To be honest, I used to lose a lot of games. It wasn't because of poor skills.
It was because...
I wore something too tight.
Yes, it's that simple.
There are no complicated tactical issues.
And it's not because I'm not working hard enough.
It's a pair of trousers.
A damn pair of thick and non-breathable pants.
If you were to ask me now:
What was the most important lesson that tennis taught me over the past ten years?
I can't describe the serving technique.
Nor can I talk about the power of the forehand stroke.
And I certainly can't explain "mental toughness".
I would say:
Don't wear the wrong clothes to the performance.
It sounds stupid, doesn't it?
I felt the same way back then.
Until one day, on the sports field,
I was hot, wet and in a mess,
and almost burst into tears.
That was a particularly typical Saturday morning.
If you have lived in an American community, you should be quite familiar with this scene:
The weather is just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
Someone is chatting by the side of the road with a cup of coffee.
Someone is discussing their child's tutoring classes.
And there is a dog, for some reason it never wears a leash.
Background sound is:
Snap. Snap. Snap.
The sound of a tennis racket.
Everything is wonderful.
Very wonderful.
It wasn't until the second set, in the sixth game.
I felt as if I had just been pulled out of a swimming pool.
It's not "a little sweating".
It's something like -
The clothes have turned into a wet towel,
firmly clinging to your back,
and it's getting heavier and heavier.
My shorts started to roll up.
They kept rolling up.
Each time you run, roll up a little bit.
Run again, and roll up a little more.
Later on, I even dared not run fast.
Because I knew -
It would definitely go up again.
The most outrageous part is the pocket.
The ball is stuck inside.
It's jammed very tightly.
I stood at the baseline,
using both hands to dig for the ball,
like an old lady looking for a key.
The opponent was waiting on the other side.
The scene was very quiet.
It was also very awkward.
At that time, I really wanted to just pretend to be unconscious.
Finally, she looked at me and said something.
The tone is extremely gentle.
It's not mockery, but rather the kind of sympathy from someone who has experienced it before.
She said:
"Honey,
You're not tired.
You're wearing the wrong thing."
I was stunned at that moment.
Really.
It was as if someone had suddenly turned on the light.
In my heart, there was only one thought:
It's over.
It turns out that this has always been the problem.
Over the years since then, I have met many women on the sports field.
All kinds of.
There are mothers with three children still playing ball.
There are aunts who come to play for two hours every day after retirement.
There are young girls who have just graduated and are dressed very stylishly.
And there is me -
Purely because
not wanting to become a couch potato
those who force themselves to exercise
We often discuss a certain issue:
"Why do I want to go home after just one hour of work?"
It's not because of laziness.
It's not due to poor physical condition.
It's not because of old age.
Yes -
Uncomfortable.
Very simple.
Later, I gradually discovered a pattern.
Many people are wearing:
Regular cotton T-shirt
The kind of tight pants used in gyms
Or a stylish sports skirt
The question is:
They were not designed for tennis.
During the yoga class, they were great.
While walking, they were also great.
But on the tennis court,
they are like --
Run in jeans.
It's not impossible.
But you will soon regret it.
Now I choose tennis wear.
The style is very simple.
It's not at all sophisticated.
Not fashion.
Not brand.
Not color.
Instead, it is:
Will I keep bothering it during the competition?
If the answer is:
Yes.
That's it then.
Thank you, goodbye.
Next one.
The first rule:
If I have to keep pulling it all the time, then it is not qualified.
Really.
Because on the court,
your hands should be used for:
Hold the racket
Serve
Wipe the sweat
Rather than:
Pull down the pants
Pull up the skirt
Tie the shoulder straps
I used to have a tennis skirt.
Very attractive.
The color is very sophisticated.
The photo turned out extremely beautiful.
When posting on the social media feed,
there were many likes.
But only I myself know one thing:
That dress is a traitor.
Every three steps,
it climbs up once.
Not occasionally.
But every time.
Throughout the entire game, I was doing two things:
Playing ball
Pulling the skirt
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore.
I put it in a special place in my closet:
"Suitable only for taking photos, not for exercising" area.
right.
I do have this area.
And now there are already three pieces of clothing in it.
The second rule:
After sweating, is it helping me or harming me?
This is particularly crucial.
Because truly good sportswear
can remove the sweat.
Quietly.
Not disturbing you.
Rather than:
Absorb the sweat into it
And keep it there all the time
Finally, it turns into a cold cloth
Stick to your back
I used to think that
the reason why I felt cold whenever I stopped was because of my poor health.
Later, it was discovered that:
It's not that I'm weak.
It's because the clothes are too worn out.
The first time I wore a truly breathable sports shirt,
I had a very strong feeling:
I actually didn't have the urge to take off my clothes all the time.
Every time I was halfway through the call,
I would think:
Oh my god!
When will it end?
I'm going home to take a bath.
But not this time.
I worked for two hours.
I sweated a lot.
But there was no such feeling as
"having a wet towel wrapped around one's body".
At that moment, I really wanted to say something to the person who designed this dress:
Thank you.
You saved my Saturday morning.
The third rule:
Can I forget what I'm wearing?
This sounds a bit abstract.
But in fact, it is very real.
When a piece of clothing truly suits you,
you won't keep paying attention to it.
You wouldn't want to:
Is it too tight?
Is it going up?
Is it too stuffy?
You will only think:
Where do I want to hit this ball?
Just like a pair of truly comfortable shoes.
You won't praise it every day.
But you will always wear it.
Because it never causes any trouble.
Now, when I step onto the stage wearing the right outfit,
I have a very obvious change:
I haven't changed my youthfulness.
Nor have I changed my strength.
But I:
Played for a longer time
Complained less
Also more willing to play another round
In the end,
this is the most genuine improvement I've experienced in tennis over the past ten years.
It's not about technology.
It's not about physical strength.
Yes -
Finally, I no longer wear the wrong clothes.
The matter of color is more "mysterious" than I imagined.
I used to think that color didn't matter.
But now I don't think so anymore.
It really does affect one's state of mind.
For example:
White: Makes me feel very professional (though my skills are average)
Bright colors: Gives me more energy when playing
Dark colors: Gives a feeling of "I need to be more serious today"
I even have a "winning outfit" collection.
Every time I wear one of them, I feel like I'm in a better state.
You could say it's a psychological effect -
But tennis is inherently a blend of both technique and psychology.
The few mistakes I've made, I really don't want you to repeat them.
❌ Mistake 1: Buying clothes based solely on pictures
The models on the internet all look too perfect.
But you are not her, and neither am I.
Some clothes -
Look great when photographed, but make you feel terrible when playing sports.
❌ Mistake 2: Thinking "It's okay if it's not perfect"
No, it really can't be done.
Tennis is a kind of sport that requires you to run, jump, turn around and stretch.
It's just a little bit off, and it will be magnified.
❌ Mistake 3: Ignoring the weather
When I was playing basketball in California, summer was no joke at all.
Now I will pay close attention to the weather:
Extremely hot: Wear the lightest and thinnest clothes
With wind: Choose something more snug
A bit cool: Bring a thin jacket (otherwise it will be hard to warm up)
There was one thing I didn't understand before, but now I completely get it
Why do some people spend a lot of money on a set of tennis clothes?
Not because of vanity.
But because --
When you truly start to take a sport seriously, you will expect that every detail is worthy of your efforts.
Clothing is one of them.
Tennis outfit is actually somewhat like your "second skin".
Have you ever come across such clothes -
once you put them on, you feel like "I'm going to have a great day today"?
I have this feeling when I play basketball now.
Sometimes it's not because technology has improved,
but because - I feel more comfortable and at ease.
This change is subtle, yet very real.
My current simple principle (not complicated, but very useful)
If you don't want to go through all that trouble, here's the simplest version for you:
Can you swing the racket freely?
Will you feel uncomfortable after sweating?
Will you need to constantly adjust when running?
If all three answers are "No",
then it's basically correct.
Finally, let me say something sincere.
I used to think that
tennis was just a sport.
But now I think -
It's more like a way of life.
And Tennis Wear is like a "rite of passage" that marks your entry into this world.
What you wear is not just for playing basketball;
it's also a way of telling yourself:
"I'm ready."
If you are also gradually getting into tennis now, you will eventually understand what I'm saying.
If you already understand -
Then we are probably on the same path.