Maintaining the Mental Advantage in Table Tennis

Oftentimes I have played many opponents in table tennis who are physically much better players than me. They utilize more spin, more slams, and more sure actions than my primarily defensive mechanisms. If they played consistently well with all of their different attack methods, then they would destroy me without a doubt. Surprisingly enough, most of these players never end up as the victor at the end of at match. The reason for this, however, is easy to understand for anyone who has seriously studied the game of table tennis (or any similar competitive sport, for that matter). While having a strong attack scheme and in-game play pattern is crucial to success, so is maintaining a mental advantage over your opponent. In fact, staying mentally strong is vital to any victory.

One of the common mistakes that many players fall prey to during a game is focusing on how many points that they think they need at the moment. They are mentally calculating how much of an advantage their current score gives them, or how many points they need to catch up in order to even out the score. While doing this is important to staying "with" the game, these players all make the same mistake of thinking about this topic while the ball is in play. Never do this. Instead, focus only on the point in play during a game; anything else will distract you and cause you to make poor judgments during a game. Knowing if you have a safe enough lead to experiment a little in your playing style is beneficial only if you spend your mental powers on this thought before the ball is put into play.

Another common mistake of many ping pong players is that they go into the game with either a cocky or a defeated attitude. Either outlook can be equally harmful. While it is important to evaluate your opponent's strengths and weaknesses before a match, do not automatically put yourself in a position above or below him. Only use your evaluations to know what areas and styles of play will be beneficial for you to focus on during the game in order to maximize both your own strengths and his weaknesses. If you enter a match with a feeling of over confidence, then this could cause you to play a riskier game than needed and could perhaps end in you actually losing the match. Similarly enough, entering a game believing that you are sure to suffer defeat will cause you to not play as hard or try your best. Avoid both of these mistakes by simply entering a match focusing on how to best use your playing style to defeat your opponent.

Staying mentally strong during a game can be crucial to your success. Stay focused and positive during a match in order to better your chances of winning.