Optimal line of sight relative to the ball

B G Asked 9 years ago

(Hi, guys! Thanks for including my last question on the podcast.)

Can you elucidate on the optimal height for your line of sight relative to the ball? Especially in regards to taller players.

I have noticed that taller pro players (like Boll and Ovtcharov) between 5'11" and 6'1" tend to have their legs spread quite widely, their torso leaned fairly forward, and otherwise have their line of sight not much higher than the ball at contact.

Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MDR2yxw4xQ

I tried lowering my stance several inches and I feel like it improved the reliability of my strokes and improved mobility.

I can see how having your line of sight low and pointed forward would allow a taller player to keep their eye on the ball without looking down at your side of the table and losing sight of your opponent and their side of the table. It also lets you better visualize the "envelope" on top of the net where the ball will almost certainly go in. Lowering your center of gravity can also help mobility. But if you spread your legs too much, or lean forward too much, you'll lose mobility and balance.

So what's optimal? How low is too low?

Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi BG,

These are very important observations.

I think 99% of players are too high rather than too low so I would encourage you to get lower.  You are right that there is an optimal point.  The reason these players can get so low and have that wide stance is because their leg strength allows it.  The more you adopt that position the stronger your legs will become in that position and still be able to move well from that stance.

So work towards that optimal leg position.  At first you may need to be up slightly higher because the leg strength won’t allow movement however, in training, stay lower and lower and you will find improvements in your game.