Imposter Syndrome in Action – How YOU Can Save Your Partner (and the Match)

Rallies, Rackets & Recommendations: Serving up - Tennis Tips for Ladies Rec League Players

Imposter Syndrome in Action – How YOU Can Save Your Partner (and the Match)

Let me set the scene: You’re a few games in, and the opponents have come out swinging. Winners left and right. “Wow, they’re on fire today,” you think. Then, you miss a routine shot into the net. And just like that, your inner mean girl pipes up:

💬 “Ugh, you suck today. You can’t hit anything. And wow—THEY CAN.”

Sound familiar? Oh, it gets worse. The next point comes and you overthink it. You tighten up, hit another error, and convince yourself that you’re clearly a fraud and they are absolutely better.]\

 👋 Hello, Imposter Syndrome. Nice of you to ruin the match.

But guess what? This sneaky little mean monster doesn’t just mess with YOU—it can sneak into your partner’s head, too. And here’s where you have a choice. And where you can make a huge difference in your match: 

• You can either roll your eyes, sigh dramatically, and secretly hope she snaps out of it.
  

• OR you can be the hero and pull her out of the Imposter Syndrome spiral before it tanks your whole match.
  

You up for being the hero? Good. 💪 Here’s how.

1. Recognize It Before It Wrecks the Match

You know your partner. You know her game. You’ve seen her crush overheads and rip passing shots like a pro. So when she suddenly can’t seem to find the middle of her racket, you KNOW she’s not actually playing at her normal level.

How do you spot Imposter Syndrome creeping in?

• She starts playing tight—hesitant at the net or steering her groundstrokes instead of swinging freely.
  

• She looks deflated—maybe a little head shaking, avoiding eye contact, or slumping her shoulders.  **THIS by the way is ALL of us at some point!
  

• She stops being aggressive—no more poaching or confident shot-making. She’s just hanging in there.
  

🚨 Your job: Spot it early. The sooner you recognize the spiral, the faster you can pull her out of it.

2. Get Her Back to HER Strengths

This is the game-changer, my friends. When your partner’s confidence crumbles, she needs to be reminded of her tennis superpower. NOT hear deep sighs and frustration coming from you. 

💡 Real match example:
In one of my recent matches, my partner was struggling at the net—missing volleys she normally nails. I could SEE it getting in her head. She started hanging back, out of position, and second-guessing every move.

Now, I could have rolled my eyes or quietly fumed (because, you know, THAT helps 🙄). Instead, I knew she had a killer baseline game. So, I did the smartest thing I could:

➡️ I switched up our strategy to highlight her strength.
I said,
💬 “Hey, you’re an amazing player—you’re just off at the net today. No big deal. Come back and focus on your groundstrokes. I’ll run in when the time is right. I can do that because your forehand is SO awesome.”

Let me break down why this worked:
✅ I complimented her skills (genuine flattery = instant confidence boost).
✅ I reminded her of her strengths—she didn’t suddenly become a bad player, she was just having an off moment.
✅ I changed the plan putting her in a position that was going to boost her confidence—instead of continuing in a position that was going to add to her frustration. 

3. Keep Feeding Her Confidence

Once I saw her start ripping baseline shots again, I didn’t stop there. I made sure to keep feeding her confidence:

• When she hit a solid shot: “That’s it! Keep going—that’s your shot!”

👏 The result? She found her rhythm. Her confidence soared. And because she was hitting deep, heavy shots from the baseline, it gave me the perfect opportunity to crash the net and poach. Suddenly, WE were dictating play again.

And yes, we WON. 🎯

💥 The Takeaway: You Have More Power Than You Think

Ladies, let me be clear: You have the power to save your partner from the Imposter Syndrome spiral. Your words and actions on the court can either:

• 👉 Lift her up, remind her of her strengths, and give her the confidence boost she needs.
  

• 👉 Or leave her spiraling while you silently fume at her mistakes. Which by the way… can easily lead to your own mistakes.
  
  

Choose the first option. Every. Time.