Footwork for forehand loop

Hi Alois,

I haven't corrected the technique just yet, but noticed the icon for your training secrets dvd. I watched a preview and the material seemed to be covered in the 52 lessons from last year. I guess some people will just buy the dvd and not subscribe to p/skills. So I'm wondering if there's enough different material on the dvd to warrant buying it, or whether to re-watch last year's videos.

Thanks for the advice above. I just tried a shadow movement, and could tell immediately that you were right. I'll work on it!

Cheers,

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Training Secrets goes through different drills and explains them and their purpose.  It shows the different Footwork drills, Match drills and how to choose a drill.  It covers Games ideas that you can use. It also talks about structuring your training session, service practice and the Action Plan.

If you feel comfortable with those areas then you should just stay with the 52 lessons.   Hope this helps.

Andrew

I think you hit the nail on the head when you noted your lack of stamina.

For years I've been struggling with the same issue as you.  During that time I had addressed it purely as a mental problem.  I argued that tension and nerves were stopping me from making the slight footwork adjustment.  I've finally accepted that it's at least as much the fault of poor stamina.

Poor stamina really mucks your game in a number of different ways.  For me, it makes me try to conserve energy and to finish points and matches off quickly.  This meant, too many times, instead of adjusting my position to the best position to hit a high percentage topspin loop with a good arc, I was just waiting for the ball in bad position and then sort of trying to jump into the right position at the last moment and then trying to blast a flat low percentage shot for a winner.  Needess to say this was rather disastrous.  And if a match went the distance and had long rallies I'd become more desperate, worrying about my ability to finish the match and how I'll be for the next one.

Last couple of weeks, I've therefore been doing some hard cardiovascular training, and I've already seen a big improvement in my footwork.  I'm also happy to hit sensible shots and engage in long rallies, and I no longer fear 5 setters and long nights of pennant competition.  If possible, this would be the best solution. 

Hi Andrew,

Good thoughts. When a junior, I was told the importance of not standing flat-footed. Now, however, I'm standing flat-footed. I don't think it should take too much extra energy to do the right thing here.

I agree also with the anticipation. If I do a certain spinny serve, for example, I should (over time) be able to predict what type of return I'm going to get. The top players can do this prediction, and that gives them an advantage.

Recently, when a coach pointed out my footwork problem, he told me what you said: that the main thing is not the stroke, not necessarily being aggressive, but rather being in position early to keep my options open. I guess I'm not getting into position early because of poor stamina - to some extent - but I agree that if I weren't flat footed and if I anticipated I would play much better. Thanks!

Hi Andrew,

I played the same opponent twice in two weeks. Both times he was serving illegally wide to my f/hand. The first time, I couldn't get them even when I was in the centre of the table to receive. It was hard because I saw no ball toss. When I played the opponent the second time, I tried to anticipate these serves, and it worked. That gave me another split second to react. Better still, because I wasn't flat-footed, I moved to the ball much faster and had more time to play the shot. I surprised myself by hitting winners off the serve. Being in position early, I played a fast forehand push cross-court for a clean winner. My opponent did far fewer of those serves than usual afterwards because he knew his previously safe serve was now a disadvantage. And this extra advice (of watching carefully and being on the balls of my feet) did not take away any extra energy that I've complained of not having.

Comment for Ji-Soo Woo:

Hi Alois,

re footwork for forehand loops, I thought about what you said on balance and leaning. There was no way I could tell my feet to move. But it's a simple problem to solve. I did some shadow movement. When I stood tall, I was leaning and I could picture my bat well outside my right leg. So I lowered my body a lot. The effect is that the lower down I got (the wider my stance), the more the (right handed) bat lined up with my right foot. I did no strenuous physical exercise, but I just tell myself to bend. I forgot about the whole issue until recently, when I found all those balls that went off are now going on.

Thanks heaps.

Cheers,

Andrew