Question 158: How can I reach A-class (national level)?

Answer

▶ Can't you aim because you are trying to aim?

First, regarding '1. How to aim for spots,' trying to aim for a spot while hitting is a common reason why you cannot aim for spots.

This is because while hitting, you think things like 'I'll hit it there' or 'I'll hit it here'.

When you 'think' while playing, you stop being able to see the ball (as thinking and vision have a trade-off relationship), and especially when trying to respond to fast balls like those at the national level, your timing will be off, and you will make mistakes before you can even aim.

▶ Are you just returning it 'for now'?

To prevent this and become able to aim for spots, you should 'determine the spot immediately after the opponent hits, and think of nothing when you hit it yourself.'
What this means is that players who cannot aim for spots tend to have delayed flashes of inspiration for deciding the spot, and thus cannot control it.

The most difficult way is
'not even deciding where to hit yourself. Just returning it for now.' Since you haven't even decided yourself, there is no way to control it.

Does that ring a bell?

▶ Can't you aim because you aren't aiming?

However, despite that, there are many people who, after making a mistake, get lost in thought wondering, 'Why couldn't I control it?'

That is a strange thing, isn't it?

But advanced players who can aim for spots decide the spot at an early stage once the opponent hits (a flash of inspiration), and then when they actually hit, they 'do not think' and focus only on the ball.

Therefore, the ball is clearly and sharply visible in their hands.

Therefore, their timing is spot-on, and as a result, they can aim for the spot.

▶ Do not try to aim perfectly

That said, even for advanced players, there are many cases where they have no choice but to just return the ball depending on the situation.

Tennis is a sport where you have no time, after all.

Therefore, not aiming for perfection is also a point for not accumulating stress.

In the first place, since there is no time after the opponent hits, even having a flash of inspiration a split second earlier than now will make a huge difference.

▶ You can learn to aim with 'declaration practice'

In practice, for example, when hitting targets, the spot is determined in advance (you have an image of aiming), so you can aim to some extent even if you are sent somewhat difficult, shaking balls.

However, when it comes to a match, there is no such 'target,' so even if the hitting situation is similar, or even if it is an easy chance ball, it feels like the difficulty of aiming has increased.

Of course, it is not something you can do from the start.

It is effective to do 'declaration practice' where you actually place targets in about three places and respond instantly to where you will aim when a ball is sent from your opponent is effective.

However, please note that if you decide your aim in advance before the ball is sent, it becomes just ball-feeding practice, and you will not acquire the practical ability to aim for spots in a match.

Furthermore, once you get used to declaration practice, opportunities for flashes of inspiration will naturally increase during a match without you having to consciously try to aim for spots (related article 'With this, you will be able to aim for spots!').

You will gain not only the ability to aim for spots, but also the inspiration to hit drop shots, drop volleys, and so on.

▶ Do not try to aim with your form

By the way, it is quite common for players to try to control their aim through their form while hitting, such as "stepping in the direction I want to aim," "swinging the racket toward the target course," "opening the body for a reverse cross," or "no, if I open it, the opponent will see through it, so I shouldn't open it too much."Examples of trying to control aim through form.

Doing this makes tennis difficult, andyou end up even further from being able to aim properly.

▶ The nuisance of trying not to be a nuisance

Regarding your question about "(2) whether I am a bother to my practice partner," this is very common.

It is a barrier that hinders tennis improvement.

"It's bad for the opponent if I make a mistake"

"I have to return balls that are easy for the opponent to hit"

During tennis practice, one is often plagued by such thoughts.

It is not uncommon for people to have their minds completely dominated by this during rally practice.

You likely feel this way especially when practicing with someone better than you, don't you?

For example, if you hit a shallow ball that looks hard for the opponent to take, you might reflexively react by saying "Oops."

Then, out of concern for the opponent,you stop watching the ball you hit as it flies, which actually leads to more mistakes and creates the very reality of being a nuisance to your opponent.

However,apologizing by saying "My bad" or "Sorry" is truly meaningless.

Rather, if you hit a shallow ball that is difficult for the opponent to take,the opponent's ability to respond will improve!

▶ Let's increase "other-affirmation"!

A personality that worries about others is useful from a strategic perspective of reading the opponent's psychology, but on the other hand, if you bring that into play, it easily becomes a barrier that prevents you from concentrating on the ball.

To answer your question,if you think "I'll try not to be a nuisance," you end up "being even more of a nuisance".

When self-affirmation is high, you set the opponent's tolerance and leniency high (other-affirmation), so even if you make a mistake, you have the recognition that"my practice partner is not the type of person to get upset".

A feeling that "people's hearts are warm".

Therefore, when self-affirmation is high,you can play freely without worrying about the opponent (or being watched).

Also, even if you make a mistake,a mistake and your existence are separate, so you can accept your "true self."

▶ Focus on the ball, not the opponent!

The thought of "I'll try not to be a nuisance" becomes a stressor, which further throws off your rhythm.

To avoid being a bother to your opponent, you don't need to think about not being a bother; you just need to focus on the ball.

If you do that, you will end up being someone who is not a bother to the opponent.

▶ When desires turn into distracting thoughts

Regarding "(3) I want to be A-Class," it is fine to have that desire.

However, you want to be careful that the thought doesn't become too strong and surface while you are playing.

This is because, even if you don't think you are conscious of it, every time you make a mistake, the stronger your desire is, the more you tend to think things like"I'll never be A-Class at this rate" or "There's such a difference between me and that A-Class person".

This thought acts as a hook, dragging the unpleasant feeling of the mistake into the next point, which often leads to a negative chain reaction where you make another mistake.

▶ The reason for feeling hazy and unsatisfied

What is important here is the realization that"I don't think I'm conscious of it myself".

Even if you think to yourself, "I'm not thinking about A-Class while I'm playing," your mind is often dominated by some hazy, unsatisfying distracting thoughts.

It's like the blue elephant; the more you try to be conscious of not thinking about it,the more you end up thinking about it (related article: "Trying not to think about it makes you 'think' about it").

Therefore, even if it's okay to have desires, you need to be careful not to let them drag on while you are playing.

That is what I think.

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