What brings you luck?

[Matt Hetherington]

Is there anything you do before a match to bring you good luck or to hone your focus? For me it's not so much the case, but I did ask a few new friends of mine on the international table tennis scene and here is what they said:

'I like to listen to music' Tiago Apolonia, Portugese National Champion. Team Europe.


'I put my racket on the table and then make a run in a circle and put my shirt button on' Mattias Oversjo, Ranked 11 in Swedish Men on ITTF Rankings.


'I always tell myself I can do it before I play! I say it to myself loud!' Will Bayley, European Class 10 Champion.


'My mum bought me a necklace for my 21st birthday and I kiss it before my matches' Kelly Sibley, English National Women's Team.


'Listen to good music and before that reading a book' Britt Eerland, 25th World Junior Girls Ranking.

'I just finish warming up half an hour before the game. Then I turn my ipod on, I have a playlist prepared, then I just listen to music and think about the match. Sometimes I take a few words with my coach before the match' Hunor Szocs, Romanian National Mens Team.

'I do nothing before my match, I just try to concentrate and think about my game. And as some players I don't change my t-shirt in which I won in my previous match ' Margarita Pesotska, Bronze Medalist 2011 European Championships.

 

[WiWa]

Oh that's a nice question. I don't really have any pre-match routines except for a warm-up, but during the match sometimes I do. The weirdest thing I do is probably when I'm ready for receiving a serve and I'm very focused, I touch the floor with the edge of my bat haha. I don't know why, it just feels good to do that.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Nice one WiWa and 1000 posts too kudos!

 

[Dan]

Many players tend to touch or wipe their hand on the table. I had a strange one where I felt I couldn't play table tennis if I felt my T-Shirt was a bit to big for me. It has to fit perfect or I think about it all the time. If I felt good i was in a much better mind state.

 

[sananas123]

I'm drawing before a match...
sometimes It gives me inspiration..

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Many players tend to touch or wipe their hand on the table. I had a strange one where I felt I couldn't play table tennis if I felt my T-Shirt was a bit to big for me. It has to fit perfect or I think about it all the time. If I felt good i was in a much better mind state.

Snap! me too, the sleeves start to piss me off so I find myself rolling them up ALL the time

 

[Anders]

Snap! me too, the sleeves start to piss me off so I find myself rolling them up ALL the time

me too! haha, big problem xD

I also have a necklace around my neck, with a "Thors hammer" on.. It's an old viking symbol, and I believe it gives me strength. Dunno why, cause I'm not very religious at all, but it just feels right when I wear it. And I never take it off. Wearing it everywhere @ any time

I think amulets are good, but not if they start controlling your life.. haha

 

[Matt Hetherington]

me too! haha, big problem xD

I also have a necklace around my neck, with a "Thors hammer" on.. It's an old viking symbol, and I believe it gives me strength. Dunno why, cause I'm not very religious at all, but it just feels right when I wear it. And I never take it off. Wearing it everywhere @ any time

I think amulets are good, but not if they start controlling your life.. haha

I used to have a necklace with Thors Hammer on it! I lost it tho, then I got a biohazard one but now I wear my Vinqui Dragon Pendant

 

[yurybarquero]

I used to do the same with the sleeves but I just realized that now I dont do it anymore since I am trying to focus more on the match.... but at the same time with my body relaxed...

 

[judah000]

Many players tend to touch or wipe their hand on the table. I had a strange one where I felt I couldn't play table tennis if I felt my T-Shirt was a bit to big for me. It has to fit perfect or I think about it all the time. If I felt good i was in a much better mind state.

hehehehehhe the same with me Dan every time i wear big shirts I had in mind that the ball will hit my t shirt in serving and the very uncomfortable feeling it makes when I do topspin strokes really annoying.
What I do before a match in pray then watch lot of MA LONG videos then watch video compilation mostly done by Geca, BollForte,and many other good video makers

 

[azlan]

T-shirts used to bother me a lot, now I have a basic service style, and there is no way the ball gonna brush against my tee. I don't have any match routines nowadays, just go out there and do my best, and have a bit of fun.

 

[WiWa]

Nice one WiWa and 1000 posts too kudos!

Thanks Imagine if Ma Long did the same as Pesotska. What smell would that give

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Haha I told her if I'm ever there after she's won a few matches in a row she's not allowed near me till she's changed her shirt

 

[WiWa]

Maybe she washes them quickly after some matches, that could work.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

lol doubt it

 

[Dan]

I'm drawing before a match...
sometimes It gives me inspiration..

Thats a unique way. Never heard of that one before but im sure it puts you in a relaxed state.

I also love listening to inspirational music before I play a match

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 using tapatalk

 

[Matt Hetherington]

What's ur song Dan we all want to know

 

[Anders]

The Best - Tina Turner is my song, haha

At least one of them

 

[Bollforte94]

Watching the pro's play! really, before every match and if I have time before every training match I watch Ma Long, Zhang Jike, Timo Boll and Co. play. On Youtube of course I make half of the clicks on ttCountance videos!

 

[Matt Hetherington]

haha now we know how he got so many hits If I had to pick a song to listen to before a match it would probably be Jump by Van Halen lol