Elevating My Game: A New Approach to Practice in Badminton
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Chapter 1: Reflections on the Tournament
As the badminton tournament in Edmonton draws to a close, I've completed five matches, securing only one victory. Despite the lackluster results, I feel positive about my performance overall. Out of the five matches, four were competitive and within reach, indicating that my current skill level is quite solid.
If I had to rate my performance on a scale from 1 to 10—where 10 reflects my peak capability and 1 signifies a dismal showing—I would place my play at 8/10. I managed to meet my potential and even surprised myself by outperforming my practice sessions.
While I did commit a few mistakes that contributed to my losses, these errors were consistent with what I had encountered during practice. Tournaments serve as an excellent opportunity to identify areas for improvement, and this experience has certainly provided me with numerous insights for future training.
It's worth noting that my current 8/10 performance is significantly better than what I achieved just weeks or months ago. The training I have been dedicating to my game is indeed yielding results, and this is merely the beginning.
Section 1.1: A Shift in Mindset
The advice to practice until I couldn’t make mistakes transformed my approach to training. In the past, I would only practice until I got things right, which contributed to my inconsistency in performance.
Merely practicing until achieving a correct execution will only allow one to perform tasks correctly at times. For optimal performance, especially in badminton, one must be able to execute skills consistently. It’s not enough to occasionally hit the shuttle well; I need to do so reliably to compete against players who excel at this.
Of course, striving for flawless execution can be tedious and time-consuming. With numerous skills to master, such as net shots, lifts, smashes, and their various variations, it can feel overwhelming.
Subsection 1.1.1: Prioritizing Skills
In such scenarios, I often recall Bruce Lee's wisdom: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." This perspective encourages me to concentrate on one skill at a time, setting smaller, manageable goals to ultimately achieve my larger objectives.
Section 1.2: Focusing on Key Skills
Instead of being daunted by the multitude of skills I need to develop, I can hone in on one critical area at a time. Currently, I'm dedicating my efforts to improving my aggressive drops, allowing me to focus my practice effectively.
Chapter 2: Looking Ahead
Tomorrow marks the final day of the tournament, and I anticipate another long day ahead. I hope to get more rest than I did last night.
The first video, "How We Help Players Change Their Perception of Shooting Performance," delves into strategies for athletes to enhance their mental approach to shooting, which can be applied to various sports, including badminton.
The second video, "Games-Based Practices - Brian McCormick," discusses innovative practice methods that keep training engaging and effective, vital for maintaining motivation and improving performance.