TIMING GONE Mid-Match!

So I thought I would compile some of my notes that I make after matches and training as bit of a summary of experiences.

Table tennis is such a fast and dynamic game. There is so much going on………..your mind must be clear or you will miss it!

If you are nervous – your mind is full of worry.

If you are angry – your mind is full of self criticisms or judgements of the situation.

If you are pumped up – your mind is full of shouting.

If you are correcting yourself – your mind is full of technique.

To play well, your automatic response mechanisms must be optimised. This requires a clear mind. A clear mind keeps your body calm (lower heart rate and blood pressure) and muscle tension to a minimum. This allows your body to do what you have trained it to do (muscle memory and subconscious processes).

To read the play and time the ball well the brain needs the maximum amount of input it can get during a rally. To do this you need unwavering focus on the ball and a clear mind so that the data input (ball speed, spin, and trajectory, the position of the opponent, etc) gets through to the brain.

I have experienced this loss of timing when in front in a match. What’s changed? I feel fine – calm and relaxed, no nerves, no analysing. It is the focus on the ball that has dropped in intensity. Errors start happening, corrections and criticisms enter the mind. More errors, and doubt and worry enter the mind as well. A downward spiral starts to occur. A lot of people stop this downward spiral with the aggressive option by shouting internally and sometimes externally as well – “come on” or “fight”. This shouting drowns out the other mental processes occurring and helps restore some focus – hence your game recovers somewhat. The penalty is – it feels unpleasant and is emotionally draining. This option is unsustainable for tournament play. Need to stay cool and recognise what is happening in the moment – this is the tricky part.

I find recognition of these process during match play is only learnt through experience. I know the theory and can tell what has happening retrospectively. Being able to have constant recognition of these process during match play is my learning curve at the moment. This is what I try to focus on between points and sets, plus the occasional bit of tactics.

I think also that having a coach or team-mate observing these processes during match would be of huge benefit. Difficult to do as the processes are mostly internal, unless you are constantly speaking your thoughts and wearing your heart on your sleeve.

What if in between sets, your coach/team mate simply asked – “how do you feel right now?”.