Site Products
Ask The Experts: Stefan Feth No. 396

Ask The Experts: Stefan Feth No. 396

Ask The Experts: Stefan Feth No. 396
Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question:

Chen Meng’s footwork is so good, so fast. I don’t see a moment in an entire match where her feet aren’t just the right distance apart, on her toes. My question is very basic. To move sideways to a ball, is the very first motion a pull with the leg nearest the ball? Or a push with the leg farther from it?

Stefan FethAnswer: 

This Ask the Experts question was answered by Stefan Feth. He is one of the coaches at the World Champions Table Tennis Academy in Santa Clara, CA. Coach Feth’s response is as follows:

Hi Joe,  
Thanks for the great question.  
 
In my opinion, if you’re anticipating and have time to prepare for a movement – your legs are pushing off the ground in order to move with stability and continuity for the following balls as well. 
 
However, if you’re in the reactive mode to “save” and survive that shot, until you can find better position for the next ball – then it’s quicker to pull the right leg out to cover for the right and vice versa for the left side.  
 
Hope that helps. Happy moving!  
 
Best,  
 
Stefan Feth US National Team & Olympic Coach Coach @ WCTTA www.tt-champions.com

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

Portland Streaks, Princeton Debuts – Bensenville Awaits.

October 22, 2025
(by: Major League Table Tennis) [caption id="attachment_270459" align="alignleft" width="368"] WEEK 4 PREVIEW: CHICAGO[/caption]          … Read More

Keep Your Racket Above the Table Surface

October 22, 2025
Serve, short game, flip with defense to offense (wait function) Jhon serves short backspin, robot plays short backspin… Read More

Use a lot of Wrist and Forearm

October 21, 2025
Serve, short game, flip with defense to offense (wait function) Jhon serves short backspin, robot plays short backspin… Read More

Never Use “Full Power”

October 21, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) When you see a ball you can put away, mentally (and possibly physically) your eyes… Read More

Pan Am Teams: Argentina and Puerto Rico Score Gold, TeamUSA Settles for Two Silvers

October 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The Americans were the second seed in the Men’s Team event, and they performed exactly… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Greater Vancouver Table Tennis Club

October 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Founded in 2019 by Wilson Peng Zhang, the Greater Vancouver Table Tennis Club (GVTTC) is… Read More

Butterfly Training Tips with Maybelline Bravo – Backhand Loop & Pivot Forehand Loop

October 20, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tip Maybelline is executing Backhand Loop, then a pivot and Forehand… Read More

Nishant Lebaka – Forehand Smash Changing Position

October 19, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Nishant Lebaka is focusing on his Forehand Smash from the… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.