Site Products
Larry Hodges

The Chewing Gum Theory of Footwork

Posted on

(By Larry Hodges)

Stop what you are doing. Go to 7-11 or some other store that sells chewing gum. (Bubble gum is fine.) Buy some and enjoy its sweet flavor and perhaps even a burst of energy from the sugar. (Or get sugarless.)

Now comes the part that every club owner is going to yell at me for. Put the gum on the heel of your shoe. Now go play and never let it touch the ground.

This sounds silly, and it is – and yet, I think you get the idea here. When playing, you need to keep your weight toward the front inside part of your feet, around the balls of your feet. There should be no weight on the heels. In reality, the heels should brush the floor, but no more. But guess the best way to develop the habit of not putting weight on your heels? By keeping them off the ground – and that’s where the chewing gum comes in.

In training sessions, you might even try walking between points without putting your weight on your heels. It’ll help you develop the proper leg muscles. (1967 World Champion Nobuhiko Hasegawa made a habit of doing this to develop those muscles – and his leg muscles positively bulged.)

Now a reality check. I’ve never actually put chewing gum on the heels of my shoe, nor have I ever seen anyone else do so. You don’t actually need to do it. The point is that the chewing gum idea gives you an idea of what your feet should be doing when you play. Imagine that gum on your feet, and keep the club owner happy by not getting it on his floor.

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

A Ninth Title for Miwa Harimoto

March 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, lower photo WTT) It can be tough to remember how young she is because of… Read More

China Has Biggest Movers in Men’s Rankings

March 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) With five players currently in the top 20 and a strangle hold on… Read More

Coaching Opportunity – PongPlanet Table Tennis Club (San Francisco Bay Area, California)

March 18, 2026
(By PongPlanet) PongPlanet Table Tennis Club in the San Francisco Bay Area, California is currently seeking a professional… Read More

🎥 Episode 6: Ask The Expert Live With Logan Rietz | How do you select the right equipment?

March 18, 2026
(by Bowmar Sports) Choosing the right table tennis equipment can feel overwhelming especially when you're just starting out.… Read More

🎥 Episode 5: Ask The Expert Live With Logan Rietz | Decoding Equipment Specifications

March 17, 2026
(by Bowmar Sports) In this live session of Ask the Expert Logan’s breaks down understanding Table Tennis Rubber… Read More

Austin Table Tennis Club Elevates 2026 Competitive Season with Butterfly Partnership

March 17, 2026
(By Austin Table Tennis Club) AUSTIN, TX – The Austin Table Tennis Club (ATTC) is proud to announce a… Read More

Lean Over a Bit More

March 16, 2026
Logan Forehand short backspin serve from Backhand to Backhand, robot plays backspin short in Forehand, Logan pushes long… Read More

Dusseldorf Signs Fan Zhendong

March 16, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo Borussia Dusseldorf) TTBL and Champions League Club Borussia Dusseldorf has announced that Fan Zhendong… 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.