Read an Excerpt From the ITTF Advanced Coaching Manual
It is very difficult for the players to imagine a motor action that is only described with words. Nothing can replace the image. It is therefore strongly recommended to put the proposed exercises into an image either by letting the players or the coach demonstrate it or by showing a video of a high level player.
Questioning is an important part of the pedagogy employed because it allows to rephrase what has been said and to get a better idea of the player’s understanding of the instructions they are meant to follow.
Some Random Stranger, “He definitely shouldn’t have done that!!!”
Samson, “Shouldn’t have done what?”
Some Random Stranger, “He shouldn’t have chooooooed so loudly every time he hit the net or edge with a lucky shot!!! He made me mad! When I’m mad, I play so determined!”
Samson: “So what happens when you aren’t mad?”
If you are trying to change or improve your stroke, sometimes it is difficult when the ball is coming toward you. Your muscle memory takes over and you easily revert back to how you had been previously stroking the ball. Also, as you are trying to make contact and must adjust to various placements, speeds, spins, heights, and depths, the strokes often becomes sloppy as you reach/lean for the ball.
During a table tennis match, is it beneficial to remember previous points or to just block out the past and play in the moment?
The answer is… BOTH!
To reach your peak potential, you need to forget and remember! I’m going to illustrate my point by sharing a true story that happened to me.
I was playing one of the most important matches of my life.
I was down 1-2 in games in a best 3/5 match.
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