Where do I look, and when?

Hi coach

I have been playing for about four years and have a respectable forehand smash. Of course my form could improve as I’m sure almost everyone’s can, however when playing a forehand smash I tend to go through phases where I miss the table, or more commonly hit the net. I’ve noticed that since I am worried about hitting the net I tend to look at it, and that is precisely where the ball goes. However when I focus on a spot the table where I want the ball to strike my number of successful smash’s increases dramatically.

Although at times I notice myself missing the ball on the stroke because I have begun focusing on the table too early. ( this is only on hard forehand smashes )

My question is when do we stop watching the ball and start looking where we want it to go. Or do we never stop watching the ball. I have had other players who have similar problems look at where they want to ball to go and it has helped them. Or as with so many other ball sports are we always to watch the ball until impact?

Thanks Brian

Hi Brian,

Yes, you must watch the ball all the time.  This is crucial in ball sports and especially for a fast ball sport like ours.

You can still have the thought in your head of where you want the ball to go.  

You have discovered an interesting thing and that is the body often leads to where we are looking or thinking.  That is why when we start to focus on NOT hitting the ball somewhere, that is exactly where the ball ends up because that is the place we are picturing or focusing on.

But always remember the rule, you must watch the ball and that doesn't even mean just looking at it, it means tracking it like your life depends on it.