How to manoeuvre your feet
Footwork
Chris Theoforus Asked 13 years ago
Hello, Pingskills I am pretty new to table tennis. I play people at my local pool but I can't get my footwork right and it causes me to miss the ball a lot of the time are there different stances just like different serves and rubbers
Thanks, Chris
Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago
Hi Chris,
The basic stance is to have your feet wide apart, much wider than shoulder width. Bend your knees and lean slightly forward. You should be quite square to the table.
Take a look at our lesson on the Ready Position. This will show you what I am talking about.
Then look at the lesson on the Footwork Basics.
Recommended Video
Footwork Basics
Good footwork is the foundation of a strong table tennis game. In this video, we break down the essential steps to move efficiently and stay balanced during rallies.
✅ Key Footwork Tips You'll Learn:
- ✔️ How to bend your knees and position your feet correctly
- ✔️ The shuffle step—jumping while keeping your feet the same width apart
- ✔️ A simple step-by-step drill to improve movement and positioning
- ✔️ How to progress from single-ball drills to faster multi-ball exercises
By jumping into position and stopping, you ensure a stable base before playing each shot—leading to better accuracy and control.
Watch NowNo comments yet!
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.