Encouragement

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Look at the Ball


Look at the ball. In some ways I want to end this article right there. Look at the ball. Those four words are powerful. Look at the ball.

When I say these words to a professional tennis player, they are taken very seriously. If I am saying these powerful words as the player’s coach or advisor, the pro player immediately focuses every fiber in their body towards allowing their eyes to look at the ball. Look at the ball.

I have seen players of all levels improve and break through plateaus simply by learning to look at the ball.

And a player really does have to learn how to look at the ball. It takes focus to look at the ball. Eye focus. Body focus. Mind focus. Emotional focus. Look at the ball.

In my over 20 years of experience as a coach and advisor, I've learned that everything in tennis should revolve around looking at the ball. Footwork, timing, shot selection… All workouts in the gym, sprints, plyos… Nutritional schedule, sleep schedule, sport psychology…

All of this is to help a player look at the ball.

A player must develop eyes to see. The eyes are everything. Quickness, anticipation, instinct all comes from the ability to relay information from the eyes to the brain to the body. Look at the ball.

Life is like this. Do you have a dream… a goal… something that you want to accomplish? Look at the ball. It is the same. Look at the ball.

Is your dream big? Look at the ball. Is your goal seemingly unattainable? Look at the ball.

Focus.

When a player has a focus, their goals and dreams come into focus. What do you want to do with your life?

Do you want something more? Do you have a special dream few know about? Do you feel you are overwhelmed? Look at the ball.

You can accomplish all things. Look at the ball.

Focus. With focus a player can develop a plan. The plan develops the dream. The ability to look at the ball brings the dream to reality.

I had a dream. I wanted to stay alive. My life as a young person was difficult. In my early 20’s I didn’t think I was going to make it. Life was hard. I had a coach in my life that refused to let my life slip away. Look at the ball.

This coach didn’t play tennis. But his words of wisdom echoed in my heart. He taught me to focus on his advice to get me through. I listened during that critical time. Thank God he was there. Look at the ball.

Look at the ball. Those four words are so powerful. Focus. Dream. Look at the ball.

Can you see it, yet?

Look at the ball.

May God bless and keep you,

Scott Paschal
www.christiantennis.net

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