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Ideal distance between two feet

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blahness View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01/07/2022 at 10:22pm
Have you ever measured the distance between your two feet? 

I just did some measurements and I think I play the best when my feet are roughly 1m apart. My shoulder width is 40cm so this places it at around 2.5x shoulder width.

This is roughly 2/3 of the width of the table, so that makes it like a rough guideline during matches etc... as a reminder when I get sloppy and start standing up with a much more narrow position.


Edited by blahness - 01/07/2022 at 10:25pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stiltt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/07/2022 at 10:43pm
Same idea than what's the best height for our bodies? it's when our 2 feet touch the ground! ok sorry...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote blahness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/07/2022 at 11:05pm
Originally posted by stiltt stiltt wrote:

Same idea than what's the best height for our bodies? it's when our 2 feet touch the ground! ok sorry...

Lol hahaha never thought about that before. I think both are related, the width between the feet and the bend in the knees/hips both determine the height .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Simon_plays Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/08/2022 at 3:05am
This is a tricky one for me because my shots are much better with a wider stance whilst my movement is better with a slightly narrower stance. 

Have you also thought about the angle of your feet? I felt for a while that having my left foot at 10 o'clock and my right foot at two o'clock made me move better.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Baal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/08/2022 at 10:18am
I think you're over-thinking this
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kindof99 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/08/2022 at 10:38am
I think to play perfect table tennis, almost all details of your movement, standing, even breath matter. Foot distance is definitely one of them. Most amateurs probably do not stand wider enough to have a low enough weight center. But again, this is a process that need a lot of training to get used to.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lightspin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 12:49am
Optimal distance between your feet is definitely different from player to player.  If you are too low, it is impossible to move.  If you are too high, you move too slowly.  Try to find something that works for you. 

When I trained in China, because I am tall, my coach insisted I stayed so low that my shin and thigh were almost forming a 90 degree angle.  Can you say "knee problems?"  I was having lunch with a lady on the national team and she said "You know, you probably should be more upright.  This new kid Wang LiQin is on the team.  He is tall like you and he stands up quite a bit.  You should try that." The moral of the story is find what works for you.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote blahness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 3:25am
Originally posted by Lightspin Lightspin wrote:

Optimal distance between your feet is definitely different from player to player.  If you are too low, it is impossible to move.  If you are too high, you move too slowly.  Try to find something that works for you. 

When I trained in China, because I am tall, my coach insisted I stayed so low that my shin and thigh were almost forming a 90 degree angle.  Can you say "knee problems?"  I was having lunch with a lady on the national team and she said "You know, you probably should be more upright.  This new kid Wang LiQin is on the team.  He is tall like you and he stands up quite a bit.  You should try that." The moral of the story is find what works for you.  

Can't really imagine playing with a 90 deg bend at the knee - yikes! Mines more like 135 deg (45 deg from straight) or probably even straighter than that...


Edited by blahness - 01/09/2022 at 3:55am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bozbrisvegas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 5:05am
Talked about this recently with my main practise buddy who is really tall.  

For me it is wider than your shoulders generally.  I have seen tall players with much wider spaces but really it makes it dam hard to move quickly.  

All depends on your height and the ball coming to you that you expect mostly.  

You should be low if you expect the ball low so your feet will part to get there.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote blahness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 6:50am
Imo it's better to go wider stance than to go deep on the knee bend. The knees get stressed the most at 90 deg bends during a squat, and it's just way too tiring. I've seen Wang Liqin's stance width go to the entire table length (1.52m) during certain points! He doesn't go that extreme unless he needs it though. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonnOlsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 8:39am
Hi,

An important relationship here is the coupling of one's stance and knee bend to the favored types of movements, body-to-table relationship, and steps of the player.  Each top professionals has perfected this for themselves.

Some distinctive contrasts are Ryu Seung-min, Wang Liqin, and Waldner.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mjamja Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 10:40am
I think it is 0.6096 meters.

Mark
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stiltt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/09/2022 at 11:59am
What's the purpose of the question? that's where the answer lies. If we acknowledge that the forehand loop is a major weapon that we must always be ready to unload then we have a good lead to answer.

To teach the fh loop, I like the idea of having both feet on a circle and we'll use the clock analogy again for a right handed player:

ready position, get on 9-3
jump to backswing and land on 10-4
jump to unload the fh and land on 8-2

What is the ideal diameter of that circle to produce the most explosive forehand? as Lightspin pointed out, it will be different for all but the method above will help anybody finding it and it can be done alone and off the table. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yogi_bear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/10/2022 at 6:18pm
Originally posted by blahness blahness wrote:

Have you ever measured the distance between your two feet? 

I just did some measurements and I think I play the best when my feet are roughly 1m apart. My shoulder width is 40cm so this places it at around 2.5x shoulder width.

This is roughly 2/3 of the width of the table, so that makes it like a rough guideline during matches etc... as a reminder when I get sloppy and start standing up with a much more narrow position.

I always teach that the foot distance between each other is a little wider than the player's shoulders. Knowing that each individual has a different shoulder width, I usually do not give specific measurement. As long as they can bend their knees comfortably and properly in that position that is a go. Unless they are really an advanced player, I would make them go wider and lower.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amateur Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01/10/2022 at 6:57pm
CDC and Adam Bobrow recommend AT LEAST 6 feet




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