Footwork
Ready when: Topspin and combinations (i1) started.
What you are learning
Moving the feet to every ball so you can hit it well: small side-steps from the ready position to the forehand corner and the backhand corner and back, first with no ball, then with fed balls.
Words on this card Ready position, Forehand, Footwork, Rally
- Ready position
- Standing an arm's length from the table, feet wide, knees bent, bat in front.
- Forehand
- Hitting on your bat-hand side, or across the body on the other side.
- Footwork
- Moving the feet to reach each ball; stepping sideways without crossing the feet.
- Rally
- Hitting the ball back and forth.
Show it first for the one teaching
- From the ready position, side-step to the forehand corner without crossing the feet and play a shadow stroke.
- Side-step back to the middle, then to the backhand corner.
- Then the feeder alternates the balls and you step to each before hitting.
Your part while they practise
Feed to marked spots.
Step by step
- Shadow footwork with no ball: from the ready position, side-step to the forehand corner and back, then the backhand corner.
- The feeder alternates forehand and backhand balls; move to each.
- Then two balls to the backhand corner and one to the forehand.
How much: 10 balls, 4 sets 12 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Shadow rally
An imaginary rally with no ball; each player answers the other's stroke by moving and swinging.
Who plays: 2 players facing each other across the table; you judge.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- One player plays a shadow stroke to a corner and says it: "forehand corner"
- The other side-steps there and plays a shadow stroke back to a corner of their own
- Keep going; 20 strokes
- Fair play
- A grown-up calls slower corners.
- Points
- 1 point for each answer with the right steps and stroke.
- Fouls
- No point
- Crossing the feet
- Reaching with the arm instead of stepping
- Weight on the heels
- Winning
- More points after 20 strokes each.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 20 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Slower.
Faster, with fewer pauses.
What you will see, and what to say
- the player reaches with the arm
Step, then hit
Feet first. - the weight stays on the heels
Weight on the toes
Light and ready.
Self-check
10 balls in a row to alternating sides.
Stop and get a coach when
Knee or ankle pain.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains footwork.
awiseathlete.com/sports/table-tennis/table-tennis-i2