The second most asked
question I get is “How can I get better?” If you ask 10 people, they’ll
give you 10 different answers. The scary part is they’re all probably
right. There’s always something to work on no matter what your level
of play. Practice, practice, practice isn’t always right. Perfect
practice beats a triple practice every time.
If you’re like most
people, and most people are like most people, you’ll go watch better
players play and try and emulate them. Now that’s a great way to
elevate your game. You walk on the court all psyched up and think
you’re doing the same thing you saw the elite players doing but
something just isn’t right. The problem is usually a discrepancy
between your mind’s eye and your actual body motion. They just aren’t
in sync.
The “fix” will be
very revealing for most of you. You have to setup the video camera
and watch yourself practice. I usually make people practice for ½ an
hour running through a wide variety of shots and serves. Then we sit
and watch the video. The person can now “see” how their own image of
what they thought they were doing and what they were actually doing
doesn’t line up. (most players also apologize to me at this point for
calling me a liar).
You should repeat
this exercise every so often. When your mind’s eye and your body are
in sink you will be on the road to “perfect practice”. You will also
start to notice smaller nuances of other people’s swings that may help
you. The real bonus is that you can now take your swing with you
wherever you go…I mean you don’t have to be on the court to “practice”
now. Studies have shown that if you simply practice using your mind’s
eye it is almost (not quite) as good as actual practice. I practice
on those long boring rides to tournaments in Galaxies far, far,
away…(hey, everyone else has been totin’ Star Wars all week).
As you practice with
your mind’s eye it will become second nature. And if you’re like me,
that Sunday night after a weekend tournament, you’ll know as you dream
that your backhands will be nice and flat…the person sleeping next to
you can verify this as you slap them silly. (I flinch all night long
after an exhaustive tournament).
Oh yea, the number
one question is always “What do ya have FREE this week?”. I always
answer “advice”….thus the second question.
Good luck In Houston
everyone!!
