My school tournament update
Table Tennis Mental Preparation
Last updated 3 years ago
Jasper Low Asked 3 years ago
Basically this is my first experience playing an ittf standard tournament. When I was warming up, I felt very normal and with decent confidence. When I started the match, I couldn't get my attacks in at all, so was my opponent. My coach had to waste a time out just to get me to win a set. I lost the match 1-3 in the end. The coach told me to push but it just did not feel right that way. The worst part is that I know that I should be winning against him... My question is do you have any tips on how to stay conscious of what you are doing and what your opponent is doing? And how do you stay calm? (I tried the pre point routine and breathing exercises but both didn't work out in the match)
Alois Rosario Answered 3 years ago
Hi Jasper,
Firstly well done on playing the event. This is a good learning experience for you.
The things that you have tried are good ideas. The main thing though is that these techniques need to be practiced for a long time like all of your other skills. Start by practising these in training situations and then move on to trying them in competitions.
As you get better at controlling your emotions you will be able to then think more clearly during your match and also play your strokes more naturally. This is a big part of being able to compete at your best in tournaments.
Thoughts on this question
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Jasper Low Posted 3 years ago
Tommorow is my last match. I'll let you know how it goes
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago
Good luck.
Jasper Low Posted 3 years ago
CHOOOOO!!! I won my match 3-0
First set I won 11-3
Second set I won 11-5
Third set I won 11-1
What's best is that my whole team beat the opposing school
Jasper Low Posted 3 years ago
I can't express how happy I am now!!
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago
Well done Jasper. Great to hear your enthusiasm and pleasure.
Jasper Low Posted 3 years ago
By the way it seems like all of my opponents use long pimples on the backhand. My original plan was actually to use my tricky hook serve against my opponents but it might not work well because when the ball comes back it's going to be different from what I normally practice. And covid 19 made the community clubs close down so that took away my opportunity to practice with long pimples. No one uses long pimples in my school either. But anyway I think this tournament experience is very interesting because we got to play against different levels of players. I think this tournament experience has taught me that success comes with a lot of failure and hard work.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago
Valuable experience. You are right that success does come only with some failure.