TOP ATHLETES THINK FAST
What keeps a world-class athlete at the top of his or her field? They need to start off with “natural ability”, they have to “practice” many many hours each day, they have to keep fit by “working out” nearly as long as they practice and last but certainly not least their “reaction time” has to be way above average. Fast reaction time is like natural ability, you either have it or not..
When I was much younger I attended the Laver-Emerson tennis camp in North Carolina. Emerson was very friendly, a talented tennis player who won many Grand Slams both singles and doubles. He enlightened me about the habits of professional tennis players in the 1960`s when he competed. Fitness was a bit of a joke, and after playing the tournament, they went out drinking and having a good time. Of course they practiced a great deal. This is not the case to-day. Every professional athlete in order to be competitive MUST be fit. So what divides all athletes with natural ability, a strict practice regimen and many hours in the gym? All athletes do not achieve the same level of fitness as hard as they try, and do not perfect their abilty to perform equal to one another. But the differences between the top players in world-class sports is marginal. That is where “reaction time” enters the picture.
Top athletes think fast. A new study produced information that elite players are able to process cognitive information faster than most. I will offer a few examples. A tennis player hits a forehand wide and moves in for a put-away volley but the opponent has moved his position to receive the volley easily. In that split second the aggresive volley direction must be changed. From the eye, to the brain, to the hand and the volley is out of reach. Or a basketball player jumps for a lay-up with his right hand, and notices the way is blocked. He instantaneously moves the ball to his other hand and sinks the shot. The speed of the change is the key. All athletes have a fast reaction time but some react faster than others. These are the players who remain at the top of their field and stay there. As I have found out age slows reaction time.
