DaveR
11-28-2007, 07:07 PM
Down there for dancing ..............your feet
yes they are important and more than many players think.
We are all guilty of sometimes blaming other elements in our sport, rather than looking at some key reasons why their game or shots arnt as good as someone elses. Be critical as thats the only way to ever improve and the footwork element is an essential area which is sometimes neglected by many players. They are quite keen on getting the ball table and best rubbers then "knocking" side to side in their own little comfort zone, with little or no danger of moving more than one little step (if any) to the left or right. Unfortunately as soon as competitve play commences the opponent seems to like removing that white round thing from your comfort zone !
The answer learn to move your feet and anticipate !
This is a little help ( although not a bible) for those who need some help in moving to the ball, in other words transferring what you anticipate into what moves down there ! If you can perform a stroke well while keeping your feet in one spot, but you lose consistency when you start practicing the stroke with foot movement, then you need to improve your footwork. When learning footwork, slowly shadow practice several sets of the described footwork until you become good at it. Be patient and get efficient at moving quickly but smoothly, practice this anywhere and anytime you have, although be carefull your best china isnt around at the time.........
As we all realise having good footwork will greatly improve your strokes and with this a player will move into better positions and then execute his strokes from a solid, balanced stance with good body shape following naturally. This leads to consistency, sharpness, and being able to use full relaxed power. Without good footwork most players will reach, lean, and hit the ball from a position they are not comfortable in and consequently become less relaxed. Strokes end up stiff and uncomfortable, more like slaps than strokes. The realxed power motto is one that can assist any player from defensive to offensive.
Table Tennis is a sport where you wont need to cover massive amount of space, but you will have to move to a position very swiftly in other words anticipate or predict someone elses actions which comes with a few things, experience being one with footwork coming a close first or second.. Therefore, most table tennis footwork consists of one or two steps, usually pretty short. During all footwork, it is imperative to remain balanced at all time.
Place your weight on the balls of your feet with your heels lightly touching the ground. Keep your shoulders centered over your knees. Eliminate any up and down movement. Move the instant the opponent has committed to his shot, not before otherwise the obvious will happen, this is a common mistake many young or inexperienced players make. Move to where the ball will come before starting your stroke. Try to avoid playing the stroke whilst moving.
For side-to-side movement, it is easier and more efficient to use one-step, two-step, or three-step short footwork.
One-step footwork is normally used for short distances, two-step for medium distances, and three-step for long distances. One-step footwork is very common when moving left to cover a wide backhand. It is performed by simply shifting your weight to your right leg and pushing your left foot further to the left. Vice versa if you want to go to the right. One big disadvantage of stepping once is that it can leave you in an over stretched awkaward position meaning your following postion is not prepared well enough for your opponents next shot.
Short two steps footwork is the most common and most efficient with the most balanced for the shot. It is used to get into forehand position for balls to your wide forehand two-step footwork, you lean on your right leg, pull your left foot toward your right foot, then quickly shift your right foot to the right. You end up with your feet in the same relative position as when you started the movement except 2-3 feet further to the right. It is a side-skipping type of movement.
Three-step footwork is used to cover shots hit deep to the forehand comer, angled off the wide forehand sideline, or to step out wide on your backhand side to hit a forehand. It is very similar to the two-step except an additional small step is made before both feet are shifted. To move right, take a small step with your right foot to the right (6 to 8 inches), shift your weight to your right leg, then perform a two-step movement.
The Diagrams were taken from another layout on an older site but show pretty well how you can use the footwork to gain maximum balance and relaxed power following.
The diagrams show how to place and move the feet for one-step, two-step, and three-step footwork. The diagrams are for a right-handed player. You should practice these patterns until they become second nature. When practicing, remember to stay balanced and in a good ready position. Try and keep shoulders level and on the same plane (no up and down movement of the body and no dipping or raising of one shoulder). Keep your head and body shape good not like an out of breath marathon runner, this creates no power and deffinitely less stroke efficiency.
TO MOVE LEFT
TO MOVE RIGHT
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw11.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw12.gif
One Step Footwork
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw21.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw22.gif
Two Step Footwork
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw31.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw32.gif
Three Step Footwork
Although all of this may seem very straight forward many results can be achieved from better footwork and more game thought.
yes they are important and more than many players think.
