Watch the Ball
All
professionals say "watch the ball". But, did you know that
there is a certain way of watching the ball. During a rally your
opponent will be either in front, behind, or parallel to you. There
is only one way to watch in each of these circumstances.
When
your opponent is in front of you, it is easy to see where and when
your opponent is going to hit the ball. The secret is to stay as
close to your opponent as possible, without crowding, as he or she is
striking the ball. This adds mental pressure to your opponent because
by doing this your opponent knows you're ready, especially for a
drop. If your opponent is in front, remember the drop is the most
likely shot to be executed. And this means trouble. So get close to
your opponent when he or she is in front of you.
When your
opponent is next to you or behind you, try not to look directly at
the ball. Use your peripheral vision. The reason to do this is that
it may be physically impossible to follow a fast crosscourt and turn
your head at the same time. Use your eyeballs instead of your head
and neck. A good reference point is the serve line that runs across
the court. Follow the ball with your eye to this line and then lock
your eye at the serve line area and let your peripheral vision track
the ball to your opponent's racket. The only exception is if you've
hit a high length shot that comes off high on the back wall. In this
instance you need to watch your opponent closely. Just make sure
you're watching from the front while on the "T".