Lessons From Over-Training, Federer is the Most Efficient player Ever!

Written by: Resendiz on 28th September 2011

Lessons From Over-Training, Federer is the Most Efficient player Ever!

Switzerland's Roger Federer in action against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt during the Davis Cup world group play-off between Australia and Switzerland, in Sydney, Australia, 16 September 2011. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Thomas Shubert Blog:

As I sit here and write this evening, it’s apparent to me that I may have over-trained and bounced myself out of the tournament because of it. I would like to take this time to reflect and draw on examples from pros to try and help find mine as well as your own balance when it comes to preparing for an upcoming event. If I had my way and everything in this world were perfect, I would train all day, everyday. Is this realistic and possible? No. So why do I believe it would be the best way for me to get better? I have no clue except for the reasoning that: “The more time I put into my craft, the better I’ll become at it”. I believe this reasoning is 100% correct in dealing with every profession on earth however I’ve learned from experience that a more delicate touch is required when it comes to Tennis. You simply can’t expect your body to respond every single day through all the grinding and pounding that it takes from hard court tennis and gym workouts. Maybe it can if you’re taking serious supplements or steroids but frankly, your body needs a little time for recovery. This is why the change-over was invented for tennis. It’s Tennis’ version of a time-out in basketball or football. It allows the players to mentally and physically recover from the game. Tennis matches are much more grueling and intense than practices. Something about the pressure you face during that match sends more energy and stress to your muscles than a hard-working practice with 0 pressure throughout.

As I was sifting through youtube as well as my own HD video collection from my visit to Wimbledon a year ago, it’s so unfair to see how effortless pros make the game of tennis look. Is it really taxing on their bodies what they’re doing out on the court? They’re professional athletes but how are they able to continually produce world-class strokes day in and day out? In all my efforts to play like a pro, I never sat down and realized that they don’t really have much going on from their waist up except for a trunk rotation and stability throughout contact/follow through. Movement around the baseline is simply a few steps. As observers, we think pros have an uncanny ability to throw themselves at their shots wildly with a ton of energy to create power, spin, and placement. If you ever watch Nalbandian or Djokovic, how much of their bodies are moving during their shots? These guys are barely moving, simply striking the ball with unbelievable ease and timing. Why is this game so hard for us normal people?! Take Sampras for example. He made the game of tennis look deceptively easy, fluid serving, solid volleying, amazing footspeed and agility. Okay cool, that’s the kind of physicality you need to make the game of tennis easy. But wait, another guy named Federer, doesn’t make the game look deceptively easy, he makes it look Insultingly easy – As if he’s not even trying out there… How is this possible? How is Federer so efficient with his strokes and movement? Timing, movement, fluidity. You see it in his practices and his matches. The guy is able to glide through his opponents without breaking a sweat sometimes! I wish I could learn or replicate the smooth and silky motions Fed is capable of. It certainly doesn’t have a serious impact on his body, when was the last time you saw Federer retire out of a match or skip tournaments due to injury?? Never! Incredible! This is why people will proclaim that it is a “religious experience” to watch Federer, because of how smooth and efficient he can be under pressure. I’ve only had the chance to watch Federer live once in my life, I’ve been watching him on tv for 10 years. He always looked graceful on tv, but I never realized the magnitude of that statement until I saw him live during his Wimbledon 2010 Quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych. It’s unreal how effortless and purposeful every movement is that he makes on court. Doesn’t look like he’s trying at all.

So, as I watched some of Fed’s practices on youtube and from my video collection, I saw a guy who is very relaxed, very patient, who’s sole purpose is to practice his shots with seemingly minimal effort. I’m sure other professionals have also figured out this method that they tweak amongst themselves individually until they find their optimum balances. It makes me realize that my grunts, forced breathing, and strained efforts during my own practices are probably detrimental to my overall goal. Why would one practice inefficiently (using so much energy and effort to hit strokes when only simple movement and stroke production is necessary) for hours a day in hopes to all of a sudden become lucid and in complete control of their arsenal during a pressurized match? This issue probably contributed to my blowing-out-my-shoulder the past few weeks in a vain effort to “get better for a tournament”. Remember that saying, “Less is more”? Maybe it applies more to tennis in ways that aren’t publicly known! I’m going to try take a few days off to grasp this concept a little more, talk to my coaches about what we can do to solve this issue, and give my mind ample rest to come back patient and willing to be relaxed despite external stresses. If you would like to take a look at some of the videos I’m talking about, check out my youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/HapaChild2?feature=mhee

Not wasting any energy on things I can’t control,

Shubert

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