Returning to the game

Carol Almond Unknown Asked 15 years ago

I used to play as a junior to a reasonable standard and have come back to the game after 30 years!.

I have been playing at a club for a couple of months and while the drills and practice sessions are going well with quick improvement any matches that I play are quite a different matter.

I struggle to win a game even when playing against players I should easily beat. I seem unable to take the level of play I have in practice into a game, is this psychological?

Many thanks

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Carol,

Yes, completely psychological. But the good news is that it is fixable.

During your matches try to focus on playing well, rather than winning the match. Just let yourself go and see what you can do.

Many of us are inhibited by the result and tend to tighten up during a match. Think about whether you are tightening up at all when playing. I often find the first thing to tighten is the shoulder area. Then the legs stop moving due to tension. keep an eye out for this and see if you can combat it. Try using some breathing when you feel tight. I find this helps.

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Ji-Soo Woo Posted 15 years ago

Hi Carol

I had a similar experience (though my break was only about 21 years), and when I came back I was losing to people I would never have expected to lose to.

For me, there was no magic solution. I just had to accept the fact that there was a huge gap between my memory of how I should be playing, and how my body was actually playing (the mind is willing, but the body is weak). First thing you lose after a long break is just match toughness, and ability to play against different styles of opponents. I think that's why you are still doing well in practice, because practice doesn't require any match toughness.

It's been a little over a year since I returned to the game, and even now I think I am not as good as I used to be. It just takes a lot of practice, a lot of match experience against different opponents, a lot of self-analysis, watching others play, trying different things etc... The sooner you forget the glory years, the better...in my experience at any rate! Just accept it will take a while and be patient with yourself.

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 15 years ago

Thanks Ji-Soo for your perspective coming from having been through the experience.