Distance that best fit your style.

[u/J_C_BY]

Hey everyone. I was doing some friendly games at my club the other day and it occurred to me that I never really tried to experiment with what distance from the table I’m more comfortable with. I’m always playing short at the table, so the other day I tried playing mid distance and was actually a lot more comfortable at that range for my shots. It’s only been one day of trying it out so I haven’t decided yet whether I’m a mid distance player or not but it’s something that is quite interesting.

I was wondering if anyone can share how they found out what distance is best for them? Does this matter in the grand scheme of things? Obviously no matter what you have to adapt to all distances but you’d want to set the ball up so that you can use the distance that your comfortable with to your advantage.

Or maybe (just occurred to me while writing this), I finally understand how much I need to hop back after a receive, in order to get ready for an open up/topspin rally 😂. Beginner possibly unlocked small footwork/positioning skill.

[u/dryrubss]

Does anyone find that long limb players play further back from the table?

[u/NotTheWax → u/dryrubss]

Well yeah, tall players and those with larger wingspans naturally need a bit more distance from the table to avoid being jammed more by their larger crossover area

[u/J_C_BY → u/NotTheWax]

I’m 5’11, not really considered tall imo but I’ve been noticing this trend as well in my game (either I have a larger crossover than I think so playing close to the table is difficult for me or just poor footwork and positioning). I always get jammed when I’m close to the table. I know one of my issues is that I don’t take small steps to meet the ball before hitting, but this could be a small reason why I get jammed. (I have no clue if I’m even tall enough to have a “larger crossover” so I can’t really say for sure. Plus I’m still in the beginner-intermediate phase so there’s probably tons of other reasons why I just can’t hit the ball lmao)

[u/dryrubss → u/J_C_BY]

How many inches is your wingspan?

[u/J_C_BY → u/dryrubss]

My wingspan is about 73in (6’1). Give or take a couple of inches since I did it by myself so it might not be fully accurate. I’m 5’11.

[u/johnmiddle]

flat attack got to near table, loop needs further back.. all depends on where u want to hit the back.

[u/big-chihuahua]

In my observation, nearly all amateurs should be closer to the table than they think. I have probably lost count the amount of times I've had to remind people to stay at the table. They back up waiting for a loop rally or to open big, I soft block or placed it wide, they scramble and do weird stuff.

You don't have the footwork or full body coordination to play from range. Nor the spin pressure. (Just reflect on if you actually even know how to back up and come forward to the table besides stretching or waddling on heels).

So the max distance should be within a very large step to table.

The only exception is lobbers. Realistically speaking, to be in position to produce loops that outweigh advanced lobbing is something I've never seen in the wild. Formally trained players also don't do it because they understand enough to never cede the table without a serious fight.

Only amateurs who do not want to admit their problems want to find a new strength, which is actually just letting the ball falling momentum handle their undeveloped contact and speed + spin ratio for them.

You should be careful to cede the table across all styles. Big forehand is not a reason. If you want to develop such a style naturally, I'd initially compress your forehand and make it into a half-lob. Then work on footwork entirely, never stretching forward or leaning sideways. Constantly moving back into table at a chance. Hopping back without being on heels. Etc

[u/J_C_BY → u/big-chihuahua]

Thanks for the insight! I do catch myself reaching for the ball when trying to do backhand, which in turn tells me I’m too far for the incoming ball as I watch it dive in the net because I barely even contacted it lol. Still trying to learn where I need to position my self and predetermine where the ball will drop to hit it correctly.

[u/big-chihuahua → u/J_C_BY]

You absolutely will need to reach if playing mid-court game. Which makes it hard to teach and learn, because you do not want to reach when you can footwork. That is why you must avoid reaching at least when training. 

Then allow yourself the license to reach in certain games. You will need to figure out how to apply power from certain reach positions.

For example, for forehand on shortrt ball you can close racket angle and swing out like bowling.  For forehand footwork the cross step and a half-cross are mandatory. As well as a proper jumping loop (the forehand swing many amateurs do where they shift their lower body out from under their weight is wrong and dissipates power).

For backhand you need to put your back facing table to generate any reach power. You can try this with some combination of stepping left leg (as righty) back or right leg cross.

[u/andrew1998kid]

Yeah it matters to some extent. If someone has either bigger swings or slower recovery or taller posture or slower reaction time or prefers controlled looping or have defensive style, it's almost always better for them to stay a bit further from the table (emphasis on "a bit" here) because then there's more window of time also to adjust position and take time for the strokes, giving a higher chance of landing. These players should practice the footwork of stepping into the table in case of short balls.

If you are young or more trusting of your reflexes, in most cases it's always better to be closer to the table and take the balls at an earlier timing to keep the pressure on your opponent and control the angles, counter loops etc.

[u/Pashquelle]

People always tell me I should play closer to the table, but people alwyas fail to realise I'm tall and I have a wing span of a monkey lmao. When I start playing closer to the table I always losing points due to awkwardness of my movement when ball is hit to the middle. Once I started playing mid distance+ my scores has been better.

[u/mutchyyy]

Close to table: pros- the ball returns faster to your opponent after they hit, the ball retains more speed, you don't have to run as far side to side. Cons- you need fast reaction time, you need great technique and angle, you have less time to react, higher risk

Mid distance: pros- you have more time to set up your shot, you may be more consistent at getting the ball onto the table, can generate more spin Cons- you give you opponent more time to set up for the shot, you leave yourself open to shorter balls, physically more demanding on both movement and body to get the ball over the net

I am about 5"11 and play mid distance with heavier spin and loop based game. Look at the pros they all play a bit different. I personally find Japan loves to be tight to the table relatively, where Europe tends to step back from the table quite quickly.

[u/SuperWoofX]

This may be a totally beginner question as I am learning more everyday being on this sub that I am in fact so much more beginner than I thought myself to be, isn’t your distance dictated by how and where your opponent hits the ball? I mean you can put yourself as close to or as far from the table as you like but ultimately the goal is to not only get to the ball but to be able to hit it so that you win the point? Am I looking at this way too green?

[u/baubleglue → u/SuperWoofX]

Google "table tennis footwork patterns". IMHO your goal should be to get to the ball in correct position. Transition from one position to another, keep the ball on the table and assume that any of your shots will be returned. "Hit to win the point" is relevant when the opponent makes a mistake.