Site Products
Coaching tip of the week: Training the Subconscious

Coaching tip of the week: Training the Subconscious

Coaching tip of the week: Training the Subconscious
(by Larry Hodges)

Advanced players seem to always know exactly what shot to do and where to put it. It’s one of the reasons why they are advanced. But there’s no time during a point to really analyze the situation, so it’s all done reflexively, i.e. the subconscious is calling the shots. How do you get your subconscious to do this? The answer is that your subconscious is always there, listening and watching, and if you let it know what you want it to do, it’ll learn to do it.

For example, suppose you realize that an opponent is weak when you attack his middle (his playing elbow). Between points you can tell yourself to go after his middle every chance you can. You don’t need to say, “Hey, subconscious, attack the middle!” If you keep telling yourself to do something, it’ll get the message.

When it doesn’t work – for example, an opponent attacks from the middle with his forehand – note when and why it doesn’t work. Again, your subconscious will pick up on this, and if you decide you should attack the corners if your opponent is looking to play a forehand from the middle, the subconscious will get it – and it will start making reflexive decisions on whether to go after the middle or an open corner. The more you do it, the better you get at this and any other tactics you think about. The goal is to train your subconscious to reflexively play smart tactics in any given situation.

I’ve met literally hundreds of very smart people who were good tactical analysts away from the table, but tactical disasters at the table because they never went through that stage of thinking about tactics at the table so as to train the subconscious.

The converse to all this, of course – though it’s not that obvious to many – is that if you keep telling yourself negative things between points, like “I can’t make that shot!” or “I’m no good!” or “I’m choking!”, the subconscious will pick up on that as well and reinforce and thereby magnify it,  which is why players who do negative self-talk have great difficulty improving, while those who are positive shoot up as fast as their subconscious can drive them.

Advanced players seem to always know exactly what shot to do and where to put it. It’s one of the reasons why they are advanced. But there’s no time during a point to really analyze the situation, so it’s all done reflexively, i.e. the subconscious is calling the shots. How do you get your subconscious to do this? The answer is that your subconscious is always there, listening and watching, and if you let it know what you want it to do, it’ll learn to do it.

For example, suppose you realize that an opponent is weak when you attack his middle (his playing elbow). Between points you can tell yourself to go after his middle every chance you can. You don’t need to say, “Hey, subconscious, attack the middle!” If you keep telling yourself to do something, it’ll get the message.

When it doesn’t work – for example, an opponent attacks from the middle with his forehand – note when and why it doesn’t work. Again, your subconscious will pick up on this, and if you decide you should attack the corners if your opponent is looking to play a forehand from the middle, the subconscious will get it – and it will start making reflexive decisions on whether to go after the middle or an open corner. The more you do it, the better you get at this and any other tactics you think about. The goal is to train your subconscious to reflexively play smart tactics in any given situation.

I’ve met literally hundreds of very smart people who were good tactical analysts away from the table, but tactical disasters at the table because they never went through that stage of thinking about tactics at the table so as to train the subconscious.

The converse to all this, of course – though it’s not that obvious to many – is that if you keep telling yourself negative things between points, like “I can’t make that shot!” or “I’m no good!” or “I’m choking!”, the subconscious will pick up on that as well and reinforce and thereby magnify it,  which is why players who do negative self-talk have great difficulty improving, while those who are positive shoot up as fast as their subconscious can drive them.

 

 

Latest News

ITTF Pan American U11 & U13 Championships: Recap

September 14, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The ITTF Pan American U11 & U13 Championships concluded last week in Antigua… Read More

WTT Champions Macao: Anders Lind Makes Semis

September 13, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Anders Lind headlined the penultimate day with a 4-3 upset win over World No.… Read More

Sally Moyland – WTT Spokane Singles & Doubles Highlights

September 13, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Highlights, Sally Moyland is in action in Singles & Doubles play at… Read More

WTT Champions Macao: Final Eight

September 12, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins) World No. 1 Lin Shidong won both of his matches 3-0 as he easily moved to… Read More

Increase the Frequency During the Drill!?

September 12, 2025
3 points Forehand topspin – robot plays one topspin to Forehand, middle, Backhand, middle, Forehand, middle, Backhand and… Read More

Handling Pressure in Big Moments: Lessons from Truls Moregard’s Grand Smash Victory

September 12, 2025
(by Dr. Alan Chu, Ph.D., CMPC) Champion mindsets aren’t born—they’re built, one focused breath and pressure point at… Read More

Tanish Mamidyala – Backhand Loop Ball Placement

September 12, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Tanish Mamidyala  is executing the Backhand Loop crosscourt, followed by… Read More

Keep Your Left Side More in Front

September 11, 2025
Falkenberg with one additional Backhand – robot plays 3 topspin balls to Backhand and 1 to Forehand. Jhon… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.