The argument of quality over quantity has been something as old as time. In general, many people think that quantity is more important than quality, and vice versa. This is especially true when it comes to sports practices, as it’s believed by most that quantity is more important than quality. Whilst that can certainly be argued for, as it may seem that playing as much as you can is the only thing that will improve your skills, I believe that quality is more important than quantity based on my own experience playing tennis.

I used to be someone who played much more often than I do now. From the ages of eleven to fourteen, I would practice as often as I could at various clubs and with my coach. Playing five to six days a week was the norm and what I believed was expected of me and the only way I could show I was truly dedicated. Naturally, I also believed it was the only way I could improve.

But then as COVID-19 hit, and I matured, I began to become mentally depleted playing so often and feeling pressured to do so. Playing so often made me feel constantly sore and tired, and the mental fatigue that came with it hindered me from actually improving the way I should have been. Feeling the effects of yesterday’s hit and the day before then having to go out and play time-after-time slowly broke me down, especially because I felt like I needed to do it and not necessarily because I wanted to.

Then, I left the coach and club that put me under too much pressure to always play, and I began to play when I wanted to. After some time, I found a new coach that never put me under invisible expectations, as well as joining a group that was not full of future Division I players because their somehow condescending presence never made tennis fun.

I began to play slightly less, now three to four times a week, but my new tennis environment let me thrive and not feel pressured to constantly be on the court. I found motivation to put more effort into tennis, and I learned that quality is more integral to success than quantity. Since deciding to play for quality, I have improved substantially over the past year, not just skill-wise but also mentally.

The argument that quantity is more valuable than quality will undoubtedly go on. The old adage that practice makes perfect seems logical, but that does not necessarily mean overdoing it to the point that you run yourself into the ground. Quality without a doubt does come from practicing, but thirty minutes of quality is better than two hours of mediocrity. Take it from someone who knows and prioritize quality over quantity.