Alex Table Tennis - MyTableTennis.NET Homepage
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Thought process while playing
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login
tabletennis11.com

Thought process while playing

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
FruitLoop View Drop Down
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: 09/20/2018
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 405
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FruitLoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Thought process while playing
    Posted: 10/15/2018 at 7:22pm
One of the greatest weaknesses I have while improving is that I constantly think too much during play. I often literally think about mechanics while I play a shot, as well as shot selection, placement, what my hand should be feeling, spin, everything. Which makes me ultimately tense, tentative and indecisive. When you think about how to play a shot you won't be able to do it! It's like I don't trust myself with the feeling of good form and am unable to let go. The time to worry about form is during practice not during a stroke in a match obviously.

I was wondering for some tips or advice on what you should be thinking about during a point. Nothing (difficult for non Buddhist's right?)? Placement? Something else? Golfers often talk about having a single swing thought to help block out unwanted conscious thought, which is easier than thinking about nothing and can also correct form etc. This is quite a neglected topic in sport in general I think especially amongst amateurs, in table tennis it's a big thing I see some people crippled by overthinking tension in matches.

Edited by FruitLoop - 10/15/2018 at 7:29pm
Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
Lightzy View Drop Down
Super Member
Super Member
Avatar

Joined: 09/18/2017
Location: T-A
Status: Offline
Points: 345
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lightzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 7:40pm
Don't worry bout it. It'll go away.
It's like music students thinking about which finger to use on what note. It all goes away with experience and you can live the melody. Or the point.
Back to Top
BRS View Drop Down
Gold Member
Gold Member


Joined: 05/08/2013
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1583
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BRS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 8:53pm
You could try just watching the ball.  It may sound kind of zen, but there is actually a lot to observe and think about the ball.  It can occupy almost all of your conscious attention. 
Back to Top
chroot View Drop Down
Silver Member
Silver Member
Avatar

Joined: 07/17/2013
Location: US
Status: Offline
Points: 949
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chroot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 8:59pm
Should be thinking more about your opponent. What's his weakness? How do I place the ball to his weakest spot? Don't think about the mechanics of a particular shot. It should be directly from your muscle memory that you have built during your daily training.
BTY Viscaria 90g
DHS Hurricane 3 NEO, 39/2.1
BTY Tenergy 05 1.9

My Feedbacks
Back to Top
BRS View Drop Down
Gold Member
Gold Member


Joined: 05/08/2013
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1583
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BRS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 9:55pm
I guess my post was about what to focus on while the ball is in play, and chroot's post is great advice of what to think about between points.  After the first set you should know a lot about your opponent's game, and from there it is all about problem-solving.  
Back to Top
TT newbie View Drop Down
Gold Member
Gold Member
Avatar

Joined: 11/25/2011
Location: Far Far Away
Status: Offline
Points: 1391
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TT newbie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 10:06pm
It seems you don´t have solid and fully developed strokes yet. If you say you think about a shot and is not able to do it you must train more and more to make a shot naturally. 
I see it happen a lot with beginners, they use all efforts to make the ball just land into the table. And the biggest mistake I see is beginners stopping to practice fundamentals when they reach a minimum level needed to execute some shots. That point when they conquered the technique to make a shot but do it without confidence and want to start to apply tactics in a match.
Back to Top
mickd View Drop Down
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator


Joined: 04/27/2014
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 1231
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mickd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/15/2018 at 10:32pm
The better players at my club always say to watch the opponent, not the ball. But personally I find my consistency, reactions and everything drop if I don't focus on the ball. I'm not sure if I'm just not at that level yet, or if I just need to practice it more to get used to it. If the ball is slow, and I have a lot of time, I generally watch my opponent to see where I should hit the ball. I've always been a "look at the ball, use peripheral vision to watch my opponent" type of guy, but a lot of people much better than me say the opposite is better.

Between points I think of what went wrong the last point, what tactics I should use more often. Like if I looped cross court and they were waiting there, I make sure to remind myself to go down the line. Think about what worked last time, like a deep fast push wide to their forehand. There's actually so many things to think about now that I'm thinking about it. But I think in general you should try and identify one thing to keep in mind between each point. Having some set strategies also help, like serving half long without much spin and attacking the third ball strongly. Serving regular spin (reverse for right handers) to their short forehand, getting into position to loop with the backhand, or if it's reverse spin, getting ready to attack with forehand.

Generally you don't want to be thinking of a specific part of your technique. I think the closest I get to that is reminding myself to loop more against people with heavier pushes, or to attack more against opponent's with generally lighter spin (like short pips pushes).


Edited by mickd - 10/15/2018 at 11:30pm
Back to Top
FruitLoop View Drop Down
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: 09/20/2018
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 405
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FruitLoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/16/2018 at 5:01am
Originally posted by TT newbie TT newbie wrote:

It seems you don´t have solid and fully developed strokes yet. If you say you think about a shot and is not able to do it you must train more and more to make a shot naturally. 
I see it happen a lot with beginners, they use all efforts to make the ball just land into the table. And the biggest mistake I see is beginners stopping to practice fundamentals when they reach a minimum level needed to execute some shots. That point when they conquered the technique to make a shot but do it without confidence and want to start to apply tactics in a match.


This is partially true (of course!). But the difference between me on my best form, in practice, relaxed etc is massive to tight and tense and overthinking in a match.
Back to Top
Stavros View Drop Down
Gold Member
Gold Member
Avatar

Joined: 12/02/2006
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 1533
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stavros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/16/2018 at 5:49am

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance 

It's also applies to Table Tennis etc. 



Edited by Stavros - 10/16/2018 at 5:50am
Blade: Stiga Infinity
FH: Dignics 80
BH: Dignics 05
Back to Top
HuLimei View Drop Down
Super Member
Super Member
Avatar

Joined: 07/10/2017
Location: BTY Factory
Status: Offline
Points: 276
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HuLimei Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/16/2018 at 7:48am
"Awww man!!! I should've gotten Timo Boll SXZ instead of Timo Boll DSG. Hmmm... I wonder if they have it in 84.56576 grams. I better order 5 just in case."
Back to Top
FruitLoop View Drop Down
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: 09/20/2018
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 405
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FruitLoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/16/2018 at 8:19am
Originally posted by HuLimei HuLimei wrote:

"Awww man!!! I should've gotten Timo Boll SXZ instead of Timo Boll DSG. Hmmm... I wonder if they have it in 84.56576 grams. I better order 5 just in case."


Don't think even the described hardcore EJ's EJ in the middle of a point
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.156 seconds.

Become a Fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Web Wiz News
Forum Home | Go to the Forums | Forum Help | Disclaimer

MyTableTennis.NET is the trading name of Alex Table Tennis Ltd.

Copyright ©2003-2024 Alex Table Tennis Ltd. All rights reserved.