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International Journal of Racket Sports Science

Volume 1, Issue 2 https://racketsportscience.org

Footwork technique used in elite table

tennis matches

Ivan Malagoli Lanzoni

, Michail Katsikadelis

, Gunter Straub

and Zoran Djokić

Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Italy

School of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thrace, Greece

Association of German Table Tennis Coaches, Germany

Faculty of Sport and Tourism, University EDUCONS, Novi Sad, Serbia

Abstract

Notational and Match analysis are very well-recognized methods to collect information about the most common

technical-tactical performance indicators in table tennis: footwork and stroke types. The aim of this study was to

compare footwork distributions in men (M) and women (W) elite table tennis competitions. Nine men’s and nine

women’s matches were analyzed. All players were in the top 120 (M) and 111 (W) positions of the ITTF world

ranking. An expert coach analyzed game video recordings in slow motion with the software Kinovea and collected

data about the footwork types used by the players during the games. The results showed differences between M

and W: M prefer to use one step (35.6%, W: 21.9%), W prefer to hit the ball without performing any step (W:

40.2%, M: 20.4%), the chassé is equally used (M: 19.7%, W: 21.7%), and the crossover is mainly used by M

(11.1%, W: 3.7%). The pivot is mainly used by M (9.9%, W: 7.8%), and W prefer the slide (4.9%, M: 3.2%). In

conclusion, this study can be useful for physical trainers, performance analysts, and coaches, to design specific

footwork training sessions for M and W elite table tennis players.

Keywords: Racket sports, Match Analysis, Notational Analysis, Footwork

Correspondence author: Ivan Malagoli Lanzoni

E-mail: [email protected]

Cite this article as:

Malagoli Lanzoni, I., Katsikadelis, M., Straub, G., & Djokic, Z. (2019). Footwork technique used in elite table

tennis matches. International Journal of Racket Sports Science, 1(2), 44-48.

International Journal of Racket Sports Science 1 (2) Malagoli et al.

Introduction

Table tennis is one of the most popular and played

racket sports in the world and has been included in the

Olympic programme since 1988. Technical and tactical

skills are very well recognised as the most important

performance factors in table tennis. They could be

evaluated using notational analysis in order to collect

and summarise sport-specific performance indicators

(Hughes, 1998; Hughes & Barlett, 2002). Stroke types

were examined comparing different table tennis groups

or individual players (Djokic, 2002; Drianovsky &

Otcheva, 2002; Zhang et al., 2014; Malagoli Lanzoni et

al., 2014).

Another crucial aspect of the specific technique is

the footwork performed before hitting the ball, as

using a proper footwork technique allows the athletes

to be in the best position for an effective shot (Malagoli

Lanzoni et al., 2007).

Fuchs et al. (2018) reviewed all the literature about

match analysis in table tennis, including a dedicated

paragraph about footwork analysis and its

development. In 2003, Tepper presented a basic

classification of the main steps used by table tennis

players. In 2007, Malagoli Lanzoni et al. suggested a

standard definition of the different types of steps used

by the athletes: one step, short steps (chassé, slide,

turn/pivot), crossover, and “stroke without step”.

Malagoli Lanzoni et al. (2007) collected data about

four top-class table tennis players, showing that the

most frequent steps are: one step (37.3%), turn/pivot

(21.1%), chassé (15.2%), stroke without step (11.5%),

slide (7.5%), and crossover (7.3%). In 2009, Malagoli

Lanzoni and Lobietti compared footwork techniques

used by two groups of international and national

players. Footwork analysis continued to evaluate

different kinds of steps in relationship with other

variables: shots and outcome of the rallies (Malagoli

Lanzoni et al., 2010), and different group of players

(Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2013a, b, 2014).

To improve footwork technique, coaches use a large

variety of exercises focused on a similar distribution of

steps, for men and women, respectively, not clearly

distinguishing training sessions.

The purpose of this study was to compare footwork

distributions in men (M) and women (W) elite table

tennis competitions.

Methods

Nine M and nine W matches were randomly

selected, and one match per player was taken into

account. The 18 male players were in the first 120

positions of the ITTF official World Ranking, whereas

the 18 female players were in the first 111 positions

when the matches were played.

All players adopted an offensive playing style

because they did not use long-pimple rubbers, the

typical rubbers used by defenders, and they were not

using a backhand chop stroke when playing far from

the table.

All the players were rigth-handed, considering the

hand used to hold the racquet.

The mean ± SD age, height, and body mass were

29.8 ± 4.7 years, 179.5 ± 6.9 cm, 73.5 ± 5.8 kg for

males, and 24.3 ± 3.7 years, 162.9 ± 6.3 cm, 55.0 ±

5.0 kg for females.

The selected matches were played in the Olympic

Games, Team World Championships, ITTF Pro Tour

Circuit, ITTF World Cup, and Pro Tour Grand Finals.

