Let's Talk Mindset: Your Friendly Guide to Winning the Mental Match in Table Tennis

It seems that the mental aspect can sometimes be even more important than your skill level in match play.  I find that I can sometimes be more nervous playing someone that I should beat than playing someone that is better than me.

Well said. I often have these mental collapse. Only to describe, last Friday, I lost a match 3-0. Out of these three games, I was leading 10-8 and 10-6 and lost these games. I will remember your advice in this article 

Yes, Mindset is a Magic key!
For top athletes, the contribution of mindset could be as high as 70-80%, & skills 20-30%. This is because while technical skills get you to the top levels, mindset often determines who wins at those levels. Its a continuous challenge:) JD

ps: typo in “fam” :)

Very sound advice. Must try to remember this

Awesome! Thank you :)

Good advice. thanx for sharing the wisdom. But. Somtimes we do get frustrated. And does moments when short lived and wacked out like an idiot. You don't learn anything. But i have to say my training opponents show me the lessons, that look like the advice you give. Table tennis is truly an adventure!

Thank you Jeff for writing on the key psychological aspect of competitive sport. 

My two cents. Thinking more in the heat of the battle (e.g., serving at 10-8 against someone you've never beaten) I discovered after strings of frustrating and defeatist losses a simple strategy that sounds similar to calming mindset reports by some professional sports people (e.g., retired cricketer Shane Watson).

Thinking, even positive "you can do this", can be a problem ... personally, it tightens me up more as too invested in outcome - you can win! um oops nah

When tight, stressed and feeling pressure, I slowly retrieve ball from back of court, take a slow breath through nose, hold a second, and breathe out slowly through mouth (turns ON relaxing 'parasympathetic' nervous system). That's common practice: watch tennis players got to some rear shade and do same.

However, here's what you don't see. TURN OFF or lower volume of internal commentary about game, winning or even next tactic - trust your body to decide.

PLAY memory in your head of a simple folk song or pop ballad with gentle rhythm that approximates toward a resting heart rate & lowering blood pressure.

Find an artist you like or don't hate and with boring lyrics that don't excite e.g., James Taylor "Carolina in My Mind" ... zzzz oh nice

That song is an example. My chosen song is a private matter ha but I've paid the artist extra (Bandcamp/Patreon) as silent thanks for WINS due to his song!

My favourite music is generally metal with meaningful protest words etc. yet NEVER do I use it on TT court. Increases heart rate & aggressive worry chatter.

A different angle on discussion. Most of us relate to choking .. even as bad as Wimbledon Jana Novotna, 1993. She should have tried a James Taylor song.

Apology Jeff - almost wrote a sub article :) ha .. Music in my head helps endure highs & lows on the table tennis adventure. Even if lose, life is a good tune.

Simon, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this matter. I think you've made some excellent points and yes, Jana Novotna should have tried a James Taylor song :)

I also like faster music which is definitely not the right way to go for me personally in preparing for an important point. We often hear that sports people need to "fire up" but more often then not is is exactly the opposite, we need to calm down!

Wow!  This is spot on. I love the bite sized, specific, actionable, and tonal quality of these points.  Thanks so much.  And all of these suggestions can be translated directly to life also.  

Thanks Jeevan. I'm glad you found it helpful.