Regression Syndrome

So let's say you are a solid USTA 4.0 level player, maybe in a tight match with your most hated nemesis. Out of nowhere, you start to spaz. You flub a shoulder high sitter volley after hitting a nice approach. Bury an easy second serve return into the center of the net. You track down a cross-court baseline shot then shank it off the frame. "Here we go again...," you chide yourself, "...typicalness typical! Am I a total spaz or what?!" and fling your racket over the fence.

So far, in my humble opinion, you have handled that which is clearly Divine interference with restraint and panache. If it ends there, you can still win. If you are John McEnroe, a win is more likely. Unfortunately, your meddling brain decides to take action to remedy the situation and eliminate further unforced errors in your game. Your brain has no tools to make this happen, but that doesn't stop it from taking over. Desperate for some solution, your brain applies a particularly specious and tasty bit of logic that goes something like this: "We are a 4.0 player but our play today puts us at the very bottom of that segment. 4.0 play is beyond our abilities today. The bottom of the 4.0 range is just one teensy bit above the very top of the 3.5 ranks. Better to play great 3.5 tennis than crummy 4.0 tennis. Let us try reverting to 3.5 tennis, shall we? Lets hit softer, truncate our backswing, simplify that footwork, take some of the spin off the ball and spank it flat instead!" The result is predictable - miss even more balls, and your attempts are less pretty. You get more and more frustrated - you aren't even trying to do anything with the ball, but you are still missing! How could that be? Undaunted, your brain decides; "Well, 3.5 tennis seems to be beyond our reach today. Let's go for 3.0!"

I call this particularly pernicious process Regression. The subconscious is very adroit at this practice, essentially always going to this well when deeply frustrated. Just think of trying to win an argument with your mother. The logical fallacy that hobbles this 'solution' is the idea that increasing levels of tennis represent taking more chances. It sometimes seems that way - as we gain in experience and ability, we hit closer to the net, deeper in the court, closer to the lines, with more pace, spin, and placement as we progress. The truth is we do all of that because we can. We have improved our footwork, shot mechanics, strokes, strategy and, on most days, competitive temperament making it possible to hit better shots with even more consistency. If on a given day, you are missing the shots you own, it is because you or your body is forgetting to do something. That cannot be solved by, say, hitting 'softer' because hitting softer means interrupting your kinetic chain or gripping the racket too tight or not turning your body or... It means intentionally forgetting the good stuff you need to do the maximize the probability that the ball you are trying to hit will find the court.

Luckily, the solution to this problem is simple; don't regress; progress. When you are not playing up to your level, try playing at the next level as you perceive it. Hit harder, but with better linkage and a more relaxed grip and stroke. Start hitting for spots instead of areas. Bend your knees and be more deliberate with your footwork. Hit deeper and more offensively. Don't try to hit some shot you saw someone hit once, but hit the shots you own with more confidence, authority, and aggression. The worst that can happen by applying this solution to the scenario above is that you will play bad 4.5 tennis. More likely you will hit with more confidence, mechanics and engagement and your consistency will immediately improve.