Are You Playing or Practising? A Top Player Explains the Difference
Learn the critical difference between playing and deliberate practice. This expert guide provides a blueprint to structure your training and unlock your true potential on the lawn
Every croquet player knows the feeling. You've hit a wall. Your handicap isn't budging. You watch the top players, and their shots seem so effortless, so natural. You find yourself wondering,
"What's their secret?
What do they do that I don't?"
We asked one of Queensland's very best, five-time state champion Mary McMahon, what it truly takes to move from being a good player to a great one.
Her answer wasn't about a hidden technique or magic mallet.
It was about one thing: practice.
But not just any practice. Mary describes a dedicated, purposeful approach that any player can adopt to transform their game. Watch her explain it in her own words.
Mary's message is powerful because it demystifies high performance. It's not magic; it's method. For any player looking to improve, her advice can be broken down into a few key lessons.
Confront Your Weaknesses, Don't Just Polish Your Strengths
It's easy to spend an hour practising the shots we already enjoy and excel at. Mary's approach is the opposite.
As she says, "I start with not the shots that I find easy, but the ones that I'm not the best at."
True improvement lies in deliberately working on the parts of your game that hold you back.
Dedication is the Antidote to the "Natural Talent" Myth
"You might see some of the good players out there... and think that it all just comes naturally," Mary admits. "It doesn't."
This is the crucial mindset shift. The consistency and flow of a champion aren't gifts; they are earned through hours of solitary, focused work on specific shots.
The Ultimate Reward is "Flow"
Why put in all this hard work? For the feeling Mary describes as "flow."
When you've practised a shot so many times that it becomes automatic, you no longer have to think about the technique during a high-pressure competition. Your mind is free to focus on strategy, and the game seems to slow down.
That feeling of effortless performance is the ultimate reward for your dedication.
The path to becoming a better croquet player is paved with purposeful, dedicated practice. People who win competitions, who represent their state, and who find that incredible feeling of flow on the court are people who commit to their practice.
Ready to take your game to the next level? Start by identifying one weak shot, and dedicate your next practice session entirely to it. That's how champions are made.
Take Your Practice to the Next Level with Expert Coaching
Inspired by Mary's dedication? Purposeful practice is the key, and expert guidance can make all the difference. Croquet Queensland offers structured coaching programs designed to help you identify your weaknesses, refine your technique, and turn your hard work into winning results.
Don't just practise harder; practise smarter.
[Click Here to Learn More and Register for Coaching]
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