Question 110: Sometimes my shots improve after form correction, and the coach praises me.

Answer

▶ What is good about 'Yes, that's it!'?

The phrasing might not be the best, but you are being 'carried along' by the coach.

If you are in the same environment and receive the same ball feed several times, your rhythm will match, so the probability of hitting a good shot increases.

That is when the coach says things like'Yes, that's it!'.

The coach also gains a sense of self-efficacy, feeling that their instruction had an effect.

I think this is a common scene in lessons (though from the student's perspective, they might not understand what exactly improved compared to how they were hitting just a moment ago).

▶ An 'important perspective' for when things go well in tennis lessons

However, when the next week comes, you cannot grasp the rhythm and things do not go well.

Or, if you are in an outside match where the opponent or court surface changes, your ability to adapt drops immediately if you are conscious of your form, so it ends up not going well after all.

It could even lead to a worsening of the situation where you deepen your worries, wondering, 'Why did it go well last time but not this time???'

But the content of the message you sent contains an important perspective.

▶ When you feel the 'interval,' the 'points' align

How important rhythm is.

The reason why good balls are more likely to fly out while receiving the coach's ball feed several times is thatit is more accurate to interpret it not as your form having improved, but as you having gotten into a rhythm.

When you get into a rhythm, good balls fly out as a result of your hitting timing aligning.

Timing is a momentary 'point,' but that is because you feel the 'interval' in the rhythm that connects point to point.

▶ A 'foothold' for synchronizing with the ball

In lessons, the coach matches the rhythm regularly for you.

As I mentioned earlier, saying you are being 'carried along' might sound somewhat critical, but'carrying you along' is something that, regardless of whether the coach is good at teaching, makes them good at conducting lessons.

Making the student feel good is also part of the job, after all.

However, in actual play, you need to go and match the irregular rhythm yourself.

Rhythm is invisible.

Butrhythm is the 'foothold' for synchronizing with the ball.

▶ Tennis goes well when you 'turn your eyes' to the 'invisible'

If you open a dictionary, it says that the antonym of the visible 'phenomenon' is 'essence.'

According to the dictionary's definition, essence is 'invisible.'

And in tennis play,if you extract only the few essential elements and try not to be conscious of anything else, you will start to improve rapidly.

You should not be conscious of your grip, take-back, follow-through, or stance because they are visible.

Rhythm, timing, concentration, imagery, and sensation are invisible, so extract only these.

When you turn your eyes to the invisible, your tennis play will improve indefinitely.

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