When faced with a competitive situation in a match, it is important for a player to know how to best select his tactics and shots to play the next point or game. An example of a competitive situation is selecting the tactic on a break point for or against, playing a tiebreaker or the first point of an important game. A player needs to think about how he will play the next point and what he needs to do to win it. If a player is too cautious, it opens the door for the opponent to take control and win the point. And if a player is too aggressive, he is prone to unforced errors.
In a way, being in a competitive situation is all about mental focus and toughness that helps with shot selection, patterns, placement and consistency.
The key to coming out successful in a competitive situation is to practice being in one. A player’s practice setting should simulate the competitive situation he will find himself in. This will allow the player to get into the mindset of how to play and win the next point. The more experience a player has in those kinds of situations, the better prepared he will be because he will know what tactics work best and be comfortable when faced with a competitive situation. |
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