52 weeks training plan
5. Shuffle Footwork
Hi, I'm Alois Rosario, welcome to session 5 of the Pingskills training plan
Our focus of next four session will be on our footwork.
The focus to session 5 is on making sure that we're getting our sideways movement correct.
So let's start with a bit of physical warm-up, we can do a bit of jogging and stretching and let's be still a little bit of side-stepping because that is the focus of today's session.
So our own table warm-up today is going to be a little bit of variation we're going to a warm-up down the line. So we're going to start for doing 5 minutes down this line. Now what you play down the line is make sure you go through a range of hitting so starting off nice, slow and controlled, you can start to speed up a little bit. And then you can even get into some topspin and blocking down the same line. And then we can do five minutes down this line here so because I'm left-hander, Jeff's right-hander, we are both playing backhand. So again go through a variation of the spin and spin down on this line. The aim is to make sure that your warm-up and ready for your training drill.
In session 5, we're going to do 4 footwork drills, each drill goes last 15 minutes where I do the drill for 7 minutes, we have a one minutes changeover and my partner does the drill for another 7 minutes.
The first footwork drill is forehand-forehand footwork. So what can happen is my partner can play the first ball to my forehand, the second ball to the middle. And I'm going to play those balls with forehand then I just repeat back to the forehand, back to the middle. So this is really for a beginner, welcome to footwork. Now I'm going to play just one side of the whole time and then you block the ball back to those bearing spots...in turn. So this really was some of footwork. Now the key with footwork is make sure you are getting into exactly the same position every time you hit the ball. By that way, you can play the same stroke and help to be consistent. Don't forget, you also practice topspin because it is a great exercise for improving the topspin and your footwork together. Now, the movement for this exercise forehand-forehand footwork is quick simple sideline shuffle.
The second drill we're going to concentrate on today is backhand-forehand footwork. So similar to the forehand-forehand, it's the first ball going to backhand and the second ball out wide to my forehand. And I'm going to do again, play to the same position I did before. One to my backhand, one to my forehand, one to my backhand, one to my forehand. And then i'm going to do the same sideways shuffle to move between the two balls. One backhand-one forehand-One backhand-one forehand. Very similar movement, to the forehand-forehand footwork but now I'm covering a backhand and then a forehand so I'm going to do switching as well. And it takes a little bit practice to get it easily, and don't forget that you also practice a counter-hit on the backhand and a topspin on the forehand. You can also practice topspin of both sides. Important thing to recognize the backhand-forehand footwork is a very similar movement to what we are doing with the forehand-forehand footwork. So the reason to keep the movement the same when you're playing the backhand-forehand is that you never move out like this for a backhand. Because when you really anticipate whether ball is going to come, if you keep the same movement, then you come back to here, I can easily play a backhand or with slightly wider I can play the forehand. So keep that movement the same.
So the third footwork exercise, what you're going to do is a backhand-forehand pivot. So I will play a cross court and my opponents can play one backhand and in the same ball to my backhand, I'm going to do a pivot and then play the forehand. So I'm going to play the same ball one with the backhand, one with the forehand, one with the backhand, one with the forehand. So this exercise can allow me not to get block down in the backhand, so I can pivot around and play the forehand. Now the other thing to consider here is I will play a cross court because if I play down the line, and then try to pivot especially initially when I do a pivot footwork. I'm leaving too much of the gap open wide, so a better of pivoting is the ball gone cross court. So now we should play one backhand-one forehand and again it's similar. So each shuffle movement, just do the same movement but you're playing to different areas on the table.And again you can start your backhand counter-hit followed by forehand topspin. And then I'm work on to play topspin and topspin, topspin and topspin.So with pivot footwork, it's the same basic movement as the other two exercises. But now, it is other different angle so it's important factors with movements. The other thing to notice is that as you pivot you come across the table kind of on this angle forward. So with all of the three exercises we've done so far regarding our footwork, it's important in the movements very similar, so for the forehand-forehand, it's side shuffle, just across the table then the backhand-forehand is very similar to side shuffle ,same for the movement. The differences in the strokes is linking our backhand and forehand now, that's way I 'm practicing. But think of the footwork movements is very similar. And the last, so we do the pivot, it's exactly the same to shuffle around, same movement, you are slightly different angle but it's the same movements, so think of these the same when practicing the footwork and you'll improve much quicker.
