International Journal of Table Tennis Sciences, No.

6(2010)

Investigation of Underlying Psychological Factors in Elite Table Tennis Players

I-Ting Chen1, Che-Wei Chang2, Chiao-Ling Hung2, Ling-Chun Chen2,
and Tsung-Min Hung1
National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
(1Tel: +886-02-7734-3202; E-mail: [email protected])
(2Tel: +886-02-7734-3202; E-mail: [email protected])
(2Tel: +886-02-7734-3202; E-mail: [email protected])
(2Tel: +886-02-7734-3202; E-mail: [email protected])
1
( Tel: +886-02-7734-3202; E-mail: [email protected])

Abstract: The importance of psychological factors in successful sports performance has been acknowledged both
academically and anecdotally. Yet the amount of time that coaches and athletes actually spend on mental practice as
compared to physical practice belies its significance. A key component in developing a foundation for psychological
intervention programs is to understand the psychological status of athletes. The purpose of this investigation was thus
to identify the psychological factors that influence the performance of elite table tennis players in Taiwan.
Participants were 130 elite table tennis players (Mean age = 18.73, Mean sport years =10.01, Males = 84, Females =
46), who were recruited during the National Squad Try Out. Two questionnaires designed by the authors were
utilized for data collection: a Demographic Information Sheet and a Table Tennis Player Psychological Skills
Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed for data analysis.
The results indicated that
a) Lacking Confidence, Overstress, and Unable to Cope with Opponents Tactics, were the top three
psychological factors which interfered with the players performance during competition.
b) Dwelling on early mistakes, Focusing too much on competition outcome, and Focusing too much on body
mechanics and movements, were the top three barriers that prevented players from focusing their attention
during competition.
c) Worrying about opponents ability, Perceived low skill, and Poor performance before competition were
the top three causes of Lacking confidence.
d) Fear in unable to achieve specific goal, Too strong desire to win, and Expectation of significant others
were the top three causes of Overstress.
e) Muscle tensed up, Poor technique, and Applying inappropriate tactic were the top three causes of Unable
to cope with opponents tactics.
f) Not feeling good physically, No goals, and This competition is not important to me were the top three
causes of Lack of Desire to Win.
g) Non-optimal condition in training, Non-optimal mental preparation and readiness, and Don't know how to
prepare were the top three causes of Poor pre-competitive mental preparation.
h) Understand coachs instruction but cant do it technically, Unable to hear coachs instruction and mind blank
during competition, and Unable to understand coachs instruction were the top three causes of Problems in
following coachs instruction.
Keywords: Table tennis, Psychological factors, Psychological skill training
1.Purpose
a) To rank the importance of the psychological factors
affecting the performance of elite table tennis
players in Taiwan.
b) To understand the reasons affecting psychological
factors that influence the performance of elite table
tennis players in Taiwan.

2.Methods
Participant
Participants were 130 elite table tennis players
(Mean age = 18.73, Mean sport years = 10.01, Males =
84, Females = 46), who were recruited during the
National Squad Try Out.

Questionnaire
The Psychological Skills Questionnaire for Table
Tennis Player designed by the authors of this study was
administered to study participants. Although a few items
were added to meet the purposes of the study, the items
of this questionnaire were mainly based on the
questionnaire used by the Sport Science Committee of
the International Table Tennis Federation during the
2007 World Championship.
Procedure
a) Ask for coaches agreement to allow their players to
participate in this study.
b) Bring questionnaires to the competition venue.
c) Instruct players on how to fill out the questionnaire.

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I-Ting Chen et al.

3. Results
Table 1 shows the importance of the psychological
factors that influence table tennis performance.
Table 2 shows the reasons that influence the
important psychological factors.

d) Answer questions raised during filling out of the

questionnaire.
e) Check questionnaire for missing data.
f) Ask players to refill the questionnaire if necessary.
Data Analysis and Statistical Work
Descriptive statistics were used.

