HEAD RULES: Drilling Alternatives
by Fran Davis

I hate to drill; it's boring!
How can I improve my game without drilling?

Believe it or not, that same question is asked of me no matter where I am – on either coast, or anywhere in between. I am still a firm believer in drilling for consistency because repetition creates muscle memory (see January-February 2000 issue), but I do have a solution that could help you tremendously, if you are one of those players who “hate” to drill or don’t have “time” to drill … play games with an objective in mind.

• Like ... Serve an entire game, score on every rally (works on your serving game). Do an entire game with the same serve and then eventually mix up your serves.
• Receive serve an entire game, score on every rally (works on your receiving game).
• Receive a bonus point for making the specific shot you are working on. For example if you are working on a pinch shot then do as follows:
  — If you end the rally on a pinch shot and you are serving you receive 1 point for ending the rally and 1 bonus point, so a total of 2 points are scored for you.
  — If you end the rally on a pinch shot and you are not serving, it’s side out plus 1 bonus point, so you add a total of 1 point to your score.
• Start the game out with a specific shot you are working on, like a ceiling shot or off the backwall (as if it was the serve) and then play out the rally.
• Play games with no score, just an allotted period of time, therefore there is no pressure to win.
• Play games with winning in mind when you are getting close to a tournament so you can begin to assimilate a tournament situation. If you need to add an incentive, then play for a soda, or lunch, or dinner, do whatever it takes to motivate yourself to play like you are in a tournament.

As you can see practice does not have to be one dimensional or boring, but it can be rather diverse, challenging, thought provoking, competitive and quite a lot of fun while having improvement as an end result, not winning.

Just remember there is a time and place for everything… Practice has its place…. Winning has its place…. And you need both to succeed. The more you believe in this concept the more often you will reach your goals. Good luck!

To learn more about Fran Davis' Racquetball Camps, go to: www.frandavisracquetball.com