Have you ever wondered why great players like Sachin Tendulkar or Dhanraj Pillay keep practicing the same shot or the same movement repeatedly? If you get the chance to watch great sportsmen training or practicing, see how when they are practicing their skills, they go on repeating one particular shot or movement till they are satisfied with it. Why do they do this?
A study was conducted at Arizona State University in the USA on top class sportsmen and it was found that five seconds before any important sporting activity there was an ALPHA WAVE activity increase in the left side of the brain. Alpha wave activity gives rise to a state of RELAXED WAKEFULLNESS in the brain.
The left side of the brain is the ANALYTICAL side, and the right side is involved with SPATIAL activity. When the left side of the brain is relaxed, it means that the brain trusts the body to do the work, having mastered the movements through practicing them thousands of times. It does not interfere in the body's activity.
Top class sportsmen like Tendulkar and Pillay therefore report that they let their minds go blank while on the field and play without thinking about it.
Hence, when under tremendous pressure to perform, top class players just let go, trust their instincts and their body to do the work and come out on top most of the times.
So, plan your practice sessions in such a way that you set aside at least an hour to master the important shot or movements you will be required to bring out in pressure situations in matches or events. You will end up a winner!