It’s correct that you have to watch the ball, especially when it’s close to you.
But what studies have found is that there is a difference on what better players observe during a rally compared to recreational level players.
Better players are more focused on the center of the body of their opponent until the opponent is hitting the ball and they then switch to focus on the ball itself.
The recreational players’ eyes are a little bit more all over the place.
They are looking at the body, the racquet, the ball and sometimes at the where the ball contact will be.
It suggests that better players gather information before the ball is hit and therefore will have an easier time to anticipate what kind of serve, return or shot they will receive.
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