3 Tips to Improve Mental Strength in Table Tennis

How to Improve the mental strength in table tennis during the competition. Here are my 3 quick tips to help you stabilize your thought in a tough situation. Mental strength is the key to win in a critical match, like in a deuce, 9-9 or 10-10.

Some player plays very well during training but plays badly during a real match. How to play well during the match. Yes, I’ve coached many young players like you and I understand well the problem. Young players have mental weaknesses and their performance during the match is not as stable as adult players.

Mental strength is very important in table tennis

Zhang Jike said that:

If you have techniques, but lack mental strength then you might not succeed.

You can hear that. Zhang Jike proposed to improve both techniques and mental strengths. You need both in table tennis.

I can give you 3 tips to improve your mental weakness:

1. Forget the score
2. Slow down
3. Find better tactic

Watch this video:

 

1. Forget the score

Don’t think about the score of the set. As when you think about the score, you just want to finish the match and lose your concentration. Just play each point! And say to yourself “I don’t want to finish the match, I just want to finish this point“.

2. Slow down

Slow down the rhythm of the match. You have many tools: Drink water, talk with your coach, time out, sweep your hand, look far away. Slow down to regain your concentration.

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3. Find better tactic

In some situation, that’s not your fault to miss the ball. It’s just because the opponent has increased the quality of his shot (spin and speed). So if you continue to miss the ball, ask your coach to change the tactics.

 

I recommend you read this book “Get Your Game Face On Like The Pros!: Mental Skills And Lifestyle Choices To Achieve Peak Performance And Play Your Best Table Tennis” by Dora Kurimay and Kathy Toon.

This book will help you get your Game Face so you can perform your best. You will achieve this by creating your own customize personal Game Face Routine that you execute between points. Through this, you will be able to play your best. But what if you are not satisfied with your best? What if you want to take your table tennis performance to higher new levels?

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