RacquetWorld's Newsletter Racquetball Tip of the Month

Red Tushie

You're reading this tip because you want to get better...right? 

Well, I'm telling you, you'll learn much more when you lose than when you win.  The trick is you have to pay attention, you have to make mental (and physical) notes, you have to be able to reflect on what happened and you have to practice both physically and mentally.

You don't learn a lot when it's a very tight match and you just lose....you need to go out and find somebody who is going to trounce you.  This won't be good for your ego...but it's the cheapest lesson you can find.  Don't go in playing to lose...play as hard as you can each point...and learn all about your weaknesses.

After the game answer these questions...

Did he have trouble returning my serve? 

Did he take more advantage of my forehand or backhand?

Did I have trouble returning his serve?  (Drive , lob, both?)

What shot(s) did he use to beat me?  (Cross Court, Down the line, Pinches)

What shots did he hit that caused me to set him up?

How did he keep me out of center court?

Was I "forcing" my shots because he kept me off balance?  How did he do this?  (Speed, angle, other)?

What shots did he hit that I was not use to seeing?  What serves?

The answers to these questions will get you started on the road to the magical "Next Level".  The first step in any program that gets you better is to recognize the problems or holes in your game.  The second step is to find out how to fill those holes in with the right physical and mental drills and thoughts.  The last step is to find this guy a few months or years from now and come back and kick his butt....but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This month (all November) anyone who goes out and gets "spanked" (a real racquetball term meaning to get beat badly) and reflects on the reasons via the questions above, can e-mail me and I'll tailor a couple drills and give you my thought process on the area that needs to be improved.

Many of you can figure out the drills when you actually figure out your holes....it's the thought process that most players need to crystallize.  We all have too much going on in our heads...we need to simplify our thoughts on the court (aka focus) but we need to know what we should be focusing on at different instances...by correctly focusing on the right thoughts at the right time you eliminate the "little doubt" that generally leads to total obliteration....let the e-mails ( pat@Racquetworld.com) begin...

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