It's better known as 'Inspiration By Comparison' (IBC) and was first successfully applied in terms of sports by golf betting expert, Keith Elliott.
Elliott argued in his highly acclaimed books 'How To Win At Golf Betting' and 'Elliott's Golf Form Book' that certain players "take inspiration by making a comparison with another person" with the view that "if they can win, so can I."
And there's a definite logic to this thinking when it comes to tennis. Players are lifted by the performance of others... driven on to improve their own performance when they see similar types achieve success themselves.
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| Rafael Nadal's influence on Spain's Davis Cup winning team cannot be underestimated |
The example of the Spanish players and
Rafael Nadal is a case in point.
No doubt the exploits of Rafa have a trickle down theory to the rest of Spain's professionals on the ATP Tour. Likewise, many receive a great boost by the country's overall success at a national level, in the Davis Cup. Again, in part, down to the Rafa-effect.
Tennis is an individual sport but within it there remains tremendous national identity. Examples of IBC are common.
Nadal himself followed the likes of Ferrero and Costa ... he then inspires the likes of David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro or Fernando Verdasco. And it goes further down the rankings as, for example, Albert Montanes might prove a good example to Pablo Andujar, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or Marcel Granollers.
No surprise therefore to see one player doing well one week and another, similar player following up soon after (Elliott's very argument).
Surely in Switzerland, Roger Federer has done the same for Stanislas Wawrinka just as Andy Murray was brought along by the success of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.
Best example yet might be the win of Janko Tipsarevic, a perennial bridesmaid on tour, who finally won an event during a period in 2011 when fellow-countryman Novak Djokovic was enjoying such a stellar run.
The mental angle is all-important
There is certainly that feeling within all of us that "whatever you can do, I can do [better]" and in a sporting environment that can have a very positive effect indeed upon all kinds of players.
Whether the inspiration comes from guys who are from the same country, have the same coach or are the same age, maybe had the same sort of injury problems... have the same ranking. Moden day sports psychology ties into this notion of IBC very strongly.
Players believe in it and that is turned into improved performances.
In betting terms, it's a useful tool to employ. Not as the first area of form study but most definitely as one of the final consdierations.
Always think about who won last week... and who that might inspire this week.
