Twenty-five years on the court and I still have every single one of these thoughts. If you’ve played a match in the last month, you’ll recognize all of them. Some of them you’ll recognize from five minutes ago. Welcome to the universal internal monologue of recreational tennis in 2026.
1. “I’m going to play smart today. No more going for hero shots.”
This thought occurs approximately 45 seconds before the first point starts. The first ball you hit? Hero shot. It clips the line. You immediately forget this plan entirely and feel vindicated. The hero shots that don’t clip the line — the other 94% — you also forget immediately.
2. “That ball was definitely out. Probably out. Maybe out.”
You give it the benefit of the doubt because you are a good person with strong values. You will think about this call for the next four games. It will affect your serve on the next three points. Your opponent has already forgotten it existed.
3. “Why is my backhand doing THAT?”
You hit your backhand perfectly in warmup. Fifteen of them, clean, right where you wanted them. Now, two points into the first game, your backhand is behaving as though it has never met a tennis ball before. This is normal. This is tennis. Read our guide to fixing your backhand when you get home.
4. “I should take lessons. I’m going to book lessons this week.”
You have thought this approximately forty times. You have booked lessons zero times. The thought feels productive, which is nearly as good. Next time it occurs to you, actually book them — you’ll be glad you did. Tennis Canada’s coach finder makes it embarrassingly easy. Stop thinking about it. Book the lesson.
5. “Just get it in. JUST. GET. IT. IN.”
You are down 0-40. Your serve has become a charitable donation to your opponent’s return. Getting the ball anywhere in the service box — any part of it — has become your entire life ambition. You have abandoned concepts like spin, placement, and pace. You want a ball to go over a net. That’s all.
If this happens regularly, our 30-day serve improvement guide is for you. Specifically.
6. “This new racket is definitely the problem.”
It is not the racket. You have had this thought about three different rackets. The racket is fine. You might want to read our racket guide anyway — not because it’s the problem, but because it’s a great read and you might find something useful in it. (Spoiler: the HEAD Ti.S6 is not the problem. You are.)
7. “I am actually playing really well right now. Don’t think about it. Don’t th—”
The moment you notice you’re in the zone is the precise moment you exit the zone. This is the cruelest, most consistent law of recreational tennis. The only solution is to never notice you’re playing well. This is not possible. You will try anyway. You will fail. You will try again next week.
8. “I could have been really good if I’d started younger.”
Based on current recreational performance level: debatable. Based on joy of playing tennis as an adult with a life and a perspective and the genuine pleasure of improving at something hard: you’re doing great. You’ll think this again next week regardless of what anyone says.
The truth: you’re playing tennis right now. That’s better than the version of you who would have peaked at 19 and quit at 25.
9. “One more set. Just one more.”
It is 9:45pm. You have work tomorrow. Your shoulder started making a new sound in the third game. You are already mentally checking court availability for next weekend. You are incapable of stopping because you are a tennis player, and this is what tennis players do.
10. “I love this game so much.”
Every time. Despite the double faults and the bad bounces and the backhand that betrayed you in the third game. Despite the knee that’s been “a little off” for eight months. Despite losing to someone who hasn’t changed their grip in twenty years. You love this game and you always will. That’s why you keep coming back.
This is the thought that defines recreational tennis. The other nine thoughts come and go. This one stays.
🎾 You Had Me at Love-All
If thoughts 8 and 10 hit you in the heart, you’re our people. The “You had me at love-all” T-shirt from LooseTennisBalls is for the players who get it. The romantic ones. The ones who keep coming back regardless.
Shop “You Had Me at Love-All” on Redbubble
Or if thoughts 1, 5, and 6 hit harder, the “Love means nothing to a tennis player” hoodie is for the realist who knows the score (literally and metaphorically).
Related Reading
- The 7 Types of Opponents at Every Tennis Club
- How to Improve Your Tennis Serve in 30 Days
- How to Fix Your Tennis Backhand
- How to Find a Tennis Partner
The Bottom Line
If any of this resonated deeply, check out The 7 Types of Opponents at Every Tennis Club — more of the same, but about your hitting partners. And yes, you’re in it too. Tennis is a game of recurring thoughts and reliable rituals. The mental game is real. We’re all in it together. 🎾
