| Like any other sport, table tennis is usually won and | | | | become a better player much faster. You can't dwell |
| lost on one square foot of real estate, your brain. | | | | on the bad luck or missed shots that you've had. As |
| Sometimes all the ability in the world can't make up for | | | | the saying goes, "stuff happens". Get over it. Focus on |
| a poor mental attitude or simply not concentrating hard | | | | the next shot. You can't change whatever mistake |
| enough. Hopefully, these tips will help improve the | | | | you made anyway so why dwell on it? Sure, if you |
| game that's going on between your ears. | | | | know what you did wrong, remember it and correct it |
| Be prepared for anything. It may sound clichéd, | | | | the next time the situation comes up. Say you had an |
| but it's true. You never know what's going to happen in | | | | easy kill shot but you ended up rushing it and missed |
| a table tennis match. For example, you're starting the | | | | the table. Remember that for the next time and remind |
| next point, you put a nice topspin on your serve. | | | | yourself to slow down when confronted with an easy |
| Maybe you hit a loop back with lots of spin on the ball. | | | | shot that should be a point winner. |
| The return back to you from your opponent is a little | | | | One great way to keep unimportant things out of your |
| too high because of the incredible amount of topspin | | | | brain is to concentrate on the fundamentals. If you're |
| you put on the ball. You take a wicked smash at the | | | | an advanced player this may sound silly but it works. |
| ball believing the point is in the bag. Then, wham! The | | | | Concentrate on what you're going to do from the start |
| ball comes back at you and you're not ready for it. | | | | to the end of each point, from your serve to each |
| Just like that, a point that you should have won is now | | | | return. Remember your arsenal of shots that you've |
| lost. Why? You weren't ready for anything. | | | | trained yourself to do. Tell yourself as you're playing |
| One thing you can never do in the game of table | | | | what shot you are going to do and then execute it. |
| tennis or in any game for that matter is to assume. | | | | Yes, table tennis is a quick game and this requires split |
| Miracle shots happen. Opponents hit shots back at you | | | | second decisions. But the more you do this, the better |
| that you never expect them to get to. So no matter | | | | you will get at it until ultimately you will be so focused |
| how easy the win looks, always be prepared for your | | | | on your game that it will become instinctive. |
| opponent to hit your best shot back at you. | | | | Bottom line. Keep your mind on not only the game and |
| Another thing you must adopt is a "next point" attitude. | | | | not only on each point, but on each shot. Make sure |
| Many players spend too much time worrying about | | | | the shot you take is the one you wanted to take. |
| what has happened 3 points before. If you develop this | | | | This is what separates the good players from the |
| attitude of always looking at the next point you will | | | | great players. |