As you prepare for the US Nationals in Las Vegas, I want you to pause for a moment and consider your mental game...........how do you react inwardly and how do you react outwardly???
 
When you lose a point in a tournament, what do you do?  Do you show outward anger?  The outward expression is an indication of an inward reality.  If you show an outward expression of disgust, your opponent will feel your lack of confidence.  Also, you will be unable to clearly think about “why” you missed that particular shot and “how” to fix the problem the next time that same ball comes.
 
If you control your outward expression of disgust but inwardly you are angry; this is equally as devastating.  As soon as you become angry with your opponent, angry with a tournament official, angry with the unlucky nets and edges, or angry with a multitude of other problems, then you will be distracted from your strategy.  Playing angry might seem to work for a couple shots, but overall it will make you play worse
 
Have you ever been angry at your cheating opponent then suddenly you began playing better?  This is rarely the case; but I must admit, it does happen.  This is usually due to your lack of concentration throughout the match.  You were somewhat focused prior to becoming angry.  When your opponent tried to cheat, you become extremely focused.  If you want to improve your game, try to keep this level of focus at all times while remaining calm and focused on your strategy.
 
You only have a few seconds between points, don’t waist these precious moments.