Momentum: Talk about it! Recognize it! Learn to control it!
Posted on Dec 13, 2007 under The Mental Game |When players are fairly equal in skill and playing ability, the difference in winning and losing is often determined by who controls the momentum in the match. Here are some suggestions on how to do so:
1. Talk to your players about how momentum is important and how it is not luck that controls it. Find examples among your own team’s matches or tournament matches on television.
2. Teach your players to learn to recognize it when they are playing. There are several things to watch for. Usually when players are constantly talking, they are losing the momentum. When players hit a winner or finish a long point, they have the opportunity to gain momentum. When players show anger or frustration, they may be shifting momentum to the opponent. The speed at which players play often dictates or controls momentum. Be aware of speed and know when to play faster and when to slow down.
3. Controlling momentum is difficult, but here is one simple solution: During a match try to win three points in a row as often as possible and deny your opponent from doing the same. You should try this in practice. The discovery I have made is that this increases concentration on the present and provides a very short- term goal. The believe is that any one point can be luck and that two in a row requires a certain amount of skill. But the true champion does not become satisfied at two points and let up. Instead, the true champion will bear down after winning two points and try to win the third in order to control the momentum.