Why do we make mistakes

Hi Alois and Jeff

Till when I started playing table tennis and now I have improved upon my services, returns, footwork, dealing with problems and many things more due to only PING SKILLS. 

Now when I see at the questions asked on the strategy, serving, returning I know the answer to most of the questions.

I know when I have to play topspin of backspin I have to play the stroke vertical. Although most of the times my stroke goes correct and fine sometimes (say 3 out of 10 times) it goes wrong.

This is where I feel frustrated. Why are also these going wrong. I do all according to what I am said and then every time the stroke must go. WHY DOES IT FAIL.

This is not only for the topspin of backspin. It was just an example. I see that not a single stroke can I perform with 100% success.

I step back to check every time that am I doing correct but cannot find any mistake.

My question is that IF I AM DOING ACCORDINGLY THEN WHY IS IT FAILING SOMETIMES. Like if in maths the formula is correct the sum needs to be correct but why is the same not happening in Table Tennis as well? WHY?

Hi Chandrachur,

It is a little like maths except there are always different variables thrown in.  The spin on the ball is slightly different each time.  It may only be a small difference but enough to force an error.  

The ball can also be slightly in a different position and then you can be in a different position.

That is why the game takes so long to perfect.  You need to be able to cope with each of these variables and then react to them with an appropriate response.

Don’t forget, the best players in the World also still make mistakes, that is why the score is very rarely 11 − 0.