OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi all,

One of my biggest focuses recently has been footwork. I'm getting better at moving to my left, i.e. moving around my backhand to play a forehand shot, but my movement to my right is woeful!

Basically, I have two problems:

• If the ball is played wide to my forehand, my right foot just doesn't move. It stays planted to the ground and I end up reaching for the ball. If I really have to stretch to reach, my right foot moves, but there's no "footwork" involved, I'm basically just running!
• On some of my forehand strokes (primarily those where I'm trying to get extra power, I think), my left leg leaves the ground and sometimes I stamp with my left foot as I hit the ball (especially on "kill" strokes).

This video (especially from 1m30s) will demonstrate my failings:


So, my question to y'all is this: what can I do to work on these problems? Are there any specific drills, or thoughts, or pre-stroke conceptions (i.e. doing a little two-step foot dance before each stroke or something) that will help me alleviate these issues?

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

In general you are unbalanced. You appear to be too upright - bend your knees and back more. This will hopefully improve your balance.

Your arm (and maybe your body?) Is very stiff. make yourself relax and let your arm and body flow together.

I've spent ages consciously trying to get myself to bend my knees, but it's really tough. It feels really unnatural, and I'm quite tall with long legs. I think I'm starting to get there, though - I can now feel the difference between actually bending my knees and just having a wide stance.

The relaxing thing on the other hand, I'm not so sure about! I know what you mean - I can clearly see what you mean - and both of my coaches have said the same thing but I just don't feel tense or anything at all. I still grip my bat far too tight (but feel like I have to on the more powerful strokes) but I don't notice any particular tension in my arm...

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Those two problems are common to many developing players. I used to do that as well.

Here you are missing a critical component before every stroke. During the backswing, you should take your right foot half a step away from the ready stance while moving toward the direction of where the ball is expected to land, even if the ball is within arm's reach. Once that motion is completed, your weight should have also transferred onto that foot all by itself. Without that crucial step, your body turns not at the torso but the crotch, where the chain of weight transfer breaks off.

_________________
BTY Viscaria - 91g
+ Neo H3 2.15 Blk - 44.5g(55.3g uncut bare)
+ Hexer HD 2.1 Red - 49.3g(68.5g 〃 〃)
= 184.8g

Ahhh now that is an interesting approach zeio!! I'd never considered doing anything like that, but it makes total sense when I think about it.

Does anyone concur or disagree with zeio's thoughts on the right foot movement?

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

To me it looks like your ready stance is too square to the table, well for me it would be, which could be what is causing the issue with weight transfer. If you do as zeio suggests and move the right leg back half a step to make a better ready stance and also try what carbonman says, get lower by bending the knees as you are too upright, it could help.

I would work on moving the right leg back about the length of your foot or a bit more backwards for the ready stance and also getting more knee bend. These two things will improve your balance a lot I think.

Also on the grip, if you are tense in the grip, your whole arm will be tense as you contract the arm muscles to get grip strength. There are probably lots of ways and opinions on how to remedy this but I cant say what is best as I have not come across this problem personally. Some people I've played with had the tight grip issue and I put grip tape on their handle so it felt like it had more purchase on their hand and felt more stable for them. It seemed to work and they looked more relaxed in their arm. Maybe you could try that if its a problem.

_________________
CORNILLEAU Hugo Calderano FOCO OFF+
FH: ANDRO Hexer Powergrip 2.1
BH: ANDRO Hexer Powergrip 2.1

I find mindfulness is tremendously helpful with this. And also in the game generally. I try to be mindful of my breath, my grip, my emotions. I try to treat the whole game as a meditation on ball control and footwork control. That means that as soon as I become aware of a tightness I conciously try to relax. It's a new approach for me, but I've found it helpful so far.

_________________
Yasaka Sweden Classic | 802 OX | C8 OX
Check out my blog - LordCope's Latest Learning Log - 10+ years of accumulate mistakes!

