physics and engineering found in a tennis game. Perhaps you dream of engineering the ultimate tennis racket. Maybe you ponder the physics behind the ultimate tennis serve. If you’ve ever thought about these things, this educational book is a solid choice and a great starting point.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are tons of scientific books out there that relate to tennis. Some books explore the mindfulness of tennis whilst others explore the broader psychology of sports. Regardless, there is often too much choice, so we hope we have provided you with some starting points. Get stuck into one of these books – we think you might be surprised at how much you may learn!
