Sports Psychologist

[corbytoffee]

I see many threads relating to players wanting to improve their game. They all seem to be based around either coaching or fitness training. I was just wondering if anyone has ever used a sports psychologist as a way of getting more out of thier game. If so, what were your experiences? Was it worth the expense? What were the positives you got from it? Any negatives?

Looking at William Henzell's journey to the Olympics, I wonder whether he has the use of a psychologist.

 

[WiWa]

I think coaches play the psyhologist for most players. They have to motivate them and give them self-belief during matches.

 

[dici]

It definitely worth the expense. Sport is not only about the physical skill, but also a game of mind. You can notice a big different in the mental aspect when you play with a high level play, pro, or with a amateur player or with an not so experience player.

I think the main difference you can notice probably around the amateur player. For example for those player in my club, at the critical point of game, they usually try to serve a long fast ball.

But because we still play with a old 21 points game, I was having a fun time to play with them because I can try to disgust my serve everytime to see what other will think about my serve. Either a side > back > no spin serve, or side spin back to back, or no spin follow by a side spin. All the serve with a similar stroke.

 

[poltery]

I have a psychologist / coach / mentor/ friend which is sir Matt aka PINGPONGPOM.
He often empowers me with his super awesome quotes and lessons

 

[YosuaYosan]

I don't actually have a sport psychologist except myself

 

[thepongcast]

You might find some tips in my interview with Dora Kurimay here. She used to be on the Hungarian team, still a top player in the US, coaches, and is a sports psychology consultant.

For example, I lost to another player at my club in our last few matches. I feel like I'm generally a better player but he was killing me. I gave up on trying so hard and stressing about the losses. In our last match last night, I just relaxed, decided it's ok to lose and not even think about it, and just focus on my shots and strokes. Surprisingly I won the match and beat him easily in the final game. As Dora mentioned, focusing on breathing also helps. I wish I could bottle that feeling for my next tournament. Practicing keeping calm is just like practicing strokes, I'm trying to work on that.

 

[TTD Team Manager]

Got to say I believe psychology defines coming 1st and coming 2nd especially at world class level as many of them are of similar playing standard just with different styles of play.

When your 'just' a player you may not realise how important the mental side of the game is and lots of time and effort is put into having amazing shots and fitness but once you start to learn sports psychology, which i fully recommend as it can actually help your own game, questions you sometimes ask of yourself do get answered as you learn more about the psychological side of the game. Coaches and players have basic psychology as most of us do and this is sometimes enough but at the highest level professional sports psychologists and other aspects of sports science is used to great effective.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

You might find some tips in my interview with Dora Kurimay here. She used to be on the Hungarian team, still a top player in the US, coaches, and is a sports psychology consultant.

Great Podcast. Good to have you on board.

FYI Dora is my favorite woman's Table Tennis player. She is a great inspiration. She is proof that a great woman's table tennis player can be highly intelligent and sexy too.

And I do believe hearing some of the information on your podcast would be beneficial to many people's games.

Oh and by the way, thepongcast, I find that when I am really enjoying playing, I keep my focus and do not have those lapses in focus. Awareness is tied to interest. It is hard to stay focused and aware when you are not interested or not having fun. Now of course we both must be very interested in Table Tennis and must enjoy playing, so then the question would be, what happens in a match to make you lose your interest and therefore your focus for periods of time. Winning is usually fun. Losing is usually not. But when you are focused on the process, which does not really have much to do with winning or losing, the process becomes interesting and enjoyable rather than the results.

"Oh, that is interesting, he hit a dead ball and my shot went into the net. I have to spin the ball more;" rather than, "darn it, why do I keep messing up and hitting it into the net, what am I stupid?"

Process rather than results.

 

[YosuaYosan]

You might find some tips in my interview with Dora Kurimay here. She used to be on the Hungarian team, still a top player in the US, coaches, and is a sports psychology consultant.

For example, I lost to another player at my club in our last few matches. I feel like I'm generally a better player but he was killing me. I gave up on trying so hard and stressing about the losses. In our last match last night, I just relaxed, decided it's ok to lose and not even think about it, and just focus on my shots and strokes. Surprisingly I won the match and beat him easily in the final game. As Dora mentioned, focusing on breathing also helps. I wish I could bottle that feeling for my next tournament. Practicing keeping calm is just like practicing strokes, I'm trying to work on that.

Thats one great stuff.
Why don't you make a thread about it here like bro Matt (PingPongPom) does with his interviews ?

 

[thepongcast]

Oh and by the way, thepongcast, I find that when I am really enjoying playing, I keep my focus and do not have those lapses in focus. Awareness is tied to interest. It is hard to stay focused and aware when you are not interested or not having fun. Now of course we both must be very interested in Table Tennis and must enjoy playing, so then the question would be, what happens in a match to make you lose your interest and therefore your focus for periods of time. Winning is usually fun. Losing is usually not. But when you are focused on the process, which does not really have much to do with winning or losing, the process becomes interesting and enjoyable rather than the results.

Thanks for the complements! That is good advice, I mentioned a similar situation in my interview with Brian Pace. I had one of (if not my best) tournament when I was focused on myself and making good shots the entire day, regardless of the situation or score. The results usually take care of themselves in the end.

I took her advice and try to 'practice' relaxing during club play. It's great when I actually do it, but hard to maintain just like any other aspect of the game!

 

[thepongcast]

Thats one great stuff.
Why don't you make a thread about it here like bro Matt (PingPongPom) does with his interviews ?

Thanks! I'll do that. Hopefully some people will also be interested in my 'TV' show as well.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Thanks for the complements! That is good advice, I mentioned a similar situation in my interview with Brian Pace. I had one of (if not my best) tournament when I was focused on myself and making good shots the entire day, regardless of the situation or score. The results usually take care of themselves in the end.

I took her advice and try to 'practice' relaxing during club play. It's great when I actually do it, but hard to maintain just like any other aspect of the game!

Cool. And I will try and check out the tv show. Peace.