Good Judgement And Time (Part-3)
Fig.-The best time to hit a ball is on the rising bound -- or at the
top if not too high. The diagram shows how waiting carries you back in your
own court and increases your opponent's command of the situation. |
|
Never hurry! I mean don't let your mind hurry. You may have to move quickly, but if you are under mental control this is not hurrying. It is simply moving fast. One has more time in the game than is generally thought. Even when your antagonist is at the net you should take time. Take time, watch the ball and not your opponent after his shot is made and drive the ball down the side line or wherever you decide to put it to make him extend himself, but do it with deliberation.
Hurrying always betrays the direction in which you expect to put the ball, while if you take your time you have your adversary guessing where the ball is going to be driven.
For example, let us take smashing. How often players miss chances of scoring points through hurrying a smash. One imagines he has to return a smash in haste to make his point. Always remember the person smashing has the advantage over his opponent, so why hurry?
Again, suppose you wish to get to the net. First make your return deep, then come to the net. You will have plenty of time. It is a mistake to suppose one should go up at the same time he hits the ball. A player should first be certain of making a clean stroke and a forcing one before he starts to go up to the net. It is your short returns in court that make one hurry to go up. If players are careful to get depth on the ball they will have to do less hurrying.
A player should hurry only to get in position after his returns, and that is really not hurrying, which is a mental fault; it is simply moving quickly.
|
