Table tennis at a high level demands fast reaction time, precision, decision speed, emotional regulation and flow under pressure.
Matches are won or lost in milliseconds — not because of talent, but because of nervous-system state and attentional control.
Most players already have the mechanics. But under pressure they start to:
- Overthink during rallies
- Rush decisions at the table
- Freeze on serve receive
- Hesitate mid-stroke
- Play “not to lose”
- Lose confidence after errors
- Struggle against hostile/awkward styles
- Collapse late match despite good opener
- Get rattled by momentum shifts
Performance coaching helps remove mental interference, so your natural ability can come through.
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What This Helps With in Table Tennis
Common performance issues include:
- Overthinking during fast exchanges
- “Match nerves” in competition
- Poor decision-making under pressure
- Fear of aggressive opponents
- Struggle with serve/receive focus
- Loss of confidence after mistakes
- Difficulty adapting mid-match
- Emotional tilt after umpire calls
- Hesitating around the table
- Struggling to finish matches when ahead
Players usually don’t need more drills — they need state control.
Why Performance Breaks Down
Under pressure the nervous system can shift into threat mode, which causes:
- Shorter breath
- Shaky hands
- Tunnel vision
- Rush or freeze responses
- Loss of rhythm & timing
- Cognitive overload
This reduces:
- Decision speed
- Anticipation
- Shot selection
- Ball reading
- Serve/receive accuracy
The player hasn’t become “worse” — the state has become incompatible with performance.
The Mental Game in Elite Table Tennis
At the highest level of table tennis, performance is determined not just by technique or speed, but by attentional control, emotional regulation, and the ability to remain composed during momentum shifts.
Elite players train their response to pressure as deliberately as their stroke mechanics. With rallies unfolding in fractions of a second, hesitation or overthinking immediately disrupts timing and shot selection. Maintaining flow and rapid decision clarity becomes critical in tournament play.
Modern table tennis performance development increasingly recognises that state control — not just tactical preparation — separates consistent competitors from inconsistent ones.
A Modern Mind-Body Performance Approach
I combine:
🔹 Cognitive Performance (NLP & Psychology)
For:
- Decision-making speed
- Anticipation
- Identity under pressure
- Confidence & self-talk
- Post-error reset
🔹 Flow-State Training
For:
- Consistency
- Rhythm & timing
- Shot freedom
- Focused awareness
- Emotional neutrality
🔹 Nervous-System Regulation
For:
- Match-day nerves
- Tilt control
- Arousal management
- Late-match clarity
- Recovery between points
🔹 Adapted Hypnotherapy (Non-Visual)
For:
- Subconscious integration
- Confidence under threat
- Composure in competition
Works for all cognitive styles — including aphantasia.
Who This Helps
Useful for:
- Club players
- County players
- National pathway / squads
- Tournament competitors
- Defensive & attacking styles
- Coaches developing mental game
Relevant match environments:
- League matches
- County/National competitions
- Multi-table tournaments
- Team events
- Coaching assessments
Improvements Players Often Report
- Faster decision-making
- Better serve/receive focus
- Stronger composure under pressure
- Less overthinking mid-rally
- Better momentum recovery
- More consistent execution
- Improved late-match performance
- Greater emotional stability
- More confidence vs awkward styles
How Sessions Work
Sessions are:
- Practical
- Private
- Structured around performance outcomes
- Adapted to your goals and style
We typically:
- Map your current performance pattern
- Identify triggers (tactical, emotional, sensory)
- Build state & attention tools
- Train flow & composure under pressure
- Strengthen recovery routines
- Apply tools between sessions
Locations — Reading, Didcot & Online
Available:
- Reading (Mon–Fri)
- Didcot (Tuesdays)
- Online (Worldwide) via Zoom or Teams
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this for high-level players?
Yes — but club & ambitious local players benefit too.
Do I need to visualise?
No — works for non-visual thinkers and aphantasia.
Is this sports psychology?
It overlaps, but adds subconscious & nervous-system elements.
How many sessions will I need?
Most see changes in 3–5 sessions, deeper performance goals longer.
Next Steps — Play With Confidence & Composure
If you want to compete with:
- cleaner decision-making
- calmer execution
- stronger mental resilience
- more consistent performance
… I also work with tennis players, golfers, swimmers, and athletes in other performance-based sports facing similar pressure patterns.
The Mental Game in Professional Table Tennis
At elite level, table tennis players increasingly recognise that performance is shaped as much by mental resilience as by technique. Former England international Sam Wilson dedicated extensive time to structured mental coaching, while players such as Hugo Calderano have spoken about visualization, confidence journaling, and rehearsing high-pressure scenarios. Champions including Will Bayley and former England number one Matthew Syed have highlighted the role of growth mindset, resilience, and composure under pressure. Even elite coaches such as Liu Guoliang emphasise psychological tactics — including managing specific scoreline pressure — as a decisive competitive edge. At the highest levels of the sport, mental preparation is trained deliberately, not left to chance.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142