Footwork: First Step When Receiving a Serve?

D--- guys chill!

Let me first try to understand what everyone is saying here.

liXiao, you seem to mean that one should step under the table with dominant foot e.g. right foot for right handers.

elcap, GG, you seem to say that (as a rightly) step small with left, then get under the table with right leg.

No need to speak as though the sky is falling, there's some overlap in what you're saying.  My thoughts: As one's stance gets wider, center of gravity is lower, stability and thus power increases.  The cost is more footwork.  That first step gets you in position to plant the foot.  Certainly pros have the power to get where they need to in one step - but the two step is more stable especially if you're a bit away from the table (as many are when receiving service)

You are correct by what I meant. And also I receive very close to the table so I have no need to move left foot~

If you have no need to move left foot and stand very close to the table when receiveing li xiao... What would u do if I served long? Just give up and catch the ball? If I disguised my long and short serves you would have no chance!

That's right I would second that.. If you have any ambitions to be a good player don't listen to li xiao!!!!!

I can and I just did... your oppinion is rubbish. Whether you are trying to ruin people's games on purpose i don't know. Just because you know some random useless information about people and their equipment you seem to think you run this forum.  Well listen here... you don't if you post bad advice I will be the first to tell you to stop!

How about you learn not to be an asshole~

How about just try to STEP IN with the right if you're right handed. If you can't do it comfortably without a shuffle with the left or a hop first, then do whatever it takes. :) No big deal. Some pros step with only the right, some turn their left foot first, then step with the right, others do a little hop with both before stepping.

And you have talked nothing but rubbish since I have been here.

Hey guys, I'm still trying to get clear on what the heck to do with my feet when that serve is coming. Is there a right or wrong way?

What george is talking about is a split step. Every sport in the world has some variation of it, some call it twinkle toes, others call it light feet. Either way the quick bounce only serves to get you to the ball faster. Its entirely possible to play without it, since table tennis doesn't need you to cover much real estate at all, and anyone worth his salt should be able to reach a long serve.

The initial foot movement depends a lot on your stance.

Most players stay a lot to the left side with their right foot well behind the left foot (almost 30-40 angle to the table). In case of a short serve, if you get serve to the backhand you move the right foot in line with the left foot and play a backhand push. If you get a short serve to your forehand or middle of the table you move the right foot well ahead of your left foot, under the table and play a forehand push. If you get a long serve on the backhand, you move your left foot back a little and play a backhand drive/loop. If you get a long serve on the forehand, you lick your lips and hit a forehand drive/loop.
You'll see most players with this stance moving their right foot ahead while returning all serves. However, their is a difference in how much they move the right foot while return serve on backhand and forehand.

Now if you are standing more towards the center (like ovtcharov) with your feet almost aligned to the table you slide left or right more than moving front and back. The default for serves in the middle is to return with backhand.

TT_Freak wrote: What george is talking about is a split step. Every sport in the world has some variation of it, some call it twinkle toes, others call it light feet. Either way the quick bounce only serves to get you to the ball faster. Its entirely possible to play without it, since table tennis doesn't need you to cover much real estate at all, and anyone worth his salt should be able to reach a long serve.

is that like a boxer jumping around left to right but at the same time moving forward to his opponent? [in this case the table?]

i saw jonyer in a video so some very similar boxing footwork when recieving serve...