Slow and Steady Wins the (Game)

I played with a solid group of players this evening in what turned out to be a cool and gusty night. It goes without saying, but it struck me tonight how many more unforced errors I have when it’s windy. The ball moved more than usual and with at least some degree of unpredictability, sometimes a lot. Balls that were usually clear of the net hit the tape in the headwind, and return of serves that were usually safe got up in the air and floated deep. I would think I’d have my paddle lined up to strike the ball in the sweet spot, but the wind would move the ball just a fraction and I’d mishit it – popping it up or catching an edge and sailing it wide.

While I still made more mistakes than usual tonight, my game improved as the evening went on. What helped me counter the unpredictability of the wind was to steady my game. By “steady,” I mean two things. One, I tried to play a little more safely. I was still aggressively looking for balls to attack but I took fewer risks with my shots. I took pace off the ball which slowed my swing speed and made it easier to keep the paddle lined up on the ball as I made contact. On the more routine shots, (serves, returns, “keep them deep” type volleys), I played the court as if it were a little smaller than it is – as if the baseline and sidelines were a yard or so closer in. This increased my margin for error and kept more of my balls in play. I knew the wind was affecting my opponents, too, so I tried to keep more of my shots in play to give them an opportunity to make the error.

The second thing I did to “steady” my game was to keep my internal system as level as I could. I sometimes have a tendency to "overheat" in close matches, particularly matches I really want to win (like tonight’s). I don’t mean “overheat” in the sense of body temperature or even boiling-over and losing my temper, although that’s sometimes the case. What I mean is over-revving. When my physical/emotional/psychic RPMs get too fast, I tend to play with too much intensity. Instead of a smooth, consistent rhythm, I’m inclined to swing faster and harder, and I miss the easy put-a-ways more often. When my internal system revs too fast, I often squeeze the grip too tight which locks my arm, slows my reaction speed, and causes me to pop more balls into the air. Instead of my mind being alert, calm and “wide” – taking in as much data on the court as I can - when I overheat, my mind and focus narrows. I don’t see the court the same way. I don’t anticipate shots as quickly. I don’t let go of my bad shots as easily. In the same way that a tight arm restricts my physical play, when my mind tightens, my thoughts and focus lose their nimbleness and agility.

While it’s always a goal to keep my internal system from overheating, it was even more important tonight in the wind. To help steady myself, I had to be especially mindful of my RPMs and the need to intentionally keep them slow. Between points, I would consciously take two deep breaths. This would help lower my heart rate, but it would also help make me more mindful of how fast my system was running. It’s hard to describe how it feels to run too hot - it’s almost like recognizing anxiety or stress within yourself - but the deep breaths provided a baseline or anchor to my internal system. I could feel my system slow down with each deep breath which helped me lock down that calm, alert state of being (the correct RPM speed) that I needed to find before the next point began. After the second breath, I would shift my awareness to my grip and how hard I was squeezing it. As I exhaled my deep breaths, the tension in my arm would release and the same calmness that had overtaken my mind overtook my body, as well.

The strategy of “steadying” my game helped me tonight in the wind by encouraging me to take fewer risks with my shots and by keeping my energy/focus/emotions/muscles in check. Whether it's wind, sun, a nagging injury, or a wandering mind, steadying yourself and your game is a great way to help battle through adversity on the court.