Leveling Up in Tennis: Waking Up, Growing Up, and Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing

Why Does Knowing What to Do Sometimes Fall Short?

Ever been in a match where you knew exactly what to do—hit crosscourt under pressure, take advantage of your opponent’s weaker shot, or play smart on big points—but it just didn’t happen? You’re not alone.

The problem isn’t a lack of knowledge. It’s the gap between knowing and doing. To close that gap, you need to work on two key areas of development: what Ken Wilber calls Waking Up and Growing Up. These ideas are as relevant in tennis as they are in life. Here’s how they work.

1. What Are Waking Up and Growing Up?

Waking Up: Experiential Growth

• Waking Up is about direct experience. It’s when you’re fully present, in the moment, and tuned into the flow of the game. This is where tennis feels instinctive and natural—less thinking, more doing.
• In Tennis, Waking Up Looks Like:
  • Feeling the ball on your strings and adjusting your timing without overthinking.
  • Managing your emotions and staying grounded during high-pressure moments like tiebreakers.
  • Sensing your opponent’s rhythm and predicting their next move intuitively.
• Insight: Waking Up helps you experience the game and act with presence, focus, and clarity.

Growing Up: Theoretical Development

• Growing Up is about building your tennis brain. It’s the intellectual and emotional maturity to learn strategies, adapt under pressure, and develop a long-term perspective.
• In Tennis, Growing Up Looks Like:
  • Learning technical fundamentals (like grips, footwork, and proper mechanics).
  • Understanding tactics, like when to play crosscourt or down the line.
  • Developing the mental maturity to reflect on your matches, manage expectations, and stay composed when things don’t go your way.
• Insight: Growing Up builds the knowledge and tools you need to improve over time.

2. The Tennis Paradox: Knowing vs. Doing

Here’s the paradox: It is not one or the other, you need both.

• The Illusion of Mastery:
  Many players assume they’ll get better just by learning more techniques, tactics and strategies. But without experiencing those concepts under real-world conditions, they remain theoretical.

  • Example: You know you should let tactics game be your priority, but in a match, nerves take over, and you start to think about your technique.

• The Gap Between Theory and Reality:
  Growing Up builds the framework, but Waking Up provides the execution. You need both to truly level up.

3. How to Jump to the Next Level: Integrating Waking Up and Growing Up

To grow as a player, you need to balance both dimensions. Here’s how:

A. Waking Up: See More of the Game

1. Be Present on Court:

   • Focus on what’s happening now. Let go of overthinking and just play.
   • Example: Instead of worrying about the final score, focus on feeling the ball and finding your rhythm and finding solutions.

2. Practice Awareness:

   • Use rituals to ground yourself, like deep breaths or bouncing the ball before serving.
   • Pay attention to your body and surroundings. Are you tense? Is your opponent moving forward?

3. Reflect After Matches:

   • Ask yourself: What did I notice? What patterns emerged? What can I do differently next time?

B. Growing Up: Build Your Tennis Brain

1. Learn the Fundamentals:

   • Keep sharpening your technical skills—footwork, stroke mechanics, and shot selection.
   • Example: Understand when to use a slice serve versus a flat serve.

2. Develop Tactical Awareness:

   • Study patterns of play. Learn to recognize opportunities during a match.
   • Example: If your opponent struggles with high balls to their backhand, use it to your advantage.

3. Grow Mentally and Emotionally:

   • Stay patient during matches, even when things aren’t going your way.
   • Reflect after losses without beating yourself up. Focus on what you learned rather than the result.

C. Combine the Two: Experience Drives Growth

• Simulate Match Pressure:
  Practice playing under stress—like serving at 30-40 repeatedly or playing tiebreakers against tough opponents.

• Integrate Reflection into Your Routine:
  Use your match experiences to refine both your technical understanding (Growing Up) and your ability to stay present (Waking Up).

  • Example: Review critical moments and ask, What was I thinking? How can I improve my response?

• Learn Holistically:
  Growth doesn’t just happen on the court. It’s about everything you do—fitness, mental focus, strategy, and emotional regulation.

4. Practical Tips for Players and Coaches

For Players:

• Stop obsessing over perfection. Tennis is about progress.
• Practice like you’re in a match, and play matches like they’re practice.
• Don’t just learn what to do—reflect on how to apply it.

For Coaches:

• Balance technical lessons with exercises that challenge awareness and adaptability.
• Encourage players to reflect on their matches and share their insights.
• Create high-pressure drills that simulate real-world scenarios.

5. Conclusion: See More, Be More

True growth in tennis is about more than learning new tactics or hitting better shots. It’s about combining Growing Up and Waking Up:

• Growing Up gives you the tools to play smarter.
• Waking Up helps you see the game clearly and act in the moment.

The players who truly level up are the ones who see more—more of the game, more of themselves, and more of what’s possible.

So, ask yourself:

• Am I just trying to know more, or am I learning to see more?

The next time you step on court, don’t just play—wake up, grow up, and let the game teach you something new.