The matches were downloaded from the official

websites www.ittf.com and www.ettu.org. Each match

was analyzed in slow motion (0.2 recorded speed) with

the software Kinovea (www.kinovea.org).

Data collection was carried out through a Visual

Basic-based application to create a data base directly in

the Microsoft Excel software. An experienced table

tennis coach collected the data about the footwork

technique used during the matches. Krippendorff’s

alpha (Krippendorff, 2004) was calculated to evaluate

intra-observer reliability. Alpha value can range

between -1 and 1, and 1 indicates perfect agreement.

For footwork type, alpha value was 0.99. Previous

studies showed a very good intra- and inter-observer

reliability of footwork types using the present

classification and methods (Malagoli Lanzoni et al.,

2012; 2014).

The statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS

statistical software, performing one way ANOVA with

significance indicated as p≤0.05*, p≤0.01**.

International Journal of Racket Sports Science 1 (2) Malagoli et al.

The classification of footworks included the

following categories (Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2007):

one step (Fig. 1), chassé step (Fig. 2), slide step (Fig.

3), crossover (Fig. 4), pivot step (Fig. 5), and shot

without step (Fig. 6).

Figure 1. One step

Figure 2. Chassé step

Figure 3. Slide step

Figure 4. Crossover step

Figure 5. Pivot step

Figure 6. Shot without step

Results

A total of 18 matches (M = 9, W = 9), 96 sets (M =

50, W = 46), 1713 rallies (M = 902, W = 811), and

7095 steps (M = 3322, W = 3773) were considered.

One way ANOVA showed significant differences (p ≤

0.05*, p ≤ 0.01**) between M and W in the

distribution of footwork types.

Table 1 shows the footwork distribution in M and

W. M prefer to use one step (35.6%, W: 21.9%), W

prefer to hit the ball without performing any step (W:

40.2%, M: 20.4%), the chassé is equally used (M:

19.7%, W: 21.7%), and the crossover is mainly used by

M (11.1%, W: 3.7%). The pivot is mainly used by M

(9.9%, W: 7.8%), and W prefer the slide (4.9%, M:

3.2%).

International Journal of Racket Sports Science 1 (2) Malagoli et al.

Table 1.

Distribution of footwork types for men (M) and women (W)

athletes (p≤0.05*, p≤0.01**)

.FOOTWORK

one step**

35.6%

21.9%

shot without step**

20.4%

40.2%

chassé step

19.7%

21.7%

crossover step**

11.1%

3.7%

pivot step

9.9%

7.8%

slide step*

3.2%

4.9%

Total

100.0%

Discussion

The aim of this study was to compare footwork

distributions in men (M) and women (W) elite table

tennis competitions.

The results showed similarities between M and W in

using chassé step which is a basic technique used to

perform various sets of shots by making easy side

movements in front of the table (Malagoli Lanzoni et

al., 2014).

The pivot step is exclusively performed to play

forehand shots from the backhand corner (Malagoli

Lanzoni et al., 2014), and it is used by M and W with a

similar distribution (9.9 and 7.8%). Moreover, M and

W players showed limited differences in using the slide

step, consisting of sliding laterally first the foot

corresponding to the direction of displacement, and

then the other foot (Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2014). W

prefer to use this technique, compared to M, showing

limited differences (p≤0.05).

Instead, the main differences between M and W

table tennis elite athletes with respect to footwork

types concerned the One step, Shot without step, and

crossover step (p≤0.01).

The one step is mainly used to answer the serve, and

represents a key step for the first phases of the rally

(Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2014). It is mainly used by M

to hit a close-to-the-net ball at the beginning of every

rally. The difference to W could be connected with the

use of long services performed in W competitions.

The shot without step category was strongly

associated with W category. This demonstrates a less

dynamic play concerning the footwork technique,

connected with the use of backhand shots, which

confirms previous literature about W footwork specific

technique (Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2013a).

The crossover allows the player to move for

relatively long distances in the shortest time possible,

and it is representative of the modern dynamic play

(Malagoli Lanzoni et al., 2014). It is mainly used by M

athletes and it is most likely linked to an offensive and

risky style of play.

Hypothetical explanation of the different

percentages of types of footwork can also be addressed

considering constitutional differences, played systems,

ball speed, placement of the balls, etc. It may be

concluded, therefore, that the difference between M

and W in elite table tennis competitions may have

multifactorial origins, showing links with both

technical and physical aspects.

This study should be extremely useful for physical

trainers, performance analysts, and coaches, to design

specific training sessions for M and W elite table tennis

players, in order to improve footwork technique.

Moreover, it should be used to plan specific physical

trainings in order to prevent injuries in both categories

planning different exercises.

In conclusion, future perspectives should be

linked to the comparison of different categories of

players, evaluating the connection with other variables

(directions, shots, outcome, etc), and including

quantitative analysis about footwork technique.

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