Practice games vs real games?

[speedplay]

I know, it is impossible to recreate the tension from a real game in apractice game, but my question is, do you play the same game inpractice games as you do in a real game?

Why, or why not? If not, what is it that you do differently?

[shagga]

definitely play differently, in real games i'm more conservative and defensive, but in practice games i try to improve my attacking side of my game and try new things that you can't afford to do in a real game.

[blue_smartie68]

I agree shagga,
It's a time to work on your lower percentage shots which hopefully will become part of your main game when you gain enough confidence and when practice game "testing" is showing good results!
Also a good time to do some tweaking on your serves.
 
Cheers,
Chris

[Der Echte]

I think I have way more TENSION in a match at the club than I do in a tourney. I simply EXPECT the high percentage offensive shots to land and am pissed beyond understanding when I miss those due to poor posture, lack of movement, poor balance, hitting ball too soon or too far in front, and you name it, I get REAL ticked off. I take the practice game more seriously and with as much, if not more energy. I do not get so hyper in a real tourney - I know it will destroy my chances to stay loose and hit shots correctly. Since there is nothing of consequence at stake in a practice game, it is game on for some reason. I might be very much in the minority on this one, or maybe the Koreans like an intense match in the club.

[speedplay]

When I play practice matches, I play the game like I would like to play it, with out being limited by my ability. If I think a certain ball should be attacked, I attack it, while in a real game, I take in to consideration if this shot is something I'm able to make or not. The result is, I play much more offensive in practice games then I do in a real match and this helps me work on my weakness, the offensive part of the game, so that one day, I might actually be able to play these shots in a real match, with high consistency.

This have confused some players, who beat me in practice games, but lose when it becomes a real match, probably because they play the same game in both, which I don't.

Also, while practising, I sometimes decide that I need to work on specific things, such as hitting a lot with the anti, from both wings. This is obviously not something I do in a real game, where I need to value each shot.

[pingpongrob]

In my earlier days of being coached, my coach always had a go at me for not playing like when I practiced, so its drilled into me a little that I must replicate what I'm coached in a real life match situation. At first this can be quite distressing, as a lot of points are lost under this pressure situation.

Now I use a little stragety, I try to get a couple of points ahead, then really go for my shots and make the oppenant feel like he's under a barrage of bombs, If I'm outclassed, then I play a little like Waldner, Blocking, pushing waiting for the right ball to put away, and since I'm not concidered a power player, I have to work hard to get the right placement with the right spin (or no spin in some cases).

When I play Supachop (thats my regular training session) I always try new shots, but only in the sense that they could be old shots - just a little harder hit, maybe a bigger swing. I believe that your pratice Game should only be a little differant from your real game, and your practice game should be pushing your real game to new standards.

Now for SupaChops Version (Since he wont answer). He goes all out, producing some of the most unbelievable shots you could imagine. He would do an around the Net roll, (by this I dont mean a DerEtche Comando Roll) at least once a night. He's always trying New Serves, New Rubbers, New Blades, he really pushes the envelope, which sometimes gives me the impression I'm getting closer to his standard, but infact as I improve, so does he. Then in a match, if it gets a little tight (We all have Off Days), he resorts to his old style, return difficult shots with his LP's and wait for the set up, so he can use his big Forehand.

[Honey]

I don't know if I 'play' different in practice/matches, but my attitude is totally different. In practice I couldn't care less if I lose against someone, likewise, if I beat someone above my standard in practice I certainly don't take this as gospel.

In practice I take every point independently of the last, where as in a match, the process of evaluating the last point(s) comes into play.

Really bugs me when people celebrate after beating me in practice or evaluate their level based on a practice match against me. Obviously there will be times when I am playing near my best in practice, but I'm a big believer in separation of 'practice head' and 'match head'.

[speedplay]

Obviously, we would all like to play better in real games, but if you answer this honestly, do you play better or worse when there is something at stake?

I do think I play better, as my results in real matches are always better then my results in practice matches, but this could be due to my opponents as well.

If I were to impress any one with a video, I would probably tape me and my regular practice partner playing a practice match, cause this is where I probably look the best, but I think I play better in real matches. The reason this doesn't show is because a cool fh-loop kill looks so much better then a strategic push to the right place.

[big ears]

Playing games in practice is just 'matchplay' practice, so I play how I would expect to in a 'real' match, only without the added pressure. BTW guys, I have hated practice for years now, I think I burned myself out about 10 yrs ago, so I only practice either as part of a coaching session, or as a necessity to keep my standard constant.

[Der Echte]

Sounds like a description of a lot of our workplace situations.