Nearly everyone practices side-to-side footwork, but very few people practice in-and-out footwork. There are many occasions where this is necessary to contact the ball at the optimum timing. There are many many situations, but here are a few for starters....
Moving in...
Against a long-pips or anti-spin block
Against a miss-hit
When playing a chopper
After going back to retrieve a deep ball
Moving out...
After receiving a short serve
Against a punch block
When looping or smashing a high ball
Roger has been making great progress recently winning the u2300 in Highland and u2400 in Erie! Also, he nearly upset the #1 player on the US National Men's Team with a close 3-2 battle in Highland.
Keep up the good work Roger! Your best days are yet to come!
Across America, table tennis clubs are filled with players who can hit 1 great shot… a quick flip, an amazing loop, a powerful smash! Wow, what a shot! These shots are called “One-Hit-Wonders.”
Denethi Wijigunawardana is the 2017 College Regional Champion and current the #1 female player in Ohio. Last year, she won the largest event in USATT history at the US Nationals - the u2100 event with over 250 players. Many 4-star tournaments don't have 250 players, let alone 1 single event having that many players. Blocking and smashing and smashing and blocking, she powered through the competition winning most of her matches easily 3-0 to capture the title.
Just as a disclaimer... I highly recommend for other coaches to NOT use this exercise. This is some risk involved. If you hit their eyes, you could be in huge trouble.
Many of my students don't bend their knees. Many of them bend their knees at the start of the point, then begin to stand up or bounce too much during the long rallies. I have been threatening them for years that I would add an adjustable drop-ceiling to my tt room. Ok, I finally did it. Now, if they stand up, they are reminded by the drop ceiling.
