Take a Break
This is the time of year when we often have difficulty fitting in everything including our Table Tennis practice. Firstly I would say, don’t feel too guilty. We all need a break sometimes. It makes us fresher and more eager when we get back to the table. Some players feel like they have to train often and always. This can be good for some but it can also be detrimental for others.
Each player has a different need as to training. Some people like and need to train every day. Others however, like and need to train less. Work out what is best for you. Don’t assume that more is better. Also remember though that you do need to spend time working on your game if you want to improve.
‘Remember Perfect Practice Makes Perfect’, Not ‘More Practice Makes Perfect’. If it were that simple tournament days would be easy. We could hand out trophies before a tournament simply by adding up everyone’s training times and awarding the winners trophy to the person who has racked up the most hours. Sorry doesn’t work like that.
Make sure your training time is effective but never train just for the sake of training or to clock up the hours. It will do you more harm than good.
Alois Rosario
commented on December 9th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Just heard Geoff Ogilvy, International golfer, say the reason for his recent improvement in form has been realising that he may have been overdoing the practice.
Ji-Soo
commented on December 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I suspect everyone has their own biorhythm when it comes to practice versus improvement…and over the years you develop a feel for how to maximise the returns.
For example, there was a period of about a week when I was practicing as many as 6-7 hours a day. It was great but exhausting. I saw some improvement in my play straight away…but I knew the lessons hadn’t really been internalised yet. In order to do that I gave myself a break for a week. The next time I played, my game had gotten MUCH worse…but I expected this as well because there were new ideas floating around my head. With moderate practice over the next week or two, however, my level steadily rose until I was playing at the new improved level again…but this time permanently.