I was in the Zone! I have no idea why?

[blakesq]

Wednesday I played the best tennis possibly in my life. Assuming I am better now at 52, I am bigger (and fatter) and stronger, then I was when I was kid at 17 (and on the high school tennis team), I was serving my first serve harder and more accurately, my second serve had a lots of kick and was super dependable, my forehand was awesome, my back hand (my weakness) was hit well, and I was crushing balls at the net. I have no idea why I felt so good on the court. Last time I "felt" like I played this well was at least 2 years ago. My knee hurt, and I wasn't able to get many well hit lobs over my head, but overheads I did get to, I killed.

I was in the zone. I didn't do anything different that I can remember.

The question is: How can I get in the zone more often?? Anyone know? Or is this just one of the ways the tennis gods keep us playing tennis?

 

[Tuskarr]

Being relax and confident goes a long way to playing better.

 

[Turbo-87]

Being in the zone isn't easy. If there was a switch for it, we'd all flip it every day. I know for me it all comes down to how I start out the match. If my shots are on immediately and I am seeing the ball well, the game slows down and the ball becomes the size of a beach ball. I can't miss. That becomes a huge confidence boost and you can ride it for as long as you can.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Wednesday I played the best tennis possibly in my life. Assuming I am better now at 52, I am bigger (and fatter) and stronger, then I was when I was kid at 17 (and on the high school tennis team), I was serving my first serve harder and more accurately, my second serve had a lots of kick and was super dependable, my forehand was awesome, my back hand (my weakness) was hit well, and I was crushing balls at the net. I have no idea why I felt so good on the court. Last time I "felt" like I played this well was at least 2 years ago. My knee hurt, and I wasn't able to get many well hit lobs over my head, but overheads I did get to, I killed.

I was in the zone. I didn't do anything different that I can remember.

The question is: How can I get in the zone more often?? Anyone know? Or is this just one of the ways the tennis gods keep us playing tennis?

The person who can unlock this secret will be the wealthiest person on the history of the World.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

The person who can unlock this secret will be the wealthiest person on the history of the World.

https://maltawarehouse.com/shop/fra...-eau-zone-100ml-eau-de-toilette/8712828230270

 

[OnTheLine]

If my shots are on immediately and I am seeing the ball well, the game slows down and the ball becomes the size of a beach ball. .

This description is so accurate. Everything feels like you have all the time in the world, the ball is huge and you can see all the angles on the court like they were painted with lane lines on the freeway!

The only thing I know that increases my chances of a "zone-match" is a really good night sleep.

 

[penpal]

The only thing I know that increases my chances of a "zone-match" is a really good night sleep.

Along the same lines, I've discovered that I tend to play worse after a day of heavy monitor viewing. Its like my eyes have been focusing at 2-3 ft all day, and it takes quite awhile for them to refocus to a greater distance. I suppose this is more a case of giving myself no shot at getting into the zone.

 

[Limpinhitter]

https://maltawarehouse.com/shop/fra...-eau-zone-100ml-eau-de-toilette/8712828230270

Delete this post immediately.

 

[OnTheLine]

Along the same lines, I've discovered that I tend to play worse after a day of heavy monitor viewing. Its like my eyes have been focusing at 2-3 ft all day, and it takes quite awhile for them to refocus to a greater distance. I suppose this is more a case of giving myself no shot at getting into the zone.

Yup, especially heavy computer day followed by night match ... as if I don't have enough depth perception issues ...

If I had a formula for a zone day:

good dinner night before
solid 8-9 hours of sleep
Light breakfast
good 30+ minute warm up rallying
match start time around 11am

formula for a disaster
del taco for dinner night before
restless 5 hours of sleep
Full day work including spending too much time in the car running around
skipping lunch
evening match start time at 6pm
Running late for match
only 5 minute warm up
Beginning match 30 minutes before sunset so the light is all super funky

 

[WhiteOut]

What I struggle with most, is not just finding myself in the zone...I feel like I get there (or pretty darn close) about every 3-4th match, even if it's just a stretch of 3-4 games in a set. But the opposite of that is what has me flummoxed... I'll play really well for 2-3 days straight. Guys stronger than me saying 'you're not 4.0?!'...then I'll come out, and literally miss everything, frame everything, cant make good decisions, basically just a complete mess...it's totally weird, and in those times I cant seem to pull out of the death spiral. Part of the problem is, having been in the zone the couple matches before this, I don't *feel* like I'm doing anything mechanically differently, yet balls are spraying to the next continent...and the mindset is just 'how can this be happening?'

I make it go away with booze *after* the match...but in those times, 'the zone' is a distant dream -- i'm just struggling to get in the same area code!

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Randomness has a way of appearing like a pattern.
If you make 70% of your shots, one day you will hit 95% of them by sheer natural variance.

 

[letstakeourshirtsoff]

Randomness has a way of appearing like a pattern.
If you make 70% of your shots, one day you will hit 95% of them by sheer natural variance.

you might also die before that day ever comes.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Wednesday I played the best tennis possibly in my life. Assuming I am better now at 52, I am bigger (and fatter) and stronger, then I was when I was kid at 17 (and on the high school tennis team), I was serving my first serve harder and more accurately, my second serve had a lots of kick and was super dependable, my forehand was awesome, my back hand (my weakness) was hit well, and I was crushing balls at the net. I have no idea why I felt so good on the court. Last time I "felt" like I played this well was at least 2 years ago. My knee hurt, and I wasn't able to get many well hit lobs over my head, but overheads I did get to, I killed.

I was in the zone. I didn't do anything different that I can remember.

The question is: How can I get in the zone more often?? Anyone know? Or is this just one of the ways the tennis gods keep us playing tennis?

One great way to not get in the zone is to think about getting into the zone.

It's probably the most likely to happen when you aren't thinking about results and are concentrating on the process or perhaps even nothing at all.

 

[Turbo-87]

One great way to not get in the zone is to think about getting into the zone.

It's probably the most likely to happen when you aren't thinking about results and are concentrating on the process or perhaps even nothing at all.

There is definitely something to that. it just happens for no apparent reason so you just have to ride the wave for as long as you can.

 

[v-verb]

One great way to not get in the zone is to think about getting into the zone.

It's probably the most likely to happen when you aren't thinking about results and are concentrating on the process or perhaps even nothing at all.

Just like Fight Club;<)

But seriously be confident, and do not think about the shot you just missed

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

There is definitely something to that. it just happens for no apparent reason so you just have to ride the wave for as long as you can.

Nice avatar!

 

[MathGeek]

My being in the zone often has a strong component of my opponents playing poorly.

I won a match yesterday against a highly ranked younger genleman. I was getting stuff back that I usually don't, but he won most of the points we BOTH really played well on. Making him hit it one more time paid off. Most of my winners were against shots HE hit poorly.

 

[OnTheLine]

Was thinking about this thread after a match last night. Played like an idiot. Couldn't find my serve. Groundstrokes were fine but not my normal level, couldn't buy a volley. WTH.
Was so ticked off that I called up a hitting buddy (a 4.0 male who pushes me) after the match and met up with him and hit for an hour and played 1 set. And played well, really well.....so annoying to be such a head case.