Footwork

Dave Coad Asked 12 years ago

I have purchased most of your cd's. Except lessons 3. I am a badminton player and coach for many years at the state or provincial level. At 55 I decided to try out table tennis. I have been enjoying learning a new sport. I am having great difficulty with my forhands because I usually have my right foot forward (Racket hand) and in table tennis it is supposed to be left foot forward. Hence I seem to be standing wrong for my forhand. My backhand is much better than my forehand because of the stance I naturally take.

Suggestions on how to unlearn the 37 years of the badminton stance or ready position.  I train a lot with a robot because I teach in a small town with few table tennis players. I start with the right stance but as soon as I get into a game I naturally go back to Badminton right foot forward.   

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Dave,

Glad you are enjoying Table Tennis.  I think Badminton and Table Tennis have a lot of similarities but do also have a lot of differences.

I played a few seasons of Badminton and Jeff and I used to play a bit socially as well.  We may need your help.

I don't have any special tips on unlearning all those years except perhaps just constant reminders to yourself before each point.  If you get it right, it will really help your strokes a lot.