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Skill acquisition
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At the age of 14, I was preparing for the National Table Tennis Championships in England. A working class background meant that finances and equipment for training were scarce. I did not have a table tennis table in the house or the funds to hire a table at the local hall. There was a weekly club practice session on a Sunday night. This was my only opportunity for physical practice. My father, a sports teacher of 20 years suggested that I buy a book and video on stroke play and table tennis in general. The research article I have found highlights some of the benefits of mental practice both in conjunction with or in the absence of physical training. As my physical training could only by performed on a weekly basis, I needed to make the most of the short time I had. I set up a programme by which I would spend at least one hour per day with my bat in hand and mentally engaging the games I would face in the tournament. I went through the many options within the 3,5 & 7 ball attack and the possible returns from these combinations; the returns from each different type of serve; which serve would produce the best options for a winning shot; how to speed up the game; how to slow down the game; how I could beat my opponent before I had played a shot.
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