OOAK Table Tennis Forum

It seems that a common theme is that moving to the forehand side is challenging and moving to the backhand feels more natural. I noticed just how tired my left leg is after even a bit of training - which is the leg that needs to do much of the work to move to the forehand side.

That's funny, I have always found the opposite. It's much easier to move to my right than back to my left. I'm not only talking about the easier reach on the fh side, it's just harder to get my legs going back to the bh side.

I used to agree with exactly what you said Russ, more so because I prefer to pivot than to cross but I ended up concluding that while the strength of the right foot favors the pivot, it becomes about practice and serving as my cross is technically better, but I serve more pendulum and no spin. LTT42 helps a lot and I practiced so much that I don't have basic two step footwork when going to my forehand side so I am using DTT7 to build it for the first time. I suspect that if my knees were fully right, I would serve more reverse serves and backhand serves because I prefer to attack off the cross.

That's funny, I have always found the opposite. It's much easier to move to my right than back to my left. I'm not only talking about the easier reach on the fh side, it's just harder to get my legs going back to the bh side.

I almost always use semi cross when moving towards the forehand side. I watched Waldner a lot as a kid and he mostly used semi cross in matches. For this reason, I've always found it easier to move towards the forehand when compared to making a pivot. Also, I only really thought about what was optimal when pivoting after I retired from competition, which is pretty sad. LTT42 is a good video.

I prefer LTT42 footwork in general. I think it's worth learning DTT7, though I normally try to use LTT42 and the semi cross footwork mentioned in DTT7. There will be a lot more on footwork over the next few months.

Now I don't feel so guilty. The main reason that I guess DTT7 helps is that it feels natural when you are early. With the semi-cross step, I am always waiting to time the ball in the air and I am not sure whether that is the best way to approach every ball. I should have the option of getting there on time and playing a stroke, shouldn't I? OR maybe there is a way to arrive early with LTT42 and delay the swing? If so, I might be crazy but I will kiss the basic 2 step goodbye as it doesn't do anything for me per se.

Now I don't feel so guilty. The main reason that I guess DTT7 helps is that it feels natural when you are early. With the semi-cross step, I am always waiting to time the ball in the air and I am not sure whether that is the best way to approach every ball. I should have the option of getting there on time and playing a stroke, shouldn't I? OR maybe there is a way to arrive early with LTT42 and delay the swing? If so, I might be crazy but I will kiss the basic 2 step goodbye as it doesn't do anything for me per se.

LTT73 and DTT8 are available on ttEDGE.com

I use LTT73 very often, so I've included it. DTT8 is one of my favorite exercises to help intermediate players improve.

Next week's LTT is a forehand flick review. It's amazing how many people mess up the forehand flick. The following week is about semi-cross footwork in both LTT and DTT

I think DTT7 is mostly about getting your body used to moving quickly and keeping balance.

Mine is a forehand roll. Baby steps right?

I think you are talking about the forehand flick, Russ? If so, there's a specific way to play the shot and everyone seems to make a similar mistake. Hopefully LTT74 helps.