We are all guilty of sometimes blaming other elements in our sport, rather than looking at some key reasons why their game or shots arnt as good as someone elses. Be critical as thats the only way to ever improve and the footwork element is an essential area which is sometimes neglected by many players. They are quite keen on getting the ball table and best rubbers then "knocking" side to side in their own little comfort zone, with little or no danger of moving more than one little step (if any) to the left or right. Unfortunately as soon as competitve play commences the opponent seems to like removing that white round thing from your comfort zone !
The answer learn to move your feet and anticipate !
This is a little help ( although not a bible) for those who need some help in moving to the ball, in other words transferring what you anticipate into what moves down there ! If you can perform a stroke well while keeping your feet in one spot, but you lose consistency when you start practicing the stroke with foot movement, then you need to improve your footwork. When learning footwork, slowly shadow practice several sets of the described footwork until you become good at it. Be patient and get efficient at moving quickly but smoothly, practice this anywhere and anytime you have, although be carefull your best china isnt around at the time.........
As we all realise having good footwork will greatly improve your strokes and with this a player will move into better positions and then execute his strokes from a solid, balanced stance with good body shape following naturally. This leads to consistency, sharpness, and being able to use full relaxed power. Without good footwork most players will reach, lean, and hit the ball from a position they are not comfortable in and consequently become less relaxed. Strokes end up stiff and uncomfortable, more like slaps than strokes. The realxed power motto is one that can assist any player from defensive to offensive.
Table Tennis is a sport where you wont need to cover massive amount of space, but you will have to move to a position very swiftly in other words anticipate or predict someone elses actions which comes with a few things, experience being one with footwork coming a close first or second.. Therefore, most table tennis footwork consists of one or two steps, usually pretty short. During all footwork, it is imperative to remain balanced at all time.
Place your weight on the balls of your feet with your heels lightly touching the ground. Keep your shoulders centered over your knees. Eliminate any up and down movement. Move the instant the opponent has committed to his shot, not before otherwise the obvious will happen, this is a common mistake many young or inexperienced players make. Move to where the ball will come before starting your stroke. Try to avoid playing the stroke whilst moving.
For side-to-side movement, it is easier and more efficient to use one-step, two-step, or three-step short footwork.
One-step footwork is normally used for short distances, two-step for medium distances, and three-step for long distances. One-step footwork is very common when moving left to cover a wide backhand. It is performed by simply shifting your weight to your right leg and pushing your left foot further to the left. Vice versa if you want to go to the right. One big disadvantage of stepping once is that it can leave you in an over stretched awkaward position meaning your following postion is not prepared well enough for your opponents next shot.
Short two steps footwork is the most common and most efficient with the most balanced for the shot. It is used to get into forehand position for balls to your wide forehand two-step footwork, you lean on your right leg, pull your left foot toward your right foot, then quickly shift your right foot to the right. You end up with your feet in the same relative position as when you started the movement except 2-3 feet further to the right. It is a side-skipping type of movement.
Three-step footwork is used to cover shots hit deep to the forehand comer, angled off the wide forehand sideline, or to step out wide on your backhand side to hit a forehand. It is very similar to the two-step except an additional small step is made before both feet are shifted. To move right, take a small step with your right foot to the right (6 to 8 inches), shift your weight to your right leg, then perform a two-step movement.
The Diagrams were taken from another layout on an older site but show pretty well how you can use the footwork to gain maximum balance and relaxed power following.
The diagrams show how to place and move the feet for one-step, two-step, and three-step footwork. The diagrams are for a right-handed player. You should practice these patterns until they become second nature. When practicing, remember to stay balanced and in a good ready position. Try and keep shoulders level and on the same plane (no up and down movement of the body and no dipping or raising of one shoulder). Keep your head and body shape good not like an out of breath marathon runner, this creates no power and deffinitely less stroke efficiency.
TO MOVE LEFT
TO MOVE RIGHT
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw11.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw12.gif
One Step Footwork
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw21.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw22.gif
Two Step Footwork
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw31.gif
http://www.masatenisi.org/images/footw32.gif
Three Step Footwork
Although all of this may seem very straight forward many results can be achieved from better footwork and more game thought.