The fourth and final training drill we're going to do is a backhand footwork drill. Now in next drill, my training partner is going to push the first ball wide to my backhand and second ball into the middle of my backhand area and I have to shuffle across again and play backhand so it's similar shuffling steps, but this time with our backhands.Now the reason for our practice this is because if you start becoming quite aggressive when you are backhand-topspin, you can want to, again, get into the correct position to make the stroke. And people often unbreak the reason on backhand, they concentrate on switching between a backhand -forehand and a forehand footwork but they neglect this.So we're going to count that, today we're going to do a drill of it. Played a backhand here, backhand here so make sure you shuffling across, getting in good position to make a backhand. So keep this exercise is getting into a good condition. So if you will be in a match situation, go and make a really good attack ,so focus on getting into the exact position you need to be, to do a really good backhand.Once again you can practice with your counter-hit and when you feel a little bit more confident, you can start to practice with topspin.So once again, similar sideways shuffling movement to play the other exercises and some of footworks today and this time we're concentrating on the backhand movement.
So that wraps up the 4 footwork training rules we're going to do today, because our focus is on the footwork, we're not going to do any match drills in this session.
So, what are the games we're going to do in our training today , Alois.
We're going to start just try to incorporate all we're done in our training today.
OK, the footwork, the footwork so the first game we're going to do is the training drill we're doing in the backhand and forehand.
So I'm blocking and I would let the block with my backhand and you have to have it in this haft of table.OK
And I have to alternate one with side and you will do the forehand and backhand so practicing a footwork.
Am I any let the counter-hit or can I topspin as well?
You can do whatever you like, you can counter-hit or topspin and I do let the block,I do let the block .OK.
And if I hit on your forehand side.
My point.
OK, If you don't hit into my half. Your point. So I have to make sure on getting in the right boxes.Alright, I'm ready. Let's go. Let's go
OK. 0-0. 1-0. 2-0.
Now, your serve, but when you do, flat serve.
Still alternate? Yes. Still alternate to serve it.
Wrong side.Wrong side, my point. 1-2. 2-2. 10-9. Yes. 11-9. Your game.
Alright, good game, Jeff.Thank you, just lucky to get over line.
So now it's my turn to do the footwork and you're blocking, what do you backhand block like?Very good. OK. We would see.
So we play one game each trainer ,Jeff so for the rest of your 20 minutes game time, let's try the normal game.Alright
Excellent, and again in the normal game should be thinking about footwork a little bit more.
OK. So again the focus of today's session is think about how we are moving, so during the game keep that in mind.Excellent.
So for a service practice, then we actually have a receiver as well. So these are two benefits of this: one is that you're both working at the same time, but also it adds a little bit more pressure and becomes a little bit more game like when they're someone standing at the other end, ready to receive my serve. So the serve we're going to focus on today is a long and fast serve. So I'm going to alternate when I serve: one long fast and wide out to your forehand box and then I'm going to serve the next one: long and fast as wide as I can into your backhand box. So I'm going to serve the first one widest to Jeff's forehand, and Jeff's practicing his movement across there, next one widest to his backhand. So keepalternating and try to get the ball long and fast and Jeff's practicing in footwork movement to return. So I'm going to serve for 5 minutes and after 5 minutes Jeff can do the same thing, he's going to serve and I'm in a practice my returning.
So that wraps up session 5. You now get out there on the table and do the session. Don't forget once you complete the session, record it in the pingskills vault.