An article that focuses on the often ignored mental side of the game

Great players focus only on their strengths at their lowest point of any game. Mental toughness is a prerequisite characteristic for aspiring players. Without mental toughness a skilled player is only partially equipped for success.

There are physical and mental aspects to performing optimally in sport. This is no different in table-tennis. Physical training is obviously well understood and more focus has been given to this aspect over and above the very essential mental side.

Physical training is familiar territory involving repetitive execution of routines, drills, moving, timing, reaction, health, fitness, mobility, judgement and technique.

Players are always mentally tough to some extent but winners are often more mentally tough than their opponents. You need to be a certain level of mental toughness, however, before you begin to achieve your full potential along with your physical skills.

Mental toughness, in addition to physical training, is the result of skills gained through a different kind of activity.

Great players' mental toughness comes from recognising: -

• when they are under pressure, dealing positively with that pressure,
  
• concentrating, blocking out the chows from the opponent or the partisan cheers of the opposing team,
  
• recognising that the game is being played with them and the ball rather than between them and the opponent,
  
• never giving up when the going gets tough and
  
• understanding why they might be winning or not playing as well as they could be.

Winners learn to not get psyched out by their opponents and learn not to intimidate or be intimidated by their opponents. They learn how to forget the last point and concentrate only on the current one. They support themselves throughout their games with positive statements to themselves, if they need encouragement, rather than erode their own confidence with negative thoughts.

Winners bring all their abilities to bear on figuring out their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and also in understanding their own strengths and weaknesses. The degree to which you can use your abilities is, to a large extent, the degree to which you can become a better player. This should not be understated.

Many games have been won solely by the degree to which the winner wanted to win the game.

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