Time Management 2
Imagine the face of a clock. Make it a large, clear image of a clock face with a sweep second hand. For additional clarity, make the 12 at the top and the 6 at the bottom a little larger than normal. As discussed in my prior post, there are some distinct responsibilities associated with this clock face.
Consider that the movement of the second hand is directly associated with your actions and responsibilities. The moving second hand is the time dynamic of a typical rally for any two players at any level Simply, your opponent strikes the ball at the 12 and you strike it at the 6..
OK, so at straight up 12 you read and react to your opponent's contact. As the second hand moves further around the dial, it parallels the time you have to move to the ball, designing and executing the stroke you choose, You are preparing, moving, and striking the ball - and as the clock's hand reaches the 6 at the bottom of the face, you make contact .That is the "front half of the clock" where you are reacting to your opponent's contact at 12, and making contact on your next shot at 6.
But what happens from the time that the hand is passing the 6 until it gets back to the 12 at the top? That's the "back half of the clock", and the time that you must recover to the center of the court and prepare to do it all over again when the clock gets back to 12.
A very significant signal in this analogy is that the second hand never stops moving, and neither can you ! (except of course, to set your base as you strike the ball)
The back half of the clock is just as important as the front half, but many players aren't treating it that way. Consider that as the second hand makes its way toward the 12, you must execute your split step just prior to 12, so your feet are landing on court at the exact moment the hand reaches the 12. Then, your reaction to your opponent's shot is using every part of every second between the 12 and the 6.
Similarly, your recovery after your shot must begin immediately, starting with an explosive first step after you complete your shot, in order to utilize all of the available time frame- and get you back to center just before the clock strikes 12. That's when you need to execute the next split step - which will keep you "on the clock".
If you were to start your split step just after the 12, or worse yet, start reacting late without a split step, you would be a little late. That lateness would extend to your recovery not beginning until after the clock passes 6. The later you get, then the later you get, until you miss a shot, or can't get to your opponent's last one.
By staying "on the clock", and executing your split step "just prior" to 12, and beginning your recovery right at 6 - you will manage time better, reduce errors, and miss fewer balls due to lateness and rushing. Read and react at 12, and recover at 6, and you're going to have a much better "time" competing.