Aye knee bend is top of my priority list at the moment. It just feels so unnatural! At the same time though, every time I *don't* bend my knees, I *look* absolutely awful so recording myself and cringing at my oaf-like appearance makes me desperately want to work harder on that

My coach thinks that subconsciously, due to my injured right knee, I'm not putting enough weight on it. In short, I've had four operations on it and it doesn't straighten properly - so when I'm standing, my left leg takes all of my weight at all times unless I consciously and mindfully (thanks LordCope ) use my right. My knee is actually feeling the strongest it has since I first injured it, so I'm not using it an excuse - I think I can do it but I think I need to work really hard on it.

I'm about to upload a video that I accidentally took from a bad angle - but one that shows my flaws from another perspective. When I make contact with the ball on a forehand my right leg *is* behind my left leg *but* it's only because I move my left leg forward, rather than moving my right leg backward into the right position! I think this is where a lot of the stamping comes from.

However, what you're saying appears to contradict zeio, unless I'm misinterpreting? I've checked out Ma Long and Wang Liqin's forehand demonstration videos just a few minutes ago and indeed their right foot is around 30 centimetres behind their left foot at the point of contact. Wang Liqin also bends his right knee an enormous amount as he plays the ball, but then his forehand technique is somewhat dissimilar to mine.

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

So true my friend. The difficulty I have is that I've got umpteen things I am constantly trying to make myself mindful of. Primarily, at the moment in matchplay, it's keeping a lid on my nerves. Maybe I can start trying to take a lighter grip in practice sessions though and see how I get on there.

One thing I *do* manage is to wiggle my fingers and take my bat out of my hand every so often to help me loosen my grip. Gonna try to do that every single point now I think.

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Agree. There are ever so many things to be aware of, and my experience has been that if I'm trying to be mindful of my eyesight, I lose mindfulness of my footwork, grip, nerves etc. Actually just *any* meditation, outside of playing/practice is good for improving this.

_________________
Yasaka Sweden Classic | 802 OX | C8 OX
Check out my blog - LordCope's Latest Learning Log - 10+ years of accumulate mistakes!

If I could be mindful during matchplay it would allow me to play at 100% of my potential. Sadly I haven't cracked that, at all

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Actually that's one area where I really have improved. Of course being mindful isn't enough - I also need the technique to do the right thing, but I tend to be pretty relaxed about the result, usually because there's very little expectation that I'll win. I tend to try to be aware of the dynamics of the point. Why was it won/lost. What was good and not good. That way I just play point by point on its merit, and the score takes care of itself. I'm reminded of the great Cuban world chess champion, Capablanca, who once said: "I see only one move ahead, but it is always the correct one."

Whether that approach will work as I become more competitive, I am not sure. I'd like to think it might.

_________________
Yasaka Sweden Classic | 802 OX | C8 OX
Check out my blog - LordCope's Latest Learning Log - 10+ years of accumulate mistakes!

I look completely imbalanced from this perspective:

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

I see one big issue:

You dont use a weight transfer from right to left leg when you play FH topspin.
At the moment there is a rotation of your right leg and hip, but it is on the same spot. You need a movement foreward.

Try this to improve your weight transfer:

Many balls practise. Playing FH topspin, but with some distance to the table.
All weight on the right leg.
Then FH topspin. And when you play the topspin go a step with your left leg to the table and transfer all weight from right leg to left leg. At the end of the stroke just stand on your left leg, right leg leaves the floor.

Of course this is exaggerated. But it is a good exercise to get the feeling for weight transfer.
When you realize how to do this, you can make the weight transfer smaller. But important is, that you go with your left leg to the table.
Otherwise you cannot use the power of your body in your FH topspin.

_________________
Werner Schlager Academy - Table Tennis School in Vienna, Austria:
http://www.wernerschlageracademy.com/table-tennis-school.html

Coach at WSA and modern defender.
Racket:
BTY T05 (2,1mm) - BTY Joo Se Hyuk, straight - TSP Curl P4 (1,5)

gee lots of mindfills here lol
just speading the drill out (3/4 speed)and doing forehand from both sides will make you move, you are still young enough to force yourself
any skipping and mirror image will help you improve, also get a coach that can help you

_________________
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