Addressing Your Recent Performance Challenges in Table Tennis

D K Asked 4 weeks ago

Greetings Pingskills,

Lately I feel like my performance had significantly dropped. I am not sure what is happening. One thing is that I lost a fair amount of my speed because I no longer have enough movement but there are other things.

I constantly feel that there are just too many balls around me. It suddenly feels like a ball from another court lands under my feet every few rallies. Last training I have stepped on 30 balls in 2h training. Now note that we only get 2 balls/table each. I destroyed 30 balls which ricocheted off someone else's bat (so barriers were no help as the balls usually came from height). I also feel that someone is constantly behind me. Mostly coach (despite that I keep telling all of them not to occupy the space behind me. I noticed that they are also worried about it and realized that they do it subconsciously. Also,I have swept several people during play because they were running for their ball behind me.

All of this disrupts me a lot because I constantly need to pay attention to where I step and what is behind me to avoid injury or property damage. I just keep kicking balls away or waiting and waiting for the people to finally leave the space behind me often having to look over my shoulder mid-rally because I am just so afraid that I will hit someone. And I do not think they do it on purpose.

I also noticed that I do lots of unforced errors. Some of them are related to my speed loss okay but many of them are technical such as stopping the arm in the middle of topspin etc.

I realized that I now have much more time when I play against weaker players who sometimes do well in matches but when we do a drill practise they fail so hard against my style sometimes bombing through but otherwise missing so much that I developed a habit to attempt to catch the ball with my free hand or blocking it with my legs/feet just to prevent it getting behind me or under my feet. Last training for full hour: I plain served opponent returned I chopped he missed. New ball: I plain served, opponent returned, I chopped he missed. .... and again and again. Occassionally he got it on the table but then I missed because after so many misses I just did not expect that. And when I am sometimes placed against stronger player who can play against me consistently I miss a lot because I am just not used to people getting my chops back.

I would like to hear your opinions on it....I dont remember such things from before.

Thanks
Dan

Alois Rosario Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi Dan,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing your concerns. It sounds like you're experiencing a complex mix of issues that are affecting your performance on the table tennis court. Let's tackle them one by one to see how we can help improve your situation.

Environmental Distractions and Safety Concerns

Firstly, the frequent interruptions from balls from other courts and the presence of people behind you are significant distractions that can undoubtedly impact your focus and performance. Here are a few suggestions:

• Speak with your coach or facility manager: Discuss setting up additional barriers or reorganising the space to prevent balls from interfering with your court. It might also be helpful to review the layout of the training space to ensure there’s adequate room for all players.
• Establish clear boundaries: It’s important to have a conversation with your fellow players and coaches about maintaining a safe distance, especially during rallies. This can prevent accidents and ensure everyone has sufficient space to play without interference.

Psychological Factors

It seems like anxiety and a disrupted focus are also playing a big role in your recent challenges. Sports psychology or mental conditioning might help you manage these aspects better:

• Mental training: Techniques such as visualization, mindfulness, or even routine pre-match meditation can help increase your focus and reduce anxiety about the environment and potential accidents.

Adjusting to Different Levels of Play

You mentioned issues when playing against both weaker and stronger opponents. Adapting to different styles and levels of play is crucial:

• Vary your training partners: Regularly changing who you train with can help you adapt to different styles and speeds, which will enhance your ability to respond effectively during matches.

Overall it sounds like addressing both the environmental and personal aspects of your training environment will be key to overcoming the challenges you're facing.