Question 149: I get a feeling I might make a mistake, so I can't quite visualize myself hitting the shot

Answer

▶ If only Rafa were right-handed, how much easier it would be

Regarding 1.

'If only Nadal were right-handed, how much easier it would be' Federer is said to have once said something like this, but left-handed balls are simply difficult to deal with because you have fewer opportunities to experience them, making you unaccustomed to them.

In that sense, left-handers probably also struggle against other left-handers.

Now, even though we say 'left-hander,' every individual's trajectory and spin are completely different.

Serves, in particular, are tricky because the trajectory curves sideways, meaning the change is the opposite of a right-hander's.

▶ Let the ball go without hitting it to read the trajectory

To deal with this, when you are receiving an opponent's serve during practice, it is a good strategy to let the ball go without hitting it.

It is difficult to read the change while hitting, but if you let it go, you can devote more effort to 'watching', which makes it 'easy to do'.

Also, please check the second bounce carefully.

By doing so, you will understand the tendency of how much it bounces and how much it curves.

Then, you will naturally be able to adjust your return position.

A common mistake is to decide your return position based on the lines, such as 'near where the baseline and the singles sideline intersect,' rather than the ball.

This is dangerous because your ability to respond to the ball will drop.

▶ Don't try to force a solution

The same applies to slices.

Even with slices, there are differences in tendencies depending on the opponent, such as slices that slide and slices that stop.

Even if it is difficult to let them go, please focus on reading the trajectory rather than thinking about how to hit them back well.

If you do that, your body will adapt so that you can respond even if you don't try to hit it well.

When there is a shot you can't hit well, you tend to think, 'I have to do something' or 'I should try to adjust,' but the more you think about trying to force a solution, the more hesitation and impatience arise, and things fall apart.

Instead, don't think about anything and focus on the ball.

At that time, the ideal attitude is to wait for the reaction that is drawn out, seeing how your body responds.

▶ The ball is in central vision, the opponent is in peripheral vision

Regarding 2.

No problem at all.

Actually, that is exactly right!

It is fine if you see the ball with your central vision and feel your opponent with your peripheral vision.

The way of looking described above is truly ideal.

▶ How to handle situations when you can't see the opponent's court at all

However, for example, when you are dealing with a lob and your eyes are looking high up, and you can't feel the opponent's court at all because you are only looking at the ball, what should you do?

In such cases, it is a good strategy to use a ball that sinks near the net, which is effective regardless of where the opponent is.

Alternatively, it might be good to play it safe and return with a lob to see how things go.

▶ 'Bullet points' for key points

Regarding 3.

I think it is fine to write down key points and look at them as long as it does not violate the rules of the match (players cannot use devices like mobile phones on the court during a match because it raises suspicions of receiving advice from third parties via email, etc.).

However, since the time for changing ends in general matches is short, you might not be able to read through long notes.

Wouldn't it be better to prepare something like a bulleted list that summarizes the points you personally feel are truly important?.

▶ Masami Utode himself has started 'audio speed-learning'!

As mentioned in the related articles below, reading text repeatedly allows your understanding to deepen and solidify (Related article "There is a 'method for improving at everything'").

I think that things like "Tennis Improvement Notes" will also "hardly remain in your memory" if you only read them once.hardly remain in your memoryThat is just how reading works.


I want to keep in mind the fundamental principle that serves as the basis for the world's best learning method: "
You can repeat because you read fast. You can remember because you can repeat. You can read even faster because you remember (your stock of information increases)."
*Come to think of it, as of October 2024,
according to Masami Utsude's daily newsletter, he is currently practicing KTK using "audio double-speed learning" himself.
I can look back with confidence that my attempt at 3x speed using Audible for "
"Who is Your Money For? - The 'Money Mysteries' and 'Social Mechanisms' My Boss Taught Me" (by Manabu Tauchi, published by Toyo Keizai Inc.)" was not a mistake! (Related article "There is no such thing as a difference in ability").

▶ Being conscious of your form is like attaching weights to your hands and feet

I am always accepting questions.

I will never say, "Please make sure you read everything first" (laughs).

Being freed from the stress of form modification is the best thing.

Playing while being conscious of your form is like playing tennis with weights attached to your hands and feet.

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