Loose Arm. Clear Mind.

How many times have you walked off the court thinking, "And yet, I was the better player"?

This book is the English version of A Braccio Sciolto, which reached the top 3 in the Tennis category on Amazon Italy. It recounts my four-year tennis journey a period marked by incredible improvement, not just technically but, above all, mentally. I take you along as I explain how I overcame the limitations that hold back so many of us amateur players from achieving the results we want. I emphasize the importance of mindset and how you approach a match or an opponent, because winning at tennis requires more than just technique; it requires the right mental game.

My goal is for you a fellow amateur player to relate to my story; if I could do it, you certainly can too! I am confident that, as you read, you will recognize your own experiences in mine.

I hope this book helps you approach your future matches with greater mental clarity!
I also hope the translation turned out well and is free of any blunders! :D

This book is not a technical manual; it doesn't aim to teach you how to hit a forehand, a backhand, or a serve. Instead, it is the authentic story of an amateur tennis player who after losing countless matches due to anger, haste, fear, and a lack of clarity realized that the true opponent is often not found on the other side of the net, but inside one's own head.

Drawing on real-life experiences, unexpected victories, and hard-learned lessons on the court, the book explores everything that makes amateur tennis so unpredictable: the arm that tightens up during crucial moments, the fear of making a mistake, managing the score, frustration following an error, the struggle to close out a match, and the need to adapt one's strategy to the opponent.

Rooted in the world of Italian tennis, the book also explains how amateur tournaments work in Italy, focusing on the TPRA circuit, the POWER ranking system, the single nine-game set format, and the "Killer Point." It also introduces some of the classic characters found at our local clubs: the pallettaro (pusher), who returns every ball while waiting for you to make a mistake; the muro (wall), who seems capable of retrieving any shot; and the affettatore (slicer), who constantly disrupts the rhythm with backspin.

While names and formats may vary from country to country, the players, situations, and mindsets remain the same worldwide. At every club, there is someone who never misses, someone who slows down the game, someone who relies on backspin, and someone who knows exactly how to make you lose your temper. And no matter where the game is played, a tennis player might feel invincible during practice yet find themselves unable to swing freely when the match really counts.

In these pages, you will discover how to:

• mentally prepare before a match;
• identify your opponent's weaknesses;
• manage pressure, anger, anxiety, and frustration;
• handle crucial points with greater clarity;
• overcome "tightening up" (playing tentatively);
• change your strategy against different opponents;
• stop throwing away matches due to your mindset;
• bring the tennis you already possess to the match.