Positioning Part 3 of 4: In the Rally – Butterfly Table Tennis & Ping Pong Equipment

Many players do not really prioritize the importance of getting back into position after every shot. Instead, they might move two feet to hit a shot, and perhaps step back a foot, and think that’s good enough. It’s not. Unless you simply do not have time to do so, you should always get into the best possible position you can.

So, where should you position yourself after each shot in a rally? It depends on the shot you just sent to your opponent, its placement and depth, and on the playing styles of both you and your opponent. And then it comes down to knowing what the proper position should be, and instinctively moving there.

For example, if you hit a shot to the left (opponent’s right), then he has an angle to your right, and so you’d have to position yourself more that way. But the exact positioning is also based on the opponent. If he’s good at angling, then you have to cover that angle more. If he plays slower shots, then you can move a bit to the side to favor your stronger side. If your shot goes deep, you’ll likely have more time to react to the return, and so you can also favor your stronger side a bit more.

You should, of course, also position yourself to favor your strong side if you have one. Some favor the forehand; some the backhand; some play completely neutral. This is where you might do some self-analysis and decide just where in this spectrum you are at your best against any given opponent.

One last note – you should generally NOT be moving as the opponent hits his shot unless you’ve anticipated where it’s going and are already moving there. If you are out of position and scrambling to get back into position, the opponent will likely just hit behind you, and since you are moving away from that spot, you won’t be able to recover. So, if you are way, Way, WAY out of position, then unless you’ve left the table completely open, it’s usually better to get as much into position as you can, then come to a complete stop in a good ready position. Then, once you see where the opponent hits, you’ll be able to move quickly in either direction – and unless it’s a very aggressive shot, you’ll likely be able to at least get to it even if you are out of position. Or, at least you’ll make the opponent hit an aggressive shot, which he might miss!