What is the definition of mental rehearsal in sports?

Answer 1

In playing a sport, and to play it better there is a mental method that sometimes helps an athlete to improve their results. Based on many studies of this, it helps to a large degree for an athlete to "imagine" a typical sports scenario in a positive way. Using the sport of tennis as an example, the player sees in his or her mind how they will serve to a particular part of the service court. So if the player wants to in a real match serve an ace down the center of the court, in mental practice they see themselves doing this. If they remember "how they did it " re: in previous real matches, they duplicate the ball toss, the racket grip and body action that made the real ace. This is done in the players mind.

It is not always successful and is not a substitute for real practice.