The next 4 minutes (that’s how long it takes to read this volume) will change your life. Ok, you’re right, that’s probably a stretch. How about this… there are worse ways you could spend the next 4 minutes.
As always… nullius in verba. (Take no one’s word for it.)
Chapter 1. (Fallibilism cont. from Volume 1) Questions about our sources of knowledge are always asked in the spirit of: what sources will not lead us to error?
There are no infallible sources. Every source will occasionally lead to error. “I therefore propose to replace the question of the best sources of knowledge by the entirely different question of: ‘How can we hope to detect and eliminate error?” Karl Popper
By directing our scrutiny at the information instead of its source.
A person working on their business — or golf or tennis game — willingly defers to an “expert” in their field. They automatically ignore the input from the construction workers looking on. Not because of the quality of the information but because of who gave it.
This bias is the root of a lot of shenanigans.
(To be continued in volume 3.)
Chapter 2. There are two camps in the sciences of skills acquisition. Information Processing (brain as computer) and Ecological Dynamics (brain as radio). This 50 minute video is the best explanation of the difference between them I’ve seen:
This is a must watch if you’re learning a skill. There is too much important information here for me to try to condense it to bullet points.
Chapter 3. A tennis drill designed to develop knowledge in the game:
“Target tennis”
2 targets on each side of the net. ( 1’ x 1’ cardboard squares work great) Place each target 5-6 ft from each sideline. 8-10 feet inside baseline.
You can only win points one way: hitting a target.
You lose points in all the normal ways.
One player serves the entire game. Game is to +3 (at least 3 hit targets), or -10 (at least 10 errors) Drop me a line if you get to +3. I’ve only done it once.
Also, winners and aces either don’t count (replay point), or… they accrue to the other player in the form of adding to their negative score.
(This drill doesn’t work for doubles)
Remember, the objective isn’t to win the drill. You are learning about yourself and the game through it.
Chapter 4. (Shameless self-promotion) My book, The Art of Holding Serve. You can get your copy HERE
If you don’t have it… get it! For crying out loud, I’ve already given you a couple grand worth of info for free. And I’m hungry. (I’m kidding… about the free info. Mostly.) Plus, three hall of fame coaches have told me that my book is one of the most fascinating takes on tennis they’ve read. (No, I’m not dropping their names here. I don’t do that.)
In the next volume we’ll dig into errors and eco-dynamics.