Using Intention
If we’re not trying to do something intentional, we’re just hoping. Hope isn’t a plan.
Intention is a way for our brain to coordinate our muscle movements. Hitting a tennis serve deep to the backhand corner will require minute differences than one that is nearer the center of the service box and bores in on the opponent’s hip. Similarly, locating a fastball up and in requires a slightly different release point than low and away.
If we consciously try to focus on where we’re striking or releasing the ball, we’re going to fail. The differences are too small to dictate.
We need to trust that our mind will call upon our hours of practice and muscle memory to adjust our body.
We’re not helpless in this process. We just need to make approach the situation with our plan and trust our brains to make it happen.
Attack with intention. Every swing, pitch, shot, etc. that we take we should be trying to do something with it. Our minds can process far more and far quicker than we realize. Trust that your practice will allow you to return that serve cross-court if you begin your load with that intention. Body follows mind.
Visualize the result. In video games a colored line marks the trajectory of the movement you’re looking to make whether that’s locating a pitch in MLB the Show or aiming a rifle in a MRPG. Use that when creating your intention. See the arc of the shot landing in the spot you intend to hit. Give your brain the paint by numbers for your muscles. Don’t worry about the mechanics of the movement, they’ll come.
It won’t work every time, but every time you should try to make it work. Like any skill it takes practice.