The old adage 'Practice makes perfect' should really be rephrased, 'Perfect practice makes perfect'.
It is the mindful attention we give to a session that predetermines how well we improve on the game or new skill we are practising.
Repeating the same old mistakes over and over again fixate us into the same old ineffective ways that so often frustrates us.
Progress will be non existent, and our new clubs/ racquet or tools will soon become tomorrow's cast-offs as we refuse to recognize that the quality of our practice sessions is due to our own mindset and attitude.
Before those clubs/racquet or tools find themselves in the bin, before you decide that your lessons or training have been a waste of time and money, before you decide to give up completely, take a deep breath, several in fact, and allow yourself to momentarily focus on your hero and their seamlessly effortless performance.
For the next moment or two, visualize yourself as though you were that person, allow your shoulders to broaden (or diminish) to their size, imagine your height and girth changing accordingly, feel the sense of total composure and professional prowess this person holds and for those few moments be that person as you practice being them.
Now keep those snapshots in time in your memory using it as a point of reference for those 'perfect' practice sessions.
Be aware of the air temperature, typical sounds of the immediate environment, any smells associated with this experience.
By doing so, feel yourself meld into your hero's game/performance, knowing you are so connected with the process that you create a more intuitive and natural feel for the ball/game or new skill.
Release the fixation stress of bad practice and free yourself up to a successfully compelling future.