Hi Gozo,
Hows the training and match performance going?
I’ve still been having regular lessons, one 2hr session every other week, and then maybe 2no 1hr sessions with other players of a similar standard to me, each week, where we use similar routines to those I do with my coach.
Things are definitely getting better regarding consistency for me, but still way off what I need or would like to achieve!!!
Regarding match play, I have definitely raised my level, but this is subjective to the standard of opponent!!
I play in 3 leagues.
1) 1st is in a Prem Division of a league, my win % is about 6%, to give an idea of the step up in level, pre lockdown I was playing Div 3 in this league!! No wonder I’m struggling!!!!!
2) 2nd is 1st Div of a comparable league to the league above, this leagues Prem Div is on par or better than the other leagues Prem Div. win % = 40%, so for me this is a much better standard for me, win some loose some, pushed hard to get a win, but opponents have to play well to win as well.
3rd league, is Div 1 of a league that is not as tough, this leagues Prem Div would be similar to the 1st Div of leagues 1)&2) and Div 1 is much lower, maybe similar to Div 2 or 3 in the first 2 leagues mentioned. Win% = 88% played 24 lost 3. So this is too easy, the only reason I played this league was so the club I play for could get a team out, the 1st team folded so I played for the 2nd team which still only had 2 players other than myself at the start of the season!!
One of the things I have noticed is that consistency is key, this is seen in training and matches.
there’s been a number of matches where I play really well for 1 or 1 1/2 ends but lose the other ends pretty easily because of unforced errors a lot of the time. When I do win an end it’s 75% of the time one sided, I win 11-4, 11-5 etc a feel pretty comfortable!!! Of course there’s tight ends as well but these are when my consistency drops slightly rather than totally!!!
For example played one guy, won 1st end game 7 (I was a little surprised!!) lost the 2nd game 0 !!!(even more surprised!!!🤬)
During training there are periods where I can’t miss followed by periods where I can’t hit the ball or table!!!
Positives are that even if I’m not winning many in the Prem Division league, I’m giving the opponents more trouble as the season has gone on, so results may not generally show as positive stat wise, but generally my level is gradually rising.
A lot of teams field the same players home and away, and I can see that I’m winning more points against the same opponent 2nd match compared to 1st match, still not enough to win though!!
At one point I wanted to stop playing in the Prem Div, thoughts of letting team mates down, not winning any games etc can get on top of you, but my fellow team mates have backed me up and encouraged me to keep playing!!
The other thing that my coach helps to install is CONFIDENCE, this has been a big plus, even though I may not perform as ‘I can or should’ during the training session or matches he always emphasises the positives and keeps encouraging me.
I hope you are getting on well and I am looking forward to your thoughts on how things have gone for you!!