Confidence is a player’s strong belief in his abilities and a belief that he can accomplish any task, whether it is beating an opponent, winning a critical point or successfully hitting a particular shot. A player can build confidence through consistent practice and training, to the point where he knows what shots he has perfected and believes he can then execute those shots in a match with little or no errors. Players can develop confidence in various areas of the game, including specific shots, physical fitness, movement or tactics, to name a few.

A low level of confidence will often work against a player during a match and hurt his chances of winning. If the confidence is not there, he will play tentatively on his shots, putting him at a disadvantage and allowing his opponent to attack. But the more confidence a player has, the more the mental subcomponent can work to his advantage. A high level of confidence allows a player to strike the ball better and more freely because in his mind, he feels that he cannot miss. And even if a player is not playing well, confidence can help him keep positive thoughts and energy to change his fortunes and win.