“I’m too slow!” That’s the cry of many players who play a forehand from the backhand corner, and then can’t recover in time to cover their wide forehand. I’ve written about this before – focusing on the importance of balance and following through back into position so you can cover that wide forehand – but there’s another aspect that greatly helps.

When you get a weak ball to the backhand, it’s often easier to attack it with the forehand, if you are able to step around. But often a player hesitates in going all the way around that backhand corner, and so only steps around part of the way. The fear is that if they go too far around, they won’t have time to get back. But it’s actually the opposite. If you don’t go all the way, you’ll end up leaning to your left (for a righty) to make the shot, and end up off balance and unable to recover quickly enough. On the other hand, if you go way, way around, you may seem way, way out of position – but now you’ll be balanced and able to naturally follow through back to the table after you make your shot, and end up much more in position than if you hadn’t stepped all the way around. Plus, since you’ll be balanced, your shot will be more consistent and more powerful.

So, if you are going to step around to play a forehand, GO ALL THE WAY!

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