Concentration in Tennis & Life #1

I play a lot of tennis and often make observations that relate not only to the game but also to life. I want to share it and make it more clear to me

Observation #1: Focus on the Ball

When you play tennis, the most important thing is to focus on the ball. Imagine it flying straight to your racket. You keep your eyes on the ball, adjust to its trajectory, and hit it. You make the decision on the type of shot a bit in advance — you already know if you’ll hit this ball with a backhand from the baseline or a forehand volley. In your mind, there’s only the ball; the shot has already been decided.

Of course, thoughts about winning the match, set, point, and the current shot are always running through your head. But the most important thing is to focus on this ball, this moment.

Why is it important to concentrate on the here and now?

Focusing on the present moment helps eliminate distractions and reduce stress. When you are fully immersed in the current task, you better understand the situation and make the right decisions more quickly. This is especially important in tennis, where every shot can be decisive.

1. Maximum efficiency: When you focus on the present moment, you use all your strengths and skills to achieve the best result. This helps avoid mistakes that can arise from being distracted by thoughts of the future or the past.
2. Stress reduction: By thinking only about the current shot, not the result of the entire match, you reduce stress and tension. This helps you stay calm and confident.
3. Faster and more accurate decision-making: Focusing on the present helps you make decisions more quickly and accurately, which is especially important in fast-paced situations like a tennis match.

Using familiar tools

When playing tennis, you use familiar tools — your feet and your swing. It’s important to trust these tools and use them to their full potential. Here’s why this is so important:

1. Automatic movements: Your feet and swing are elements you’ve practiced many times in training. They’ve become part of your “autopilot.” When you rely on these familiar tools, you can act faster and more accurately.
2. Confidence: Knowing you’re using tried and tested methods gives you confidence. You know these tools have brought success before, and this helps you focus on the present moment.
3. Minimizing errors: Using familiar tools helps minimize mistakes. When you make a swing you’ve practiced hundreds of times, you’re less likely to make errors compared to trying something new in a critical moment.

Examples:

At work: I work with data, as a data analyst. I often have projects with tight deadlines. If I constantly think about the end result and how much more needs to be done, it can lead to stress and mistakes. So, I break the project into tasks, and I perform each task at the moment, using familiar tools and approaches.

At the same time, just like in tennis, when you hit the ball, you don’t change your decision at the last moment. You know exactly that you’ll hit this ball. Similarly, at work, when performing a task, you don’t change your approach at the last moment. You know exactly how to complete this task using tried and tested methods and tools.

You don’t need to break everything down into small parts right away. The next task, like the next shot, will arise, and you need to approach it correctly. Focusing on the current task and using familiar tools helps to complete the work efficiently and on time.

In relationships: When we communicate with loved ones, it’s important to be here and now, listen to them, and be attentive to their words and emotions. If we think about something else, we’ll miss important moments that can bring us closer and improve our relationships.

Thus, tennis teaches us an important skill — the ability to be in the moment, to focus on the current task, and to perform it in the best possible way, trusting our already familiar tools. Yes, despite all efforts and preparation, the ball can still go into the net or out, but you have another chance, and another, and another. This observation can be applied to many aspects of life, helping to achieve better results and be happier and more satisfied.