Practice Makes Perfect?
How often have you heard that saying?
Well I say it is wrong… It should read Perfect Practice makes Perfect.
I have seen too many hopeless training sessions with players practicing and just going through the motions. Many people tell me how many hours they train. I don’t care. I do care that they have used that time to the best of their ability.
Group Sessions
This is a big problem I see in many group sessions. (It doesn’t tend to happen as much during one on one sessions.) If a player is not motivated to train themselves, it is little point them going to the table. As a player you need to remind yourself constantly; that is, every session, every drill that you do, every rally you play, that if the practice is not your best, you are wasting your time.
Feeling Down
I know this is difficult, I know some days we will feel a bit down. It doesn’t mean that every session you need to play your best, or be hitting the ball perfectly, but it does mean that during every session you need to make sure you are giving as much as you can.
So what if you are feeling a bit off and really can’t be bothered training. I say, that is fine, get off the table, go home and do something else. You are only clocking up useless hours and your time can be much better spent.
How much is it worth?
So what is the mathematical equation? How many hours of perfect practice equals how many hours of imperfect practice? The answer is simple, imperfect practice is not worth much at all. If you are practicing without concentration you may as well be sitting on the couch at home with your feet up watching your favourite TV show. In fact that would actually be better for you.
Save Time Now
This is a lesson hard learned and probably the one lesson I wish I could get across to everyone I am involved with. Unfortunately, it is often a lesson too late learned and only appreciated by players as they come to the end of their careers.
Learn it now and save lots of hours!
jamie champion
commented on March 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
hi guys
that is great advice i used to have that problem with everything i did but good advice like this helps. im glad i realized it before it was too late young people just dont seem to apreciate the sport if you dont like it dont stop wasting time its simple.
great post alois
jamie champion
commented on March 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
imean stop not dont stop soz