If you’ve ever watched Rafa Nadal play tennis then you have seen Rafa Nadal pick his wedgie. It happens before he serves: Every, Single, Time. For a man who certainly has enough money to buy better fitting underwear, you may be thinking why doesn’t he fix the problem? Well, that is because it is not the problem at all. It’s the solution. It is his pre-shot routine.
When consulting with athletes, one of the first things we work on is the creation of a consistent and reliable pre-shot routine. If you watch golfers hit each shot, pitchers throw each pitch, and basketball players shoot each free throw, they all utilize their own, individualized pre-shot routine. It is this routine, also common for performers in many venues, which I believe is the foundation of consistency. It acts as an anchor/comfort during high-pressure moments, blocks out distractions, and ensures that the athlete’s mind and body are ready for the shot. The final step in any pre-shot/pre-performance routine is acceptance and commitment. One must accept any and all outcomes that might occur and commit fully to the shot at hand.
Do you have a reliable, repeatable, and consistent pre-shot routine?
How do you fare when you engage in your routine vs. when you don’t?