By the HEAD Elite Panel
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I have a tendency to play very well in matches that don't matter -- 'lunch games' and the like. But when it comes to more important matches like Nationals or League events with my teams' toughest opponents, I can never get it together. I tin the ball repeatedly, miss shots that are normally easy for me, and simply crack mentally under the pressure. Can you help me?
-Humpty Dumpty
Natalie Grainger responds:
I used to get very nervous for big matches, but when I was about 16 years old my mother pulled me aside and said, "Natalie, you are either going to win today or lose, there has to be an outcome, so why not just enjoy playing your best and let the result take care of itself?" I have kept those words with me and they work. Don't focus on the outcome, or the result you desperately want. Rather, focus on hitting the ball and winning each individual point. These will eventually add up to 9! At the end of the day it is a game of squash, you play because you enjoy it, and competition is a fantastic way of challenging yourself at a game you love.
David Palmer responds (WebExclusive):
In your practice matches you need to play people who are better than you to put you under more pressure. If you are playing people in practice that are less of standard to you, you need to visualize and treat it as though you were in a major match. Maybe put a wager on it, such as drinks at the end, to give you more pressure.
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