Like yourself when im in the zone everything seems to fall into place…i only play singles and last thursday evening played my regular playing partner. End of our session i had won 6 love in games. My footwork was quicker and well placed, my drop shots tighter, clears well placed and of good length and what felt like every smash hit perfectly….its strange.

I didnt feel any different to any other session but for some reason it all fell into place. Ive recently started taking coaching lessons locally so that may have some bearing on my thought process, tactics and shot technique however i still have to play the right shots at the right time.

If only we could capture that feeling and save it for every match lol

I suppose what it really shows is the gulf between us mere mortals and those pros who can perform at the highest level week in week out. The sheer physical and mental effort they put in every day is unbelievable….im almost certain if i was in the zone and played chong wei in his current form i wouldnt even get a point off him….however that said, im not a full time athlete with access to the best coaching/physio staff, time to train and equipment lol i dare say if i had all that id be a wee bit better…..i hope!

All good stuff here. I think being in the zone is the same for everyone – relaxed, positive and full of energy.

The mental aspects of playing the game (even at the lower levels) are often overlooked. For professional players it is a key factor – it is a given that they will be fit, will be able to play the correct technical shots etc etc. But the one really variable factor is how do they feel? Have they had an argument, got into a bit of road rage, turned up a little late and had to rush? Little things affect us and affect our game. In my case it is age, speed, skill and ability…so mental issues are not a great concern for me I get in the zone with a choccie bar!!!!!!!