Put Your Pride Aside

Avoid falling into the trap of playing into your opponents' strengths. It's a common pitfall to attempt to outmatch adversaries in their own game, but the key lies in capitalizing on your strengths while exposing their weaknesses. Sometimes we need to admit to ourselves that a player is better at something than we are. 

Recently, I encountered a formidable team boasting significant firepower. Initially, we inadvertently played right into their preferred style, engaging in a fast-paced, slap fest. Unfortunately, this approach led to a swift defeat. I love to play fast but realized this team was better at that style. After a quick huddle and strategic rethink, we adopted a simple mindset: extend the rallies. Our objective shifted towards executing drop shots and dinks, gradually wearing down our opponents.

By forcing them into a softer, more defensive game, we effectively turned the tables. Our opponents, accustomed to dominating with their power play, found themselves out of their comfort zone and struggling to keep up with our finesse. It was a lesson in strategic adaptability, highlighting the importance of recognizing when to set aside pride and play to our own strengths rather than trying to outdo our opponents at their game.