Mental Game - Relaxed Table Tennis

I wish we could get some of the professional players like Dan to say how they do it.  Do they know stuff that us regular guys don't?  I figure they must, but then again, I suppose everybody gets nervous and everybody has off days.

zheyi wrote: shouting and self talk is the same. Just different method. He talk you can shout.

shouting and self talk is the same. Just different method. He talk you can shout.

One guy I know plays wearing an ipod shuffle and earbuds.  No choing or trash talk bothers him, he doesn't hear any of it.

Me more than most.  Yesss.   Nassssssty opponent.  They tricks us with their serves. 

APW46 wrote: Pushdeep wrote: I think it is good to talk to yourself. Your Coach half of brain speaks, player half listens.   +1, Norman Bates style.

Or Gollum.

The zone, I have experience this in a lot of things, work, playing cards, table tennis, etc., I just wished I could bottle it, I'd be rich. lol.

Something I read once--perhaps on here, can't remember--is to clench one fist briefly between points/squeeze the ball tightly before serving as this activates some place in the brain which triggers muscle memory and/or relaxation?  I can't remember really but it does work.  Another thing I've read is to have a mantra and say it to yourself just before each point begins.  It helps if it is in a different language or is, in fact, nonsense, (counting backwards in French from 5 for ex.) as this moves one's thoughts into a different part of the brain and allows the body to do its work.  These are kind of triggers for accessing the zone, I guess.

danseemiller wrote: Hi Larry, You are so right that coaching tactics is only half the job of a coach.  If you want to play your best winning/losing in not in the equation.  Doing your best and being prepared are the only things that matter.  Preparation means good warmup, scout the opponent if possible especially their serves and stance. keep a clear mind, control your emotions then give 100 percent to the match. Each and every point is a match in a way.  If you try to win you will not play your best. Over the years my students have done pretty well because they know I don't care if they win/lose only that all of the above is done.    If you give it your all that is the only thing that matters.  Oh one last thing  NO EXCUSES no matter how valid you think yours is. DS

Dan, what did you used to do at deuce games etc. in important tournaments?  Was there something you did before serving or returning to get your nerves under control, or relax your body, get your breathing under control? 

fatt wrote: Yes I do;  A coach trying to make you becoming somebody else is wrong; a player is not a machine made out parts you can upgrade just like that. a good coach must first see your strengths and weaknesses and work from there to make you evolve, not making you another player. He meant good; I hope you can still understand what he meant and work from there yourself. If he keeps trying to change you too much in one time, just say "not so fast, one step at a time".

Thanks. Funny because earlier tonight I played against a younger player with more refined strokes than mine possibly receiving regular coaching. She easily beat me 2 sets but I was able to get myself 'in the zone' and win the match eventually.

Somehow when doing drills with the veteran while I took the advice and was able to achieve instant improvements in the drills, but random thoughts such as:

"He knows your techniques are flawed. He must be right since he's been playing longer than you."
"You're going to have to spend 15 years catching up to his level since that's how long it took to get him there"
"You're a disgrace to Wang Hao trying to play pen like him"

and more limiting beliefs of that nature just filled my head.

I second Larrytt's recommendation of Get Your Game Face On.  It is $5 on kindle so not a big risk.  I got it this week and had a tournament two days later, so didn't practice the techniques at all, but it still helped me a lot.  I am usually a very nervous tournament player, this is my first year doing it, and I am a nervous person already.  

Yes I do; 

Hey thanks a lot for making this thread. It's sad 99% of all threads in this forum is about Equipment when psychology is half the game.

So today I played against a high level club veteran. Relatively young and about just a small step down from national level. I was doing drills with him and another older player criticized my strokes as being powerless. The club veteran then attempted to correct my strokes but when I broke the drill missing a shot that clipped the net he told me I shouldn't have attempted to change the rhythm just because of the net. Sad part was, I wasn't trying to change my form. Somehow he noticed every wrong habit of mine. He then discussed that I should be thinking of my shots all the time and integrate them to my subconscious. When we proceeded to play I started by attempting my typical third ball setup I get 90% of the time and he just flicked the serve like it was nothing. My performance was just downhill from there. I had practiced the strokes and knew what had to be done but my feet just wouldn't move. My form was awkward and felt unnatural.

I knew he meant well coaching me but it just really f**ked me in the head thinking all my previous training sessions and wins in other clubs meant nothing and have been a waste of time because I couldn't score good points with him. I had like 2 legitimate points and the rest were just his errors and a few giveaways.

Anyone have inputs on this?

snerdly wrote: Some claim that flow state inhibits self awareness.

Next Level just attained Buddha-hood.