Van Raalte, J. L., Cornelius, A. E., Brewer, B. W., & Hatten, S. J. (2000). The antecedents and consequences of self-talk in competitive tennis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 22, 345-356.

Adult tournament players (N = 18) were observed for audible self-talk, gestures, and tennis scores. Observers used the Self-Talk and Gestures Rating Scale (STAGRS).

All players used self-talk and gestures during matches. Match circumstances predicted the use of negative self-talk in all players. Positive self-talk was predicted by match circumstances only in some (11 of 18) players. Instructional self-talk was rarely related to match situations (only observed in 5 of 18 players).

Implication. Competition tennis players are likely to engage in negative self-talk in certain situations in matches. [Perhaps it would be better to teach these individuals positive coping strategies so that constructive and performance-facilitating mental states are produced during difficult situations.]

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