What is the meaning of CONTROL in a game?

[IB66]

Lots of contributions here using control to mean reducing risk to be more consistent.
I have also heard it used in a way that has meaning something like 'applying pressure' and also with a meaning like 'unbalancing your opponent', like controlling your opponent through strategic placement of shots. That is more than just waiting for your opponent to make a mistake. Control taken too far is passivity in that sense.

Another aspect of the initial post... @Kopp you received advice to be more conservative with your backhand.
When I started playing golf I hit a lot of tee shots out of bounds. Numerous people told me "don't try and hit it so hard". One person said ignore that advice and work on hitting it straighter.
Will let coaches here give their opinions on that in respect of tt. Will just say don't entirely put aside what type of player you want to be and what gives you enjoyment.

With golf, you watch player try and smash the ball AS HARD as they can, but their swing is not controlled.(as controlled)
Pro's smash the ball hard but their swing is controlled, when you watch a Pro it looks effortless, this is because they have got the mechanics of their swing under control and the power is produced without looking like they are trying to hit the ball hard. If a Pro was to smash the ball AS HARD as they could - like a long drive competitor, they would be less consistent and you would be able to see they were trying to hit the ball harder.
So a Pro Golfer is playing within his limits most of the time, lets say 80% of their max power. this also applies to Pro TT players. they generally play within their limits. When pushed hard, and they have to move faster, or produce more power, or spin, then mistakes creep in. that's why a small difference in ability or having a lower 'LIMIT' or being able to adapt to playing above or under your 'usual' LIMITS (lets say 'controlling' your 'LIMITS') equates to what can be a large difference in points won or lost.
This can be seem when a golfer is 'between' clubs, this is when mistakes are a little more likely to be made, they try and put more into a 8 iron , or take a bit off a 7 iron, so their 'USUAL' swing at 80% becomes either 85% or 75% which they are less use to doing, sure they practice, but not as much as they practice their 'USUAL' swing.
To add or take off that 5% means that they will have a different 'FEEL' for that particular shot, be it a 3/4 backswing, full Backswing with less use of the legs, or less of a hip turn etc etc there are a number of choices available to them, and muscle memory can kick in as well, your brain says do this but sub consciously your body does what is use to!!!

Amateurs usually have less of everything!!!, less ability, poor game sense,, more inconsistency, poor shot selection, worse reflexes, less fitness, less speed of movement, less ability to be able to read the situation, ETC ETC the list goes on!!
I suffer with wanting to put away even a slightly loose ball, too quickly, with too much pace and power, I also play too many shots that are riskier, not from using too much power, but from difficult angles, overall poor shot selection, I overestimate my ability!! I'm told to play with more 'control' Stop pushing my 'LIMITS' (in matches)

When practicing, you should try and push your 'LIMITS' for some of the practice session. This can be by being more consistent - hitting 100 topspin drives in a row, when you normally manage 50 when playing at 80% of your power, hitting 50 in a row when playing at 90% of your power when you usually manage 25.
In matches sometimes you have to push your LIMITS or 'raise' your game, this doesn't necessarily mean play harder faster.
For our warm up (usually myself and another coach arrive early, get set up, and sneak a 15 min warm up) We play controlled top spins close(ish) to the table, BH or FH anywhere on the table, we don't go FH to FH, BH to BH, we don't play hard and fast, just controlled, placement of our shots, aiming for angles, to the opponents middle, playing where they don't want to play the ball (IRREGULAR PLAY). our LIMITS are slowly improving, playing slightly faster rallies with slightly more consistency.

As you improve, your 'LIMITS' rise, you end up playing a 'Controlled' game when once it was Uncontrolled!!
AND you will still be told to play more controlled!!!