How to Solve hesitation

[imbadatlooping]

Hey Everyone. Currently preparing for a tournament and through my many practices I've done, I've noticed that i keep getting scared of attacking short backspin balls or anything short for that matter, and I end pushing instead out of hesitation, habit, and being to scared to just send it. Any tips on how i can mentally overcome this hesitation? I know drills will help being used to it but i think its also my mental that's making it difficult to go for it during a match.

Also does anyone have any tips on how to keep using the body during matches? I'm a "practice warrior" so i use my upper body to put power on the shot during practice play where I'm most relaxed, but as soon as match play starts where it matter most, i tend to forget to do it or i don't do it correctly and end up depending more on my shoulder & arm for forehand shots.

 

[banbekas]

Since you get tense in match situation, it means that you can't hold your nerves. You just need to recreate a must win situation in your training session. For example, if you lose you pay your practice partner a good amount of money and vice versa. Yes, I'm telling you to gamble your money.

This should work because I used to do this while giving my opponent 6-point handicap. Works wonder even until today.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

Maybe you are serving and A. not ready for a particular return and/or B. not prepared to follow-up with a positive shot in enough situations (doesn't have to be after a serve, but this helps illustrate the points and I think it's the area where more risks should be taken as opposed to on receive or when facing a legitimately good short touch).

A. Be ready faster and in position to handle more short balls better.
B. Commit to practicing the shots more until you are more comfortable/prepared to do so (can visualize too).

Regarding A., sometimes maybe you are serving underspin and expecting long push but getting half-long/short, perhaps too far back, committing too early to long ball, or stood too tall to effectively play a strong shot. Get in better position quicker and think about what needs to change with your serve to get more predictable/advantageous returns (in general and from a particular opponent).

B. Generally need to develop the mindset to follow your serves with a positive shot (not all or nothing) and will only happen by forcing yourself to do it. If it only takes a return that is a little tough or unexpected in some way and you are thrown off, then you need to expand the range of balls and shots you can play comfortably/confidently.

or... C. Make a really good push and follow it up well with a good block, open, or counter on the next shot depending on what your opponent does.

For me, I realized that I was pretty much always setting up to loop forehand full table for 3rd ball so if someone could sneak the return in wide-angled to the backhand, even if it was going to exit the table, I still felt pressure to push the ball back rather than get a good backhand open in. I've improved this by making sure my hips are low and posture is forward after serve and not committing to forehand 3rd ball without being neutral enough to protect this vulnerability.

For short-short exchanges, maybe you are too much in and out so always moving and not prepared to make the positive shot. Maybe you are rushing to push a ball that is going to be near the edge and able to be attacked later in its descending phase. It's hard to say but these are some ideas.

Ultimately, visualize yourself playing the shots you think you should be playing. If you already have them (sounds like you make them in practice), then you just need to believe you can do it and go for it in tournaments. Also, deep breaths, positive thinking, smile, and take up space. Sounds like you need to make a conscious decision to just go for your shots!

 

[lodro]

I suggest psychotherapy.
You need to overcome "fear of loosing"

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

View attachment ff55e6cc-396a-427b-b19e-4cc8d064fbf1.mp4
Just be brave and go for it. Multiball is your BFF

 

[imbadatlooping]

I suggest psychotherapy.
You need to overcome "fear of loosing"

im not sure if its fear of loosing or just fear of hitting my hand on the table trying to go over the table for a top spin loop on a short ball. Ive done it once before on the corner of the table it was hella painful. Luckily i didnt break a finger lol.

 

[imbadatlooping]

Since you get tense in match situation, it means that you can't hold your nerves. You just need to recreate a must win situation in your training session. For example, if you lose you pay your practice partner a good amount of money and vice versa. Yes, I'm telling you to gamble your money.

This should work because I used to do this while giving my opponent 6-point handicap. Works wonder even until today.

I should get in the mindset that its the Olympic finals and its 9-9 lol.

 

[lodro]

I should get in the mindset that its the Olympic finals and its 9-9 lol.

