12-18-06 Two Ways to Learn

By Carl Danner

I find there are two good ways to learn a new stroke. First, and usually best, is to start slow and consistent, focusing on form and footwork while hitting softly enough to make virtually every ball. In this approach you pick up the power and pace only gradually, while never sacrificing consistency. Second, and sometimes best for trying something difficult, is to attempt the shot repeatedly until some version of it works. Here, you experiment to determine the best technique, and then refine the stroke to make it consistent once you understand the required elements.

Unfortunately, some players seem to try a third approach -- they swing hard and miss often, without refining their efforts. This leads to ongoing inconsistency, or sometimes abandoning the problematic shot altogether.

Whether you start slowly or experiment at full speed, your goal for any new stroke has to be absolute consistency. If it's been a few months -- or longer -- and your new shot is still unreliable, chances are your form is deficient. Going back to the drawing board (ideally with some coaching) is probably your best bet.

两种学习的方法

我认为可以通过两种方法学习一种新的击球。第一个，通常情况下也是最好的一个方法，是从慢速连贯的击球开始，球速一定要慢，慢到基本上每个球都可以打好，重点是于动作和步法。用这种方法时，逐渐增加力量和速度，但千万别以牺牲连贯性为代价。第二种方法通常在联系难度较大的动作时最有效，那就是不断地击球直到一个动作奏效。你以此为实验找到最佳击球技术，当你一旦理解这种技术所要求的因素后，再逐步完善这种击球。

不幸的是，一些球手看起来是采用了第三种方法――他们大力挥拍，但通常打不到球，也不完善自己的动作。这就造成了持续的不连贯性，或者有时候干脆将有问题的击球一并全都放弃了。

不管你是从慢速开始练习还是从全速开始练习任何新的击球动作，你的目标必须是绝对的连贯性。如果你已经练了几个月或更长时间但你的新的击球动作仍不可靠，那就有可能你的动作不充分。回去重新规范你的动作（最好有教练陪同）可能是你最好的选择。