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 Let it flow
If we had to concentrate on each of the various
manipulations required to tie our shoes, most of us would wear
sandals. From a mechanical standpoint, tying your shoes is
complicated.
Unless you have young children, you
may have forgotten
the process of learning the task: make a loop with one end of the
lace, wrap the other end around that loop, and so on. It wasn't easy
at first, but we set some short-term goals, rehearsed the movements,
and eventually we all became experts.
John Wooden, UCLA's legendary basketball coach,
would say to freshmen on their first day of practice: "Today, you
are going to learn to tie your shoes." This was a lesson on paying
attention to detail, a lesson on viewing habitual movements in a new
light, and a subtle reminder that perfect practice can turn a
complex series of actions into a simple routine.
As you work to refine the various aspects of
your strokes, it is important to remember that a racquetball stroke
is not a collection of disconnected actions. The action of a
specific body part must always be considered in the context of how
it enhances or inhibits the overall effort of a stroke. An efficient
stroke is a series of actions that flow in an instantaneous
sequence.
Ultimately, hitting a racquetball should feel
as natural as tying your shoes. Your muscles must be appropriately
relaxed in order for the separate actions of the stroke to flow. How
can you be relaxed while you are running around on a racquetball
court like a wild monkey chasing down bananas? The same way you
relaxed when you are dancing. When you dance to an up-tempo song,
your body is moving rapidly, but your muscles are loose and relaxed;
you are letting the movements flow. Ultimately, hitting a
racquetball should feel as relaxed as dancing.
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