I remember there was a series of videos here in the forum with sessions taken by a sport-psychologist and indeed he suggested every training session should approached like it was the final of a tournament.
There ye go, nothing wrong with 9 : 9 at the Olympics 😂
Always remember it is a war and you are here to kill, I will be on the other side trying to kick the shit out of you. 😣

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

If I am in MS F of OG and the score is 3-3 and at the 7th set at 9-9; I would not dare to fh loop a short underspin ball.

I should get in the mindset that its the Olympic finals and its 9-9 lol.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

If I am in MS F of OG and the score is 3-3 and at the 7th set at 9-9; I would not dare to fh loop a short underspin ball.

don't worry it will never happen

 

[blahness]

1. Short balls require special technique to attack, not your normal FH or BH topspin technique. Most commonly with FH you 'attack' via flicks or sideswipes. On BH chiquita or the standard flick depending on your preference. Pushing is nothing to sneeze at especially if you have great disguise between short and long pushes, and can push every kind of spin (including nospin and sidetopspin!). So pushing is a very valid response to a short ball.

2. Really it should be the lower body powering the stroke for the most part, not upper body.... btw you literally cannot relax your arm and hand if you're relying on it for almost all of the power. They would be overloaded. The reason why in practice it still works is they are giving you nice balls, but in competitions everyone will give you difficult balls.

 

[Ghostzen]

Hesitation is very common. Everyone gets nervous and tight whatever level you play at. So welcome to the club! 😊

I suppose the first thing to quantify is can you flick off both sides with a good percentage?. This is key before moving on to all the nuances of other strokes/spin changes etc.

Are you training to serve, recover, deploy or as others have said, kind of serve and wing it a bit. Being stable after serve and ready is key for the next stroke.

One good mental thing to do in training is to "not be afraid to miss" and fail. Serve short, get your flick chance and flick. On or off, then repeat. See how the stroke actually performs.
Then be honest in the way things are progressing. Sometimes being honest on the shot weakness is a good way to build.

Honestly a push is a good solid stroke as well. Stable and percentage works. Even up to quite a strong level a good push can control the options of a player for the next stroke.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

View attachment IMG_4786.mov
Just do it, commit to it… don’t wishy-washy.

Spoiler: Special secret sauce:

Using a tacky or semi-tacky helps e.g.,Dignics 09C

 

[Lazer]

View attachment 40036
Just do it, commit to it… don’t wishy-washy.

Spoiler: Special secret sauce:

Using a tacky or semi-tacky helps e.g.,Dignics 09C

But....
It looks like your ball is out...

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

But....
It looks like your ball is out...

Cheers
L-zr

Yup, my opponent fh loop down the line kicked so much, it flew out.

 

[Lazer]

Yup, my opponent fh loop down the line kicked so much, it flew out.

OK. it was an example of hesitation on your part...

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

OK. it was an example of hesitation on your part...

Cheers
L-zr

Did not expect him to loop down the line so well. Was anticipating cross-court loop.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

I like to anticipate every ball attackable, works like a charm. You don't need to backswing for a push, so it's much easier to go from loop to push, than from push to loop. ZJK gives the same advice in some of his coaching videos. (He also says that during serve receive you should anticipate bh first, because bh to fh is an easier switch than fh to bh).

 

[Chrono]

I was contemplating making a very similar post to this one. I have a similar issue. I don’t always attack awkward pushes/flips that are very much attackable. I also end up blocking balls that i should counterloop.

Before, Ithought it was all footwork and body control. It seems to be a combination of poor footwork/ body control, ball watching, not hitting more of the top of the ball on anything not medium to heavy underspin, and nerves/bad habits. If you get to the ball just slightly late, you are still more likely to play a passive shot in my opinion.

It is so hard not to get tense and think you can win points by just putting the ball on the table with a passive shot. If your opponent is on , it’s more than likely over for you. If they are off, congrats you win by playing passively. You win but it doesn’t feel good unless that is your style of play by choice.

I guess all you can do is fix a problem at a time till it all comes together.

And definitely, power starts with your hips!