How to play at - 0:0 vs once either player hits 7 and how to play at 9 all

[Danttgeek]

So this is not something I have explored, I dont' really have an opinion and would love to hear what you guys have to say, especially if you find that adapting your play style during a game has been very successful for you to win!

I am wondering how we should change how we play.

Was playing against a much better player (couple of levels at least above me). However, I played surprisingly well and tended to be the first to reach 5 points virtually every game, sometimes I would even get to 4:0. Then he would play MORE conservative and "let me make the mistakes". He said that once he gets really ahead, say to 8 or 9 points if I am 4 or more behind, he would really go for his shot because he can afford to lose a point and his confidence is riding high - so he often wins the point quick and if not, it's no biggy.

What do you think - is this a good strategy?

But how do you play at the beginning of the game - safe to try to just edge forward? Measured? Aggressive?

Would love your thoughts.

 

[Yuomay]

I adapt my strategies to how I feel and to my opponent of course. Try to forget the score

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

matches is all about adapting.
at 0-0 and 7-7 and 9-9, you would have different conclusions at each stage, to know what your next option would be.
at 0-0, that is when you explore
at 5-5, this is when you know what can work, what can't.

there is no set constant, as the only constant is changing

 

[Amayzde]

You should play exactly the same at 9-9 as 0-0. Of course in terms of tactics things can change as the match goes on, but in terms of mindset it should be the same.

I recently saw a YouTube Short that quoted Timo Boll, answering this exact question:

“In my whole career, I have won 80% out of all the matches I played. How many points do you think I won in these matches? Only 54%(!). So you shouldn’t think about winning or losing. You should only think point by point, because every point can make the difference between winning or losing.”

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

You should play exactly the same at 9-9 as 0-0. Of course in terms of tactics things can change as the match goes on, but in terms of mindset it should be the same.

I recently saw a YouTube Short that quoted Timo Boll, answering this exact question:

“In my whole career, I have won 80% out of all the matches I played. How many points do you think I won in these matches? Only 54%(!). So you shouldn’t think about winning or losing. You should only think point by point, because every point can make the difference between winning or losing.”

I think it was Federer who said that

 

[Dominikk85]

There is a military training saying "you don't raise to the occasion, you fall down to your training".

That means it seems like the greats have an extra gear for important points but more likely they just get less bad at those points than average players who tend to get tight and nervous.

I think Best is to keep using to what got you there