Q&A for How to Improve Reaction Speed

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How can I improve my reaction speed in tennis?

Peter Fryer
Sports Coach
Peter Fryer is a Tennis Instructor based in Derry, Northern Ireland. He works as both a tennis writer and a coach. He completed his professional tennis teaching qualification shortly after finishing university and has been teaching the sport for over 13 years. Peter began the Love Tennis Blog in 2010, and is a contributing writer for the BBC and a variety of other national media outlets.

Peter Fryer

Sports Coach

Expert Answer

Tennis movement is all about the first few steps and being as explosive as possible to get to the ball. This requires a good ready position. Rest on the balls of your feet, not your heels, for every ball, and get back into the ready position once your shot is complete. This sets you up to make fast movements and change direction very quickly. You can improve your footwork using ladder drills. If you don't have a ladder, you can create one. Use empty bottles or any household item that you can get your hands on. Work on fast movement of the legs, but remember to keep your head up.

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Question

Can you practice listening to sounds to speed up your reactions?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Listening to sounds may help you improve your reaction speed if you perform some kind of movement or activity when you hear a specific sound. For instance, kick or throw a ball up against a wall and catch it every time you hear a certain sound, or snap your fingers when you hear a car horn, or jump in the air or click your heels when you hear a bird chirp. Listening by itself may improve your concentration and focus, but not your reactions.

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Question

How can I enhance my hand/eye coordination?

Community Answer

You can practice ball games, such as tennis. Or, you could get a partner and pass a ball between the two of you, increasing or decreasing speed and experimenting with new angles. If you are currently involved in a sport, ask your coach for any tips as well. Make sure to take care of your body by eating right, working out, and sleeping enough, too.

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Question

Does this work in a week or two?

Community Answer

No, something as basic as reaction time will at least take around 3 weeks to even show small impovement. Its just like gym, you will notice some changes right away in the first week but lasting results and real improvements come with time.

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Question

How can I get my child to react faster for swimming starts?

Community Answer

Start off by practicing the starts as much as possible. Get in a pool and go through the starting process, in particular. You can also do other agility exercises, such as running from a starting line. This will teach your child how to channel their energy into a quick start.

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Question

How do I speed up my reflexes in volleyball?

Community Answer

Practise picking up fast serves and always go for the ball. Other than that, just practise as much as possible because it's really the only way to build your reflexes and to get proper muscle memory that'll allow you to both realize and react quickly to the ball movements.

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Question

Does caffeine help improve reaction time? if so, how long does it last and what are the negative effects?

Community Answer

Caffeine causes this release of adrenaline through a "fake-out". Here's how it works: Normally, when you are lying down to sleep, your brain generates adenosine, a neurotransmitter which slows down nerve activity in the brain. Caffeine blocks the nerve cells from detecting or being affected by adenosine.

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