Mental fitness⏱ 2 min read
Focus: Staying in the Present Rally
Concentration is a skill you can train. Where to put your attention, and how to bring it back.
Losing focus is normal: a bad call, a missed easy shot, thinking about the score. The skill is noticing quickly and bringing attention back.
Where should attention go?
- Before the rally: one simple plan.
- During the rally: the opponent's racket and body (to read the shot) and the shuttle.
- After the rally: let it go, using your reset routine.
Use a trigger word
Choose a single word that brings you back, such as "now", "next" or "watch", and say it quietly as you step up to serve or receive.
Train focus in practice
- Play conditioned games where losing concentration costs a point.
- Practise your between-points routine until it is automatic.
- Short, high-quality practice beats long, distracted practice.
Key takeaways
- Notice when focus drifts, then bring it back.
- Watch the opponent's racket; let the last point go.
- A trigger word and a reset routine help.
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