Should you be watching your opponent at all?

[thomasferrett]

Not to give anything away results-wise, but there has been some talk about Djokovic distracting various players by acting injured at certain instances during certain points - like falling over after hitting a forehand, and causing their level to drop because of it.

It just interested me because it made me realize that I never look at my opponent at all. My attention is entirely focused on the ball, so I never even really know where my opponent is on the court, let alone know if he's pretending to be injured.

I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing, because I'm pretty poor at reading things like drop-shots and slices, because I'm not paying attention to my opponent's racket, but then again, I never get fooled by things like head-fakes and fake-poaching at the net either - again, because I'm not looking at my opponent so I can't get fooled by it.

So, is it a good or a bad habit, to not pay any attention to your opponent, and just watch the ball the entire time?

 

[sureshs]

In doubles, and in singles if the opponent plays S&V, you have to watch with your peripheral vision.

 

[wannabe good]

Not to give anything away results-wise, but there has been some talk about Djokovic distracting various players by acting injured at certain instances during certain points - like falling over after hitting a forehand, and causing their level to drop because of it.

It just interested me because it made me realize that I never look at my opponent at all. My attention is entirely focused on the ball, so I never even really know where my opponent is on the court, let alone know if he's pretending to be injured.

I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing, because I'm pretty poor at reading things like drop-shots and slices, because I'm not paying attention to my opponent's racket, but then again, I never get fooled by things like head-fakes and fake-poaching at the net either - again, because I'm not looking at my opponent so I can't get fooled by it.

So, is it a good or a bad habit, to not pay any attention to your opponent, and just watch the ball the entire time?

Watching the opponent is essential for anticipation. For reading "things like drop-shots and slices" but also for retrieving correctly any other shot. So, if it is true you are not watching your opponent, it is a major flaw in your game.

 

[LeeD]

Should you WATCH your opponent, or should you notice his position and angle on his side of the court.

 

[wannabe good]

Should you WATCH your opponent, or should you notice his position and angle on his side of the court.

I guess if you can do it without watching him, but by sensing his presence, that'll do. Let the force be with you!
On a more serious note, in my opinion, the peripheral vision may be utilized at the time when you are about to hit your own shot, but when the opponent is about to hit, you should focus on him and him alone.

BTW, there is a speculation out there that Djokovic's weakness is lack of peripheral vision, or the proper utilization of it, which makes him often direct his putaway shots exactly to where his opponent is located (which is not what you want to do). The opposite example would be Federer, which explains why he so often wrong-foots his opponents.

 

[julian]

The weakness of Djokovic

I guess if you can do it without watching him, but by sensing his presence, that'll do. Let the force be with you!
On a more serious note, in my opinion, the peripheral vision may be utilized at the time when you are about to hit your own shot, but when the opponent is about to hit, you should focus on him and him alone.

BTW, there is a speculation out there that Djokovic's weakness is lack of peripheral vision, or the proper utilization of it, which makes him often direct his putaway shots exactly to where his opponent is located (which is not what you want to do). The opposite example would be Federer, which explains why he so often wrong-foots his opponents.

The weakness of Djokovic you mentioned prevented him from winning the Australian Open this year.
On a top of it he does NOT read posts by Suresh.

 

[wannabe good]

The weakness of Djokovic you mentioned prevented him from winning the Australian Open this year.
On a top of it he does NOT read posts by Suresh.

Moderators, can you please remove julian's post? It doesn't make sense and is unnecessarily rude to at least one of the fellow posters. Thanks.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Should you WATCH your opponent, or should you notice his position and angle on his side of the court.

Exactly. Certainly watch the opponent as they are swinging/hitting. As you watch the the ball coming off the racket, you can still see/notice the opponent's position and movement. As you start your forward swing, you want to keep the head still. You should not be watching the opponent at this time. You might pick up some additional movement with your peripheral if your head is still and eyes are locked on the contact point.

You should already have enough of an idea of your opponent's position & movement in most cases once you start your forward swing. No reason to sneek a peak that late.

 

[PittsburghDad]

Two completely different things. You referenced Novak's between points behavior but then asked about in point watching your opponent.

You can do whatever you want between points. I suppose some people could get motivated by watching their opponents behavior. Some might get rattled. That's very individual.

During the point, watch the ball. After 10,000 strokes of watching, your mind/body will 've reading your opponent in ways you probably couldn't verbalize. Just listen to it. React to it. Worrying about where to focus could just be interfering with the signals your mind/body is trying to send.

 

[Cowboyardee]

Not to give anything away results-wise, but there has been some talk about Djokovic distracting various players by acting injured at certain instances during certain points - like falling over after hitting a forehand, and causing their level to drop because of it...

