Playing from a losing position | Intermediate - General Q&A | Discussion Forum

Unless I plan it that way, it's very difficult for me to recover from
being down on points, especially against a skilled opponent.

I
try to adjust my tactics as I go, reckognize quickly what works and what
doesn't, and take special notice of my footwork. A stiff footwork will
make you lose quicker than anything else. Nevertheless, when all else
fails I tend to up the pace and push myself to reach the shots quicker
and put them down whenever I can.

Then after a few more points, if my opponent is skillful AND crafty, I'm exhausted.

I've
let people get ahead of me when I was working on sapping their strenght
and endurance. It's only temporary. And I can honestly say that I'm a
very strong player, as they come around here. It's not a very
competitive area by any means.

I don't mean to brag, but I want to
emphasize that lagging behind on points isn't a situation I'm very used
to. Aside from adjusting a few things and breaking up my opponent's
pace, I have no idea how to play.

Any tips or related stories are welcome.

Matthew makes some good points, I would add all points are equal, and equally important UNLESS you are so far down in one game you decide to let it go without a fight (probably applies more to tournament play at top level)

What I mean is whatever the optimum serve/tactic/effort level is you should employ that regardless of score.  Any focus on the outcome will only detract from the execution.

I often hear people say things like its 19-19 just get the serve over,or its 20-20 just keep it in, just make the opponent have to play it.

While either of these advices could be true (for instance if your opponent isn't pressuring the serve just getting it over may be a good idea) the score does not make the advice true. In fact any deviation from your normal play based on the score is likely to be counterproductive.  This is how a player can lose a big lead for instance. You are 17-12 up playing good attacking doubles , you feel safe, you start thinking if we keep it in we will win. Suddenly you stop playing and become passive.  Your opponents gain the attack more and your lead is eroded. Example: You have a good smash and when you smash and rush in you win a high proportion of points- its match point to your opponent- you get a chance you smash and rush in- but you lose the point. The top player knows he did the right thing- in the same situation again he will do the same thing and over a season it will bring him many wins in tight games. The lesser player starts playing negatively whenever its tight and loses more often than before.

This is not to say you shouldn't change tactics but you should do so based on analysis of the gameplay, not the score. Sometimes you are simply outclassed and losing but if you abandon your good tactics you may lose more than the game. For instance you are trying to attack in doubles  but outplayed and decide just to lift everything and stand and defend you will most likely lose badly and you will lose confidence /the opportunity to practice good play. Your opponents will consider they have an edge over you next time you play.

Yves said:

I'm facing that problem myself sometimes when it's getting tight, I have trouble finishing a match off because I'm getting quite passive at the end of a game and then I lose most of the time. You shouldn't expect your opponent to make an unforced error in these situations, you have to win the point(s) by yourself all the time. Unforced errors are a bonus and not something to rely on (well except if you're opponents so bad but in that case winning the game shouldn't be a problem anyway lol).

I have also incountered this prob for a while and its only now im fixing the problem. Number of things going on. Its tight or we may even be in the lead and think i can relax here or because its close, we tink, keep it in rather than win the point so we end up changing our game!!

We need to be very aware of when this happens and cut it out asap. I remember I used to play a game and be in control 1st half and then jus suddenly got beaten and easily. It was only until I got off when a friend said why did u start lifting so much?? I didnt realise!!!

Its great if your in the zone, then by al means switch off and let the brain go on autopilot but when things arent going well, u have to tink why? How do I fix it?

I now see this change inside 2/3 shots so I can fix it. I feel the pressure when its close and I can see myself changing the tactics to more keep it in and get it back rather than how do I win this point. We need to be process orientated rather than outcome orientated. If we think on the process, out brain can do what we tell it or can try to. If we think on outcome, it cant becauses its in the future which it cant control so thats where it begins to fall down.

If you want to win games, always focus on the here and now, the process, the how to win this point! Keep the intensity up the entire time whether its 19/5 to you or the other way about.