I used to reply misses in my head. I stopped doing that. It would frustrate me and lead to confidence issues.
Instead, I replay it a few times after a match and remember in terms of what caused the problem. Usually, it wasn't the shot - but the shot that preceded it. Or if it was the shot, what component of it. I then quickly figure out what the break down was that caused the problem. Once I do that, I know the practice drill or solution to address it. Sometimes a drill isn't what is needed. Sometimes its a mental game breakdown, a discipline or focus issue. There are ways to work on that also. I find no advantage to replying a bad shot in your head over and over.
Recognize the problem, formulate a solution and then apply the solution.
Remembering the miss doesn't solve problems. It only reminds you of what not to do, or that going or doing a certain way is a bad idea. A better approach is to work on what caused the miss, and develop a skill or bring in a better approach or solution. Instead of remembering that miss or what not to do, now you have something TO DO that works.
Now, I tend to reply my greatest shots and outs. That is a confidence booster. Serves as a reminder of what is possible and what I'm capable of if I apply myself to the fullest of my ability. But I'm careful not to over do it and have too extreme of expectations or to rest on the past successes.
One other thing about misses. I read this one time either here or back in the RSB days I can't remember. Someone once said how they write down shots they miss or their weaknesses. I thought this was genius idea. Because it's very easy to forget throughout a long night something that caused a problem. Or to zero in on a weakness. I'm guilty of this as well as many other people in that I don't practice my weaknesses as much as I should. I'm better than most at tackling weaknesses and problems - but not in a complete fashion. I get lazy I admit. Some people are in total denial and just practice things they are already good at since that is "fun" but then they don't have fun when they lose a match because those weaknesses they avoid in practice show up during a match. Then they are miserable at their performance.
The military, police and gunfighting training world has a good perspective on it. Sweat a lot now, so you don't have to bleed later on. Maybe certain training and practice isn't your idea of the best fun - but it sucks worse going down in a match because you couldn't perform some type of shot properly. That is a horrible feeling. That feeling of being ill equipped. That feeling where you don't have an answer to a shot because it's beyond your ability because you don't work on it.
Winners turn failures into progress. Failures are a good thing, especially if they really burn or sting. That's a good lesson. One that sticks with you. There are things that have happened to me and that I have done to myself or allowed to happen that I have never, ever let happen again not a single time because I learned my lesson well. The good thing is, I can really attribute an increase in my game due to these things. I'm a tougher opponent to beat because of this hardening.
