100%. That’s why only the elite of the elite can get there. It’s not just god-given talent. It’s the willingness to more than anyone else. Sacrificing time and so much more to dedicate to your craft. It’s too boring for most of us.
We live in a highlight-reel age where all we ever see is the flat-hitter forehand down the line, or the double-hander cross-court back hand that puts the opponent in skates. But we never see 25 shot rally that leads up to it. We never see the way a player works their opponent into a corner, shot after shot, each return landing deeper and deeper in the opponents court, sending them further and further back.
The point is, you don’t get the chance to hit the winner without relentlessly chipping away at the opposition. You’ve gotta be willing to get in the fight and earn the right to hit the winner.
I couldn’t agree more Sam! We also don’t see the tens of thousands of repetitions needed to ingrain the motor pattern to hit the ball perfectly. The thousands of hours needed to be able to read where a serve is going from the body position of your opponent.
Like you said, “earning the right to hit the winner” - all the effort required to be in that moment and capitalise on it. Earning your Steven Bradbury moment!
100%. That’s why only the elite of the elite can get there. It’s not just god-given talent. It’s the willingness to more than anyone else. Sacrificing time and so much more to dedicate to your craft. It’s too boring for most of us.
You hit the nail on the head mate. Success is found in sticking at things other people find boring for the long haul.
Repetitions!
We live in a highlight-reel age where all we ever see is the flat-hitter forehand down the line, or the double-hander cross-court back hand that puts the opponent in skates. But we never see 25 shot rally that leads up to it. We never see the way a player works their opponent into a corner, shot after shot, each return landing deeper and deeper in the opponents court, sending them further and further back.
The point is, you don’t get the chance to hit the winner without relentlessly chipping away at the opposition. You’ve gotta be willing to get in the fight and earn the right to hit the winner.
I couldn’t agree more Sam! We also don’t see the tens of thousands of repetitions needed to ingrain the motor pattern to hit the ball perfectly. The thousands of hours needed to be able to read where a serve is going from the body position of your opponent.
Like you said, “earning the right to hit the winner” - all the effort required to be in that moment and capitalise on it. Earning your Steven Bradbury moment!
Wonderful read Tim! <3
I like the losers game too. Sometimes people get bored with the mundane and give up before reaching their goals as a result. Embrace boring I say <3.
Embrace the boring and then stick around long enough to see the results!
Just. Getting. Started. Look out!
I’ve found similar success viewing intense and chaotic periods of life through a “let the game come to you” lens.
As long as I take of mine, I don’t need to react to everything and it will become obvious when I should react.
And then over time you get better at anticipating the reaction point.