You warm up and the flags on the stadium are standing straight out. Your first toss drifts a foot to the right. A routine forehand that was landing deep in practice sails long, then the next one clips the net. By the third game you’re muttering at the sky, and the scoreboard is moving the wrong way.
Playing tennis in the wind is one of the toughest tests of composure in the sport. The conditions are the same for both players, yet one of them usually handles it far better. I work with elite athletes on the inner game, and my motto is simple: I make winners win more. This article is about how to stay composed and competitive when the wind picks up, using what we know about the subconscious, inner conversations and competing from identity.
- Wind is a mental test before it’s a technical one. Your reaction to it decides more than the gusts do.
- Lower your standard of “pretty” and raise your standard of “smart”.
- Simple adjustments to the toss, footwork and margins remove a lot of stress.
- Players who see themselves as all-conditions competitors start the match ahead.
Why the wind gets inside your head
On a calm day, your strokes run on automatic. Your subconscious has hit the same forehand thousands of times and it simply repeats the pattern. Wind breaks that automatic loop. The ball moves late, the bounce changes and the shot that usually works starts missing.
That’s when the trouble starts. Missed shots lead to conscious correction, and conscious correction makes your strokes stiffer. Then the inner conversation turns against the conditions: “This is impossible. I can’t play in this.” Once you’ve decided the conditions are unfair, you’ve handed the advantage to the player who decided to deal with them.
Two players, same gusts
- The complainer: “Unbelievable. Every ball is moving. I’m playing terribly.” Each miss becomes proof that the day is ruined.
- The problem-solver: “Wind is behind me at this end, so more margin over the net and let it carry. Into it, I can swing harder.” Each miss becomes information.
The wind is the same. The story about it is different.
Accept the conditions early
The fastest way to lose a windy match is to spend the first set wishing it were a calm day. Acceptance doesn’t mean liking the wind. It means deciding, before the first point, that this is the match you’re playing today.
Try a simple line during the warm-up: “Windy today. Same for both of us. I’ll handle it better.” It sounds basic, but it sets a frame. Your mind stops fighting reality and starts looking for solutions, which is exactly what you need when the ball keeps moving.
Adjust your game for playing tennis in the wind
Mental composure is easier when you have a clear plan. Work these out with your coach, but most players benefit from a few common adjustments:
- Toss: a slightly lower, more controlled toss reduces how far the ball can drift. If a toss blows away, catch it and start again. There’s no rush.
- Footwork: take more small adjustment steps. The ball moves late, so your feet need to keep working until the last moment.
- Margins: aim further inside the lines and with more net clearance. In the wind, the line is not your friend.
- Ends: with the wind behind you, use more spin and margin so the ball doesn’t carry long. Into the wind, you can often swing more freely and come forward on short balls.
These changes turn the wind from a random enemy into a puzzle with known pieces. That alone calms the nervous system.
Lower “pretty”, raise “smart”
Many high-level players carry a picture of how their tennis is supposed to look. In the wind, that picture becomes a problem. You won’t hit as cleanly, and if you judge every point against your best calm-day tennis, you’ll feel like you’re playing badly even when you’re competing well.
Change the scorecard you keep in your head. Instead of “Did that feel clean?”, ask “Was that a smart choice for these conditions?” Ugly tennis that wins points is good tennis on a windy day. The player who accepts scrappy rallies usually outlasts the player who keeps trying to hit perfect shots.
Rewrite the inner conversation between points
Wind gives you a lot of time to talk to yourself, because many points end on errors. Listen to what you’re saying. “Not again.” “I can’t control anything.” “This is a joke.” Each line tells your subconscious you’re helpless.
Swap those lines for short, useful ones. “Feet moving.” “Margin.” “Next ball.” Maxwell Maltz, the surgeon who wrote Psycho-Cybernetics, argued that we act in line with the picture we hold of ourselves. If the picture is “I’m a bad wind player”, you’ll prove it. If it’s “I compete in any conditions”, your choices start to follow.
A between-point routine for windy days
- Turn your back to the court and let the last point go.
- Check the wind direction for the next point.
- Choose one target with safe margin.
- Take one slow breath before you step up to serve or return.
Practise in the wind on purpose
Many players avoid practising when it’s windy. That’s a missed opportunity. Every windy practice session is a chance to train calm under awkward conditions. Maltz’s theatre of the mind helps too: spend a few minutes before a windy match seeing yourself toss, adjust, miss, reset and keep competing. You’re telling your subconscious that this is normal.
The serve deserves special attention. If you’ve read our piece on serving under pressure, you’ll know how much a calm routine protects the toss and rhythm. Wind simply adds another layer to the same skill.
Compete from identity in any conditions
Players with a fragile sense of identity feel attacked by bad conditions, because every ugly miss seems to say something about who they are. Players with a stable identity see conditions as part of the job.
Build an identity that holds whatever the weather: “I’m a competitor who adapts. I find a way when it isn’t pretty.” That’s not a slogan for match day only. It’s a way of seeing yourself that you reinforce in practice, in travel and in every awkward session, so it’s there when the flags are standing straight out.
FAQ
How do you stay calm playing tennis in the wind?
Accept the conditions early, make simple adjustments to toss, footwork and margins, and use a short routine between points. Judge yourself on smart choices, not on how clean your strokes look.
How should I serve in windy conditions?
Many players use a slightly lower, more controlled toss and catch any toss that drifts. Aim with more margin and focus on rhythm rather than maximum pace.
Why do I play so badly in the wind?
Often because the wind breaks your automatic strokes and you respond with frustration and conscious correction. Both make your game tighter. A clear plan and a calmer inner conversation help your game adapt.
Can mental coaching help with playing in tough conditions?
Yes. Mental coaching works on the inner conversation, self-image and routines that let players compete calmly when conditions are difficult. It can’t change the weather, but it can change how you respond to it.
Be the player the wind doesn’t bother
If you’re a professional tennis player who loses matches to the conditions before the opponent, the change starts in your mind before it shows on the scoreboard. The Orbits works privately with elite tennis players on identity, subconscious reprogramming and clutch pressure. Start with two free calls and feel the difference for yourself: apply to work with The Orbits.