I keep loosing points when I get ahead.

Hi guys.

I keep loosing points and then games when ever i get a few points ahead.

say the score is 8-2 to me, for some reason I just can't finish the other player off. 

I believe this is more a mental block as I can win games from behind but as you know this is not a safe tactic.

 I play in two legues with training once a week so is there any thing I can tell my coach to try and rectify my problem?

Thanks 

George

Hi George,

This is a common problem.  It sounds like you are getting anxious when you are getting ahead.

The important thing to focus on at this time is to think about your tactic for the next point. If you are starting to get those anxious feelings, stop and take a deep breath or something simple like that. Then focus on what you need to do next.  If you are focusing on your tactic then you can't be stressing about the score or what might  happen.

It is something that you need to work on during training.  If you are playing some practice games, set them up so you start on those scores that you find you are stressing about.  So start some games at 8 - 2  and see if you can focus on your tactics rather than on what might happen.

Think of it this way, would you rather have won all those previous point to get you to being 8 - 2 up or would you rather have lost all those points to have you 8 - 2 down? 

Like everything, the key is practice.  Get yourself into those situations as many times as you can and you will start to desensitise yourself to them.  Set them up in practice as often as you can.