# I feel like I have a really good level when practicing but when I am competing in matches my level drops significantly.

- Published: September 27, 2026
- Author: Coby T, Tennis coach in Blackhawk, California

Source: https://sites.coach/teachmeto/blog/untitled-post-6

This is a very common problem players face in their tennis.  Oftentimes, players don't know how to translate their practice level to the match court and there are several reasons why it happens.  As I've mentioned before, tennis is a mental sport and this plays a huge role in your performance on court.  There is a big difference between the practice court and the match court especially on the mental side of things.  

When you are practicing tennis you are normally more relaxed and not as pressured to make the ball in because nobody is keeping score.  This usually causes your level to be much higher with that pressure being lifted off your shoulder but when playing in a tennis match there is more tension on this area as you are more focused on not missing and keeping the ball in.  Therefore, the focus slightly shifts from a practice setting where you are focusing on improving on specific shot technique and not so much on the line other than getting better at it.  Then going on the match court, you are now focused on trying to with the match and not missing too many shots out or you might lose.  This transition makes it difficult for a lot of competitive players to grasp as nerves begin to creep in due to this new scenario with pressure.  That is why it can be helpful to make your practice setting more like a competitive match setting so that you are more prepared when transitioning from practice to matches.  This involves incorporating more matches in your practices so you are readily prepared for the tournament you are wanting to get first place in.  

To conclude, I would suggest to facilitate a realistic match practice when training for tennis tournament as a competitive player looking to win at the USTA level or even collegiate/national level like myself.  I am extremely knowledgeable in this area as I have a lot of experience in competing in tennis at a high level.  I have also dealt with these pressures when preparing for tennis tournaments in the past and after many tournaments and matches played throughout my tennis career, I would say that this was the biggest learning curve I had to overcome.

C

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