The between-the-lines implication is that professional tennis players are most definitely watching their opponents. As should you.

The better question is when you should be watching your opponents and what you should be watching for. Noticing your opponents actions and positions is a crucial skill. Interpreting those actions correctly and using the best tactics and strategies to counter them in real time is separate crucial skill.

 

[thomasferrett]

The between-the-lines implication is that professional tennis players are most definitely watching their opponents. As should you.

The better question is when you should be watching your opponents and what you should be watching for. Noticing your opponents actions and positions is a crucial skill. Interpreting those actions correctly and using the best tactics and strategies to counter them in real time is separate crucial skill.

Maybe. I guess since I play soccer as well, and, as a defender, not looking at my opponent serves me well, since they try and confuse you with fast feet and head fakes, and I completely blank out what their feet, eyes and head are doing and focus only on the ball, and I never get 'tricked' by their fakes and make lots of tackles because of it.

I never get tricked by fakes in tennis either, simply because I don't notice them, but my anticipation is probably suffering as well.

 

[Fintft]

I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing, because I'm pretty poor at reading things like drop-shots and slices, because I'm not paying attention to my opponent's racket, but then again, I never get fooled by things like head-fakes and fake-poaching at the net either - again, because I'm not looking at my opponent so I can't get fooled by it.

So, is it a good or a bad habit, to not pay any attention to your opponent, and just watch the ball the entire time?

Not according to my coaches.

It was the head coach at my club who first advised me to watch the opponents raquet and not the ball (b/c the "ball will reappear") a couple of years ago and lastly, this fall, my newer coach (a 23 year old girl, still competitive enough herself, who's student is the best player in town) made me read more what the opponent will do...

Reading what your opponent will do makes a difference, at least in my game and even for better (if not most) players, according to my coaches.

The game "slows" down....

As for not getting fooled by head fakes at the likes, I remember an advise I got from a basketball coach, to watch your opponents chest, not the ball, nor the head, neither the feet etc.
Same here, probably, just by watching the opponents raquet does the job.

My coach only says: "Read, get in position and hit the ball in front of you". to paraphrase/translate.

 

[Enga]

In doubles if Im at he net and they hit the ball to my partner behind me, I actually wont turn around and follow it because it takes a lot of time away to react to the opponents. So I started just watching my opponents when the ball left my field of view.

I found that, for me at least, its a far superior method. Because based on how my opponents react and move, I can already guess where my own teammate will hit it, and be ready for a followup volley.

I use my periphery and court sense (aka intuition) to know where my teammate is and what theyre doing.

 

[dman72]

I think being aware of where your opponent is different than watching him. You should be concentrating on the ball first and foremost, especially during and slightly after your stroke is complete. The worst thing you can do is lift your head to watch where your opponent is before the ball leaves your racquet...it's one of the worst habits I have, and one which on nights when I'm correcting it religiously, I'm winning against people in my league. It's pretty much a direct cause/effect relationship. When I forget and start pulling off on my strokes....shanks and weak shots are the result.

 

[wannabe good]

I think being aware of where your opponent is different than watching him. You should be concentrating on the ball first and foremost, especially during and slightly after your stroke is complete. The worst thing you can do is lift your head to watch where your opponent is before the ball leaves your racquet...it's one of the worst habits I have, and one which on nights when I'm correcting it religiously, I'm winning against people in my league. It's pretty much a direct cause/effect relationship. When I forget and start pulling off on my strokes....shanks and weak shots are the result.

OP asked where to watch when the opponent is about to hit and not when you yourself are hitting.

When the opponent is about to hit, you should watch him, be very focused on what his body and racket is doing.

 

[LeeD]

Possibly, as your opponent is actually going thru his hitting stroke, you should be watching the BALL, but notice his position, his stance, and his swing.
Your eyes cannot possibly shift from HIM to the ball in a split millesecond.

 

[Fintft]

I think being aware of where your opponent is different than watching him. You should be concentrating on the ball first and foremost, especially during and slightly after your stroke is complete. The worst thing you can do is lift your head to watch where your opponent is before the ball leaves your racquet...it's one of the worst habits I have, and one which on nights when I'm correcting it religiously, I'm winning against people in my league. It's pretty much a direct cause/effect relationship. When I forget and start pulling off on my strokes....shanks and weak shots are the result.

Yes of course, this being actually the main technical thing I care (if not the only) during the shots at match time.

 

[Fintft]

OP asked where to watch when the opponent is about to hit and not when you yourself are hitting.

When the opponent is about to hit, you should watch him, be very focused on what his body and racket is doing.

And bouncy yourself, i.e. during recovery etc. That's when you got a bit of time to watch your opponent.