These days with fewer tournaments, how do you know if you are improving. Well, if you are killing every ball in practice you might be improving but remember these things…..
1. Almost impossible to simulate tournament conditions, especially the mental pressure.
2. There is practice tough and there is tournament tough. The latter means more tournaments needed!
3. Without tournaments, mental rehearsal is a must!
4. Speaking of mental rehearsal, are you hitting the ceiling? I mean, are you seeing yourself as a quarter-finalist? Round of 16 player? If so, what can you do to change that?
5. Upping the physical part of practice helps, but only if the physical part rehearses perfect movement.
6. Speaking of #5, I am amazed at how many never get that part.
7. Remember you need a strategy to deal with the toughest player you will ever face, the one in the mirror.
8. To pull upsets, you have to believe. To believe you have to practice. Believing without the practice is dreaming, not believing.
9. PPS–practice pressure shots–like the little kids in the backyard playing basketball saying 3-2-1 and shooting.
10. Write it down. Journal your practices. That leads to mental rehearsal and that leads to better performance under pressure of tournament play.
Go get’em Tigers!!