This is one of the more contentious aspects of Deliberate Practice Principles. Focusing on ONE element or component of the skill you’re trying to acquire.
For example:
- For a table tennis serve, focusing…
- JUST on increasing spin or;
- JUST on hiding your racket behind your body or;
- JUST on the racket contact point to affect the spin (more or less) or;
- JUST on the contact point on your side of the table or;
- JUST on the target on your opponent’s side of the table or;
- JUST on the dwell time on your racket or;
- JUST on the clearance height over the net or;
- JUST on the speed/pace of the ball or;
- JUST on the post serve motion (for deception).
- …
Most players (and coaches) teach all of these AT THE SAME TIME and it’s counter-productive because it’s too much information to process WHEN LEARNING the basic elements of the skill AS well as refining it at the top level of proficiency.
Some of these can be combined once a certain level of proficiency is achieved. But today’s distinction is the power of the Concentration Of Focus to accelerate specialised skill acquisition.
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