Table tennis drills
Table tennis footwork drills
12 free Table tennis drills for footwork, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier.
12 drills
Doubles playFootworkDoubles movement and alternating hitsTwo pairs rally cooperatively, hitting alternately and moving in and out so each partner always has a clear path to the ball.15 min · 4 players · U12+
Warm-upFootworkDynamic warm-up and shadow playMobilise the shoulders, wrists and calves, shadow strokes with side steps, then build into a gentle rally.10 min · 2–8 players · U10+
FootworkForehandFalkenberg footworkBackhand, forehand from the backhand corner, then wide forehand; three-shot pattern.10 min · 2–6 players · U10+
Fitness & agilityFootworkInterval footwork conditioningShort, sharp intervals of shadow footwork to called cones, working in pairs so one player moves while the other calls and recovers.15 min · 2–12 players · U15+
FootworkFitness & agilityIrregular multiball under pressureA coach feeds fast multiball to random spots, long, wide and short, so the player has to read, move and recover with no pattern to lean on.20 min · 2–4 players · U15+
ForehandFootworkMultiball forehand consistencyQuick multiball feeds to the forehand corner and the middle, with every forehand drive aimed at one target.15 min · 1–4 players · U10+
FootworkForehandPivot to the forehand from the backhand cornerMultiball: step round the backhand corner to attack with the forehand, then cover the wide forehand ball that a pivot leaves open.12 min · 1–4 players · U13+
Rallying & consistencyFootworkRandom placement controlOne player places the ball anywhere on the table; the other moves to every ball and returns it to one spot.12 min · 2–4 players · U11+
GameFootworkRound the tableThe classic group game: hit once, run round to the other end, and stay in by keeping the ball on the table.15 min · 4–12 players · U6+
FootworkForehandShakehand grip and ready stanