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

I'm a 6.0 player and here's my story with winning ugly. For some time I used to have very good strokes and a very solid constructed game that would normally destroy anyone in my league or even higher, yet it didn't. Instead, I kept struggling with my matches, especially against players ranked lower than me. Sometimes I'd barely win and sometimes I'd lose like an idiot. Regardless of the result, most of the time I would: first blame my strokes, then blame my lack in physical preparation and lastly I would blame my point preparation. Bottom line was, my mind and mental preparation weren't considered or blamed for my results. Then one day I watched this Chris Evert interview on the tube and she was saying how grateful she would have been if "Winning Ugly" had been available for her when she was a student learning. This puzzled me, as Chris Evert eventually had over 90% of winning percentage through her career. Then Mary Carillo -the interviewer- agreed and said something about the book helping players who struggled with results. I felt related to what I had just heard and decided to buy the book. So what happened next was a dramatic change in my game over the next months. The first thing Brad made me realize was that I had been struggling because of my mental preparation and approach to the game, not because of my beautiful shots. Then I realized an epitome that has been sealed in my brain: in order to win matches, I had to use my mind first, then my strokes. To be fair and honest, the initial results were mixed. It was hard to stop playing "hitting big" tennis and start playing "percentage" tennis -or as Brad calls it, "winning ugly". It was hard to play a 30-15 differently than a 40-0; I was used to normally play both points the same. Now, I do play a 30-15 way different than a 40-0. After about two, three months I started seeing results. This guy I used to play against, who was actually quite even with me... all of a sudden I started to beat him. Badly and soundly. I kept using my strokes, only this time I was doing it smarter. That's the result Brad's book can do for you. The book is about strategy and mental approach to a tennis match. It states several key moments during a match and how to prepare for them, so that you are ready when they come -because yes, they will come-. I personally like this down to Earth phrase from the book: "there are people who play just for fun and don't care of winning or losing, but isn't it more fun winning?" As other reviewers have stated, Gilbert uses examples from his career to prove his points and the majority of the time he does it pretty well. However sometimes the stories go a bit over abroad and sound more like "the Gilbert miracle" rather than a chapter of Winning Ugly... but it's only by a bit -it may bother some people though-. I think it would have been interesting if Brad would have included at least a couple of examples from players not being him or his pupil Agassi. There is also a hidden lesson not from Gilbert and it's Ivan Lendl's. I gained much more admiration for Ivan knowing his methods and how and why he employed them. I actually adopted some of his strategies, because they prove incredibly useful against most opponents. I even used the "hey Mr referee, can you please tell my opponent to not take much time during serves" gag. Summarizing, Winning Ugly is a valuable -perhaps the most valuable- mental asset a tennis player can have. I recommend it to every player who is into tennis and has a true competitive nature.

I just finished reading the books and have already started applying the lessons to my play...and it is working. Gilbert covers multiple aspects of the game from how to prepare for competition before you're even near a court to how to pack your bag to how to handle multiple situations while playing and maximize your strengths and capitalize on their weaknesses. I especially enjoyed the tips on how to change up the game when you are behind, keep focused under distraction, and deal with hookers, turtles, and pushers. I am currently a 3.0 tennis player so have allot learn from a club pro, but even so, his advice has already improved my play. In particular, I am better now at return of serve, lobs, and remembering to "get the ball earlier." The book was generally fun to read, well-written, and worth the time if you're looking to improve your game. I could see how his advice could be extremely valuable for a high level player or young person with allot of talent but not allot of strategy. I played racquetball for many years and this advice could have helped out allot!!!!! Finally, I loved the advice for the over 35 player and am remembering profilactic ibuprofen and Tiger Balm.

Helpful as Can Be Brad Gilbert is a well-known player and commentator among tennis fans. While he is often made fun of for comparing tennis to just about every sport, many consider Gilbert one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to tennis tactics and concepts. This is especially evident in his book “Winning Ugly.” The title more or less sums up the main principle of the book: how to win efficiently, even if you’re not on your game. He gives great tips on what to do in certain situations. For instance, I learned a lot about how to calm myself down during a big point. Gilbert states “So when you go out on the court and you feel that pre-match tightness, remember my four nerve busters: 1. Breathe like you’ve got asthma, 2. Get happy feet, 3. Read the label, 4.Sing a song” (Gilbert 51). After trying out the aforementioned tactics, I can honestly say that pressure on a tennis court is no longer an issue for me. Tips like these are given throughout the book, and almost all lead to immediate results. I would rate this book 4 stars out of 5. If you’re a tennis player, this book is a MUST READ. It will do wonders to your game, and, while the book is geared for “club player,” it translates into every level up to the pros. It give you such an advantage before the match even starts, as Gilbert helps change the way you approach each game. Rather than looking at the entire match, he dissects every point and its significance to the match. Before you know it, 30-15 points are going to feel like 40-0. IF YOUR ARE NOT A TENNIS PLAYER, DO NOT GET THIS BOOK. It will be a huge waste of your money and time.

Brad Gilbert offers an insightful perspective on aspects of the game that many of us may overlook. The concepts discussed in this book capture the essence of what it takes to be a winner and can be applied to all areas of life.

I started playing tennis at 33 years old. Get classes every week and really improved my technique and shots. I have played sports my whole live, so even though I started late in tennis, I manage to develop a descent style. However when it came to a match I always lose, sometimes with players I believe had worst technique than mine. I notice sometimes it took me up to a set (one I always lose) to get into the game, and then put some challenge in the second set. I started browsing the Internet for a book that could teach me strategy. I found "Winning Ugly", read the reviews and bought it! Even tough I am only in the 3rd chapter I felt results already. Yesterday I played a neighbor I had played two times in the past and lost with scores of 0-6, 1-6 / 1-6, 3-6, as I learned from this book I started preparing for the game early in my way driving back home. I analyzed last two games and set an strategy. The result was me winning by score of 6-1, 7-6 (5). I felt like a million bucks after the game!!! The interesting part of it is that my game is exactly the same, so as my opponent's game, but yesterday we played my way! I was able to impose my rhythm, my pace, and my shots... And it was all thanks to "Winning Ugly". I totally recommend it to starters, or recreational players that do not see their game level reflected in the court when they have a match. It is an easy reading by the way.

I think Winning Ugly would serve any level of player. It goes from giving tips that night be very obvious to others that might come as ground breaking. I think most tips in this book are valuable, either as concepts that you know but might not be applying as consciously as you should, or new practices you might consider to add to your routine and game. I read this one back to back with the inner game and I am yet before I start my new year's session in earnest. But I am eager to start putting both of them into use.

[I'm an intermediate/avid tennis player.] This is a GREAT book. Gilbert is very matter-of-fact about how he was not a #1 player, but how by utilizing little tricks/techniques in both summing up his opponents and in being realistic about his own strengths/weaknesses -- he was able to make his own mark on the world of professional tennis. He does have specific examples of his matches with some of the greats, which are interesting to read -- but they're not so much used as "the story of Gilbert" -- but more as references for his suggestions on how to approach similar situations in the readers' own personal matches. In this book, Gilbert talks about how one needs to take advantage of a myriad of smaller elements -- which in sum, can actually give you the edge in the game. I read this book initially, but now will still pick it up regularly, just to read a chapter here and there, to remind myself of some of his strategies. I think about Gilbert's advice regularly when I play -- and I believe that it really can make a difference when utilized.

Not bad. Gilbert gives some good tips and advice, and advise on how to model some of the top pros from at the time the book was written. My problem with this book is that Gilbert writes it as if he had no natural talent at all and was just better at scouting people and breaking down their films and tendencies. While that may be true (after all he went on to be a great coach and now analyst), I find it difficult to apply some of his suggestions. I am an enthusiastic and competitive club player. Some of the strategies he recommends would require me to quit my job to scout out other club players. Obviously, he had to have way above average athletic ability, and had to have practiced tens of thousands of hours to get to the level he was at. Overall I liked reading the book, I just found some of his advice to be impractical for club players.