Bty Training Tips: Jorg Bitzigeio Footwork Drills Video

July 31, 2018

The training video comes by way of Jorg Bitzigeio of USA Table Tennis. It is a set of US Team Training Camp footwork drills where the players alternate performing a specific sequence of strokes.

FOOTWORK DRILL 1

This first drill is a training drill with a 4-shot sequence: (1) forehand from the middle, (2) forehand from the backhand, (3) forehand from the forehand and (4) backhand from the backhand. As soon as the sequence is completed, the other player does the same four-shot sequence. This drill is about being passive and active inside the same rally and it is much more intense than just one player doing the drill the entire time while the other player blocks.

FOOTWORK DRILL 2

The second training clip is a different sequence which is (1) backhand from the backhand and (2) the partner has a choice of playing the ball to the forehand or the middle. After the four shots are complete, the other partner does the same set of strokes as the drill is reversed. The most important part of the drill is anticipating whether the ball is going to be played to the forehand or the middle and getting into position to move to the ball.

FOOTWORK DRILL 3
The third footwork drill is (1) backhand from the backhand, (2) forehand from the middle, (3) backhand from the backhand, and (4) forehand from the wide forehand. Then the partner plays the same four strokes directly afterwards. The complexity in this drill is being able to move out of one stroke into position for another stroke only to play a backhand and then get in position for a wide forehand.