Whenever you stop playing for a while, or whenever your game goes into a slump, one of the first things to go is your timing. Strokes that felt natural and automatic start to feel like they've been replaced with awkward and forced imitations. And usually, the harder you try to fix the problem, the worse it becomes. But there's an easy solution that you can use any time you need to bring your timing and your strokes back into focus. It's called the “bounce-hit” drill.
Introduced by Timothy Gallwey in his classic book The Inner Game of Tennis, bounce-hit is deceptively simple, but it works like magic.
Here's how to do it:
Whenever the ball bounces, say "bounce" aloud to yourself. And whenever you or your opponent hits the ball, say "hit" aloud as well. This exercise works because it engages your mind enough to allow the more automatic, semi-conscious part of your brain to take over. That helps return your timing and your strokes to normal. And as a bonus, this drill works just as well when you're nervous or when you feel you're thinking too much on the court.
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