Ideally, you want to get into a state of total concentration and focus on the court because that is when you play your best and develop a winning game. Concentration is total awareness, giving your undivided or fixed attention to the game. Focus is the narrowing of concentration onto a specific thought, idea, or object to a central point. In other words, you concentrate on the game and focus on the ball and your opponent. (more…)
In every sport, positioning is everything and racquetball is no different. In racquetball, being in the right place at the right time is critical to giving yourself the best chance of getting to the ball a majority of the time and doing something with it once you get there, whether to defend or to score. Generally, the person who owns and controls center court has a greater chance of winning the match. This strategy is key. (more…)
In sports, the past is gone and the future never comes, so in racquetball you have to learn that there is only one ball, one shot, one serve, and one point at a time. Time is always now. That is truly the real beauty: every shot you hit only happens in the now. (more…)
Detectives investigate a situation and gather information before they can make a determination of what happened or what they need to do to solve the mystery. A “racquetball detective” is no different. You, the racquetball detective, must analyze your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses as well as your own strengths and weaknesses, which will determine the game plan you need to put together in order to beat your opponent. Here’s a simple formula: (more…)
Controlling the match means playing more methodically while aware of what’s happening around you on the court. You don’t rush or hit aimlessly. Every shot you take and every move you make on the court has purpose or an objective. This is a strategy that clearly elevates your level of play. Here are a few tips for controlling the game: (more…)
Last month I discussed the importance of routines as we are creatures of habit and perform best when there are no surprises. In order to obtain optimal performance levels, you need a pre-performance routine, which improves your accuracy, consistency, and timing. Now I’ll describe how to take it up to the next level to create a ritual, which is a specialized routine. (more…)
Athletes thrive on consistency and routine. We are creatures of habit and perform best when there are no surprises. In order to obtain optimal performance levels, you need a pre-performance routine. (more…)
Last time, I talked about "Losing a Match and How to Bounce Back". NO MATTER what sport pros and amateurs alike experience losing, but how to deal with the loss and learning from it makes you tougher in the long run. In this Newsletter I want to talk about "Burnout and Fighting Back" to top form. (more…)
In the May Newsletter I talked about slumps and how to get past them, as pros and amateurs alike in ALL sports experience periods when they don’t reach their usual performances. Athletes who know how to deal with them return back to excellent form just like Rocky, Paola, Taylor and Sharon. (more…)
In the last Newsletter I talked about Illness and the Affect on Performance. Learning how to adjust your training, your racquetball drilling/playing and your mental toughness on and off the court when you are sick and feeling like you cannot get up for it is key. It comes from lots of hard work in every aspect of the Sports Racquetball Triangle. It is not by accident Rocky has been the #2 IRT Player, Paola has been the #1 WPRO Player for the last several years, and Taylor and Sharon are marching up the Pro Ranks. (more…)