Table 1. Importance of the psychological factors that influence table tennis performance
Importance by order
Psychological factors that influence performance
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Lack of confidence
Overstress
Unable to cope with opponents tactics
Inability to focus during competition
Poor pre-competitive mental preparation
Lack of desire to win
Problems in following coachs instruction

Other

Table 2. Reasons that influence the important psychological factors

Psychological factors that
Reasons that affect the psychological factors
influence performance
1)Worry about opponents ability, 2) Perceived low skill, 3)Poor
Lack of confidence
performance at previous competition
1)Fear of failure to achieve specific goal, 2)Too strong of desire to
Overstress
win, 3)Expectation of significant others
Inability to cope with
1)Muscle tensed up, 2)Poor technique, 3)Applying inappropriate tactic
opponents tactics
1) Dwelling on earlier mistakes, 2) Focusing too much on competition
Inability to focus during
outcome, 3)Focusing too much on bodily mechanics and
competition
movements
Poor pre-competitive
1)Sub-optimal condition in training, 2)Non-optimal mental
mental preparation
preparation and readiness, 3)Don't know how to prepare
1)Not feeling good physically, 2)No goals, 3)This competition is not
Lack of desire to win
important to me
1)Understand coachs instruction but cant do it technically, 2)Unable
Problems in following
to hear coachs instruction and mind blank during competition,
coachs instruction
3)Unable to understand coachs instruction
Luck, injury, thinking too much
Other
come from Worrying about opponents ability,
4. Discussion and conclusion
The purpose of this investigation was to identify the
psychological factors that influence the performance of
Perceived low skill, and Poor performance at
elite table tennis players and to understand the reasons
previous competition. Gathering and analysis of the
which influence the important psychological factors of
opponents technical and tactical information should
elite table tennis players in Taiwan. Lacking
help to ameliorate undue worrying. Findings from past
confidence, Overstress, and Inability to cope with
studies have revealed that coachs behavior is related to
opponents tactics are ranked as the top three
the players mental reaction during interaction. (Smith,
psychological factors that interfere with the players
Smoll, & Curtis, 1979 Smith, & Smoll, 1990).
performance during competition. This result is consistent
Providing challenging but achievable goals and positive
with that of Jhuang (2004). Many table tennis players are
feedback especially during adverse condition are useful
plagued by low confidence. Sources of low confidence
ways to boost the players confidence.
2

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Investigation of Underlying Psychological Factors in Elite Table Tennis Players

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Overstress is ranked second on the list of the

psychological factors which interfered with the players
performance during competition. Hollenbeck & Brief
(1987) suggested that individual differences in goal
orientation affect athletes stress. People with high
motivation will set higher goals and bring stress to
themselves. In addition, too much focus on the outcome
of competition and the expectations of significant others
also generate overstress.
Even the high-skilled player sometimes finds it
difficult to effectively cope with changes in their
opponents strategy. It happens frequently when a table
tennis player with low self-confidence is playing against
a better opponent. Physically, the perception of anxiety
exerts influence on muscular contraction coordination.
Mentally, anxiety also interferes with appropriate focus
of attention and other cognitive processes. Inappropriate
muscular contraction and poor mental function greatly
reduces the players ability to cope effectively to the
opponents tactic change. The provision of mental
training is thus imperative in helping players manage
anxiety and rectify this problem. However, from the
results of the survey, adequate training on the execution
of different tactics is also important. Providing
simulations with a variety of tactics could prove useful,
especially to high level players.
The participants of this study were elite table tennis
players in Taiwan, therefore generalization and
application of these findings to players with lower skill
levels or in other countries should be treated cautiously.
Nevertheless, the findings of this study clearly indicates
that in order to reach optimal performance, coaches and
sport scientists should focus on the development of
athletes self-confidence, stress management, and coping
skills, in addition to physical conditioning and technical
training. Psychological programs should be integrated
into the daily training routine. Although the current
study focuses on table tennis players, the role of coaches
on the development of athletes psychological strength
should not be underestimated. Athletes learn skills,
including psychological skill, mainly from coaches.
Coaches also provide feedback that strongly affects the
athletes motivation and confidence. Future studies
should look into factors that related to the coachs role in
the development of athletes psychological skills.
5. References
[1]Cohn, P. J. (1991). An exploratory study on peak
performance in golf. The Sport Psychologist, 5, 1-14.
[2]Chih-Hsiung Jhuang. (2004). The Psychological
Skill Comparison between the Tabletennis Players

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