Practice matches are just that; practice. If you can’t practice your shots in a practice match, then how can you possibly develop them so you can use them in a tournament? (Or any other “big” match.)

Before you play a practice match, decide what you want to accomplish in that match. Is your goal to win? Then you won’t get the most out of that practice match. Instead, think about how you can win while using the techniques you need to develop for tournament matches.

It’s so easy to use the same shots you’ve always used to win rather than develop other more advanced techniques. Perhaps play weaker players and try winning with these more advanced shots you need to develop – and when you can do that, you’re ready to use them against your peers. (Who you may soon leave behind.) For example, suppose you can win a practice match by pushing and blocking. If that’s all you want, then do so. But if you want to improve to a higher level, perhaps focus on trying to win by playing more aggressive. Sure, you may miss too many of your attacking shots and lose that practice match – but it’s a practice match, and if you keep doing it, you’ll develop those more advanced shots, and soon you’ll be beating players you couldn’t beat before, and dominating against players who used to battle with you.

So, think about what type of game you want to develop, and play that way in practice matches. And soon, that will be your game, and you’ll be a much better player.

One related area – don’t play dumb. Some players are so focused on playing high-level shots they don’t develop the tactics that go with them. If you are trying to win by looping, for example, focus on placing those loops so that placement becomes a habit that will become part of your game. And don’t be afraid to occasionally throw a “trick” serve at an opponent in practice – that’s how you learn which ones are effective and when to use them. Just don’t rely on them – instead, focus mostly on serves that set up the shots you are trying to develop.

Here’s my tip, Use Practice Matches to Practice.