Why some gamers enhance quicker than others

Over the previous 10 years, I’ve completed a variety of teaching. I’ve labored with gamers of all ages (youngest 5, oldest 83). I’ve coached newbie gamers, intermediate gamers and superior gamers. I’ve coached pushers, blockers, choppers, hitters, topspin attackers. I’ve coached gamers who dwell domestically and gamers who journey from throughout the UK (and the world!).

A few of these gamers have improved quite a bit. Others have solely improved just a little bit. Ideally I would love each participant to make huge enchancment, however there’s a restrict to what any particular person coach can do. How a lot enchancment is made is in the end all the way down to the participant.

However there’s a particular sample. There are specific issues some gamers do, which permit them to make an enormous enchancment in a brief time frame. That is what they do, and it’s best to do too…

Mix some teaching with heaps of follow

Working with a coach can actually make it easier to develop your sport. However it’s best to mix your teaching with a variety of impartial follow. Ideally for each hour of teaching you have got, it’s best to match it with no less than 4 hours of follow. 

I’ve some gamers who don’t practise between teaching periods. They nonetheless make progress, however at a a lot slower tempo. 

Different gamers practise quite a bit in between teaching periods and their enchancment is way faster. They put in additional hours on the desk. They do extra repetitions of the talent they’re studying. They develop their abilities taking part in towards a wider vary of gamers (not simply the coach). 

Desk tennis is an extremely quick sport. We don’t have a variety of considering time. All abilities have to be developed till they turn into computerized. You’ll be able to solely obtain this by taking part in quite a bit. A coach can level you in the precise course. However the participant must do the exhausting work and countless repetitions. 

Use completely different coaching strategies – common, irregular, match-play

Gamers who enhance quite a bit use three primary coaching strategies. They use common workouts, the place they know the place the ball goes, i.e. 2 x forehands, 2 x backhands. They use these workouts to groove their approach and make it tremendous constant.

Additionally they use irregular workouts, the place they don’t know the place the ball goes, i.e. 1 or 2 balls to the forehand, 1 or 2 balls to the backhand. They use these to develop their studying abilities and reactions.

They usually additionally use match-play workouts. This could possibly be any train based mostly round serve and obtain or simply straight ahead matches. They use these workouts to develop tactical considering and level successful methods.

Along with utilizing completely different coaching strategies, in addition they prepare with a objective in thoughts. They’re making an attempt to develop a talent which they will use to win factors. 

Gamers who solely use one sort of coaching methodology, progress at a sluggish price. Should you solely do common workouts, you’ll more than likely develop nice wanting strokes, however your studying abilities and match-play will likely be very underdeveloped. Should you solely do match-play workouts, you’re going to get good at competing, however you’ll be restricted by under-developed approach. 

Attempt to use all three coaching strategies to develop a a lot stronger all-round sport.

Suppose for your self

A coach can advise you. A coach can information you. A coach can clarify the professionals and cons of various approaches. However the coach will not be you. It’s essential to make the last word selections about your sport – the serves you employ, your strategy to returning serves, your taking part in type, your ways, your growth targets.

All coaches have biases based mostly upon their very own taking part in expertise. However what works for the coach could or could not give you the results you want. Don’t robotically settle for all strategies from a coach. 

The gamers who enhance probably the most, suppose for themselves. They’re open to strategies. They’re ready to check out various things. However they’re additionally able to discarding recommendation which doesn’t appear to work for his or her sport.

When you have a transparent understanding of your personal most well-liked taking part in type, your strengths and limitations, it turns into a lot simpler to undertake the nice recommendation you obtain and filter out the recommendation which is unhelpful.

You’re the participant on the desk making an attempt to win factors. So it’s essential be in cost. 

Play numerous aggressive matches

If you find yourself centered on enhancing your abilities, it may be tempting to keep away from aggressive matches. You simply wish to get actually good on the talent first after which perhaps play some league matches or tournaments.

I don’t suppose this works. When you have got a mindset of avoiding aggressive matches, you’ll at all times discover a new excuse to not compete. You keep in your secure zone. You by no means actually put your abilities to the take a look at – to search out out what works and what doesn’t work. Your progress will likely be slower.

Do no reverse. Throw your self into aggressive environments. Play league matches. Play tournaments. Get used to competing and making use of your abilities in stress conditions. The extra you do it, the simpler it will get. You achieve a significantly better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. This then feeds again into your teaching and coaching and your abilities develop a lot faster.

Ideally it’s best to compete at a degree which is acceptable on your taking part in customary. If the extent is just too excessive or too low, it’s possible you’ll not study that a lot. You need the extent to be difficult, the place the end result is unsure. You might win or lose. Should you play nicely, you in all probability win. Should you play beneath customary, you in all probability lose. That is the place the large enhancements can happen. 

Maintain it easy

There’s no mystical ‘secret’ I’ve shared right here. There’s no particular approach which is assured to attain fast success and ship a participant from newbie participant to worldwide star in six months. Anybody who’s promoting you this promise is speaking nonsense.

The recommendation I’ve given – based mostly by myself observations – is admittedly fairly mundane…

• Get some teaching
• Practise quite a bit
• Practice with a objective
• Develop your personal sport
• Play numerous aggressive matches

Should you do that, you’ll enhance quite a bit, in a shorter time frame. It does require exhausting work, and dedication. However so does something which you wish to get actually good at. 

Getting some teaching is a helpful first step, however a lot of the actions listed right here don’t require a coach. It simply wants you, your mind, your bat, a desk and a variety of repetition.

When you have the time accessible and the passion to enhance, you’ll attain a better customary than it’s possible you’ll suppose is feasible. Imagine in your self and go smash some balls!