Difference between practice and match

trying to hard during the match? maybe you're missing the timing and hand softness that you have during practice.

i also block a lot better during practice, that's because for some reason when the match starts i go into "omg i need to get the ball back at all costs" mode and think i will gain consistency in blocks with a passive approach (weight on the back foot, pulling the bat backwards at contact...) which just results in a slow block that often goes long.

when i feel confident about my shots my block is great - soft and active. but when i'm not confident i have to constantly remind myself to play my shots actively.


Edited by Izraphel - 14 June 2010 at 03:09

I never learn block wel. Until few months ago we had coach in club who teached block with up motion on contact, like you want to add some spin on it. It's ok for some kinds of incoming loops, but not for all, I see better players around are oriented to soft forward motion. I think in practice I use forward but in matches neither one of them, but something between both up and forward, which result in too long ball. But it's hard to think during match to understand and fix problems. Sometimes I try to play much more active block, it's almost hitting through loop, low horizontal move, liie drive, and I have much more success with this, but you dont have always time for this.

But differencies exists in other segments also, for example serves. I developed quite good serves, but in match is hard to serve short, somehow hand become too hard after some time, so after 2-3 sets, lot of my serves goes into net or out of table.

How to maintain concentration, relaxed muscles, reflexes during match...breathing, something else?