Q - Quiet Eye¶
Where do I park my eyes?
The Principle¶
Your eyes must be parked on the contact zone at the moment the opponent strikes the ball — and stay there through your own contact.
Quiet Eye = early fixation, late release.
The Research¶
- Elite players fixate 200-300ms before contact
- Club players fixate <100ms or not at all
- Duration and timing both matter
- Offset (when eyes leave) predicts error type
The Protocol¶
| Phase | Eye Action |
|---|---|
| Opponent's swing | Soft tracking on ball |
| At opponent's contact | PARK — jump to your contact zone |
| Ball flight | Hold fixation on contact point |
| Your contact | Eyes still on contact zone |
| After contact | Hold 100-200ms, then release |
Common Errors¶
| Error | What Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Late park | Eyes jump at your contact | Park at opponent's contact |
| Early release | Eyes follow ball to opponent | Hold through your contact |
| Target peek | Eyes flick to target | Keep eyes on contact zone |
| No park | Continuous tracking | Jump to zone, don't track |
The Drill¶
"Park and Hold"
- Partner feeds balls
- Say "PARK" aloud at their contact
- Hold eyes on your contact zone until ball hits strings
- Count: "One thousand one, one thousand two" after contact
- 20 balls, track success rate
Goal: 90%+ park rate.
The Cue¶
"Park at the bounce. Snap at contact."