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Jay Berger raised some very key points that contribute to improving anticipation skills. Here's another angle on the same topic that I call "The edge of anticipation"...
To "ANTICIPATE" is defined as (1)an ability to foresee;(2) To look forward to : expect; (3)To act in advance so as to prevent.
Learning the concepts of "percentage shot selection" empowers players with the understanding of how to protect their court position through their own shot selection, to eliminate open court opportunities for opponents.
However, the same percentage system, becomes an evaluative tool providing insight into your opponent's decision-making process. What applies to you also applies to the opponent. If you know the % shots, you know the shots THEY SHOULD be hitting from various positions on the court. Just look for it and you can quickly separate those who know the % plays and those who don't.
When playing opponents who don't often play the percentage patterns, your ability to anticipate their next moves, will be much more tested. Why?...If they don't know what they're going to do with the next shot until the last split second, then how could you possibly know what to expect... right? Not necessarily...
Players who tend to make decisions not based on logic, will often display predictability driven by emotions... "going with what feels good, favorite shots they like to hit on big points, repeatedly going for that one spectacular shot over and over, to prove they DO own that shot", etc.
When emotions are on a high or when players become hot tempered, they often respond even more predictably...certainly under big point pressure. Over the course of a match you'll gain enough information, and begin to see patterns of tendencies, especially under "reflex" conditions. Especially in forcing situations where there's little if any time to think, just reflex reaction. Reflex mode predictability is vital information for you to track and use in your favor, especially at crunch time.
Beyond emotions, players who work "against the grain" of percentage patterns, constantly set traps for themselves by their own shot selection, as they open the doors of opportunity for you. While you can't often predict some of the clueless shots that the high stakes gamblers might try, if you are patient, the flow of opportunities for you can become like Niagara Falls.
Conversely, playing someone who clearly "knows what you know" and plays by the same % tactical rules, presents a different challenge. Within a short period of time you quickly sense your savvy opponent is not out there to give away anything and will do everything to keep the pressure on you.
While you may experience a great ability to anticipate and predict the moves of the disciplined percentage pattern player....still, they give you little opportunity to capitalize on it. Playing the simple patterns won't likely be enough to find open court opportunities. You're going to have to step up to higher level tactics and rely on solid shot COMBINATIONS to get the job done.
Through knowledge and experience, we hone our edge of anticipation, which translates in to the feeling that you've "slowed down the pace of play". Staying ahead of the action, instead of struggling to keep up with the pace. Anticipation skills allow us to "react according to a plan", rather than blindly react to the unexpected. It provides us that slight edge we need... that early start in the right direction, without hesitation, to run down the impossible get, to be in the right place at the right time. Different than raw guesswork, it is a foreseeable vision that shapes itself around gained information and experience. Insight that can extend as far as two or three shots ahead of the action in a given point.
The challenge of having the powers to foresee what is coming, is keeping focused "in the now", not thinking too far ahead. To also be able to fend off the fear of failure and negative expectations that can adversely affect your ability to execute. The ability to maintain positive expectations in the face of adversity is a measure of a great competitor.
To "ANTICIPATE" is defined as (1)an ability to foresee;(2) To look forward to : expect; (3)To act in advance so as to prevent.
Learning the concepts of "percentage shot selection" empowers players with the understanding of how to protect their court position through their own shot selection, to eliminate open court opportunities for opponents.
However, the same percentage system, becomes an evaluative tool providing insight into your opponent's decision-making process. What applies to you also applies to the opponent. If you know the % shots, you know the shots THEY SHOULD be hitting from various positions on the court. Just look for it and you can quickly separate those who know the % plays and those who don't.
When playing opponents who don't often play the percentage patterns, your ability to anticipate their next moves, will be much more tested. Why?...If they don't know what they're going to do with the next shot until the last split second, then how could you possibly know what to expect... right? Not necessarily...
Players who tend to make decisions not based on logic, will often display predictability driven by emotions... "going with what feels good, favorite shots they like to hit on big points, repeatedly going for that one spectacular shot over and over, to prove they DO own that shot", etc.
When emotions are on a high or when players become hot tempered, they often respond even more predictably...certainly under big point pressure. Over the course of a match you'll gain enough information, and begin to see patterns of tendencies, especially under "reflex" conditions. Especially in forcing situations where there's little if any time to think, just reflex reaction. Reflex mode predictability is vital information for you to track and use in your favor, especially at crunch time.
Beyond emotions, players who work "against the grain" of percentage patterns, constantly set traps for themselves by their own shot selection, as they open the doors of opportunity for you. While you can't often predict some of the clueless shots that the high stakes gamblers might try, if you are patient, the flow of opportunities for you can become like Niagara Falls.
Conversely, playing someone who clearly "knows what you know" and plays by the same % tactical rules, presents a different challenge. Within a short period of time you quickly sense your savvy opponent is not out there to give away anything and will do everything to keep the pressure on you.
While you may experience a great ability to anticipate and predict the moves of the disciplined percentage pattern player....still, they give you little opportunity to capitalize on it. Playing the simple patterns won't likely be enough to find open court opportunities. You're going to have to step up to higher level tactics and rely on solid shot COMBINATIONS to get the job done.
Through knowledge and experience, we hone our edge of anticipation, which translates in to the feeling that you've "slowed down the pace of play". Staying ahead of the action, instead of struggling to keep up with the pace. Anticipation skills allow us to "react according to a plan", rather than blindly react to the unexpected. It provides us that slight edge we need... that early start in the right direction, without hesitation, to run down the impossible get, to be in the right place at the right time. Different than raw guesswork, it is a foreseeable vision that shapes itself around gained information and experience. Insight that can extend as far as two or three shots ahead of the action in a given point.
The challenge of having the powers to foresee what is coming, is keeping focused "in the now", not thinking too far ahead. To also be able to fend off the fear of failure and negative expectations that can adversely affect your ability to execute. The ability to maintain positive expectations in the face of adversity is a measure of a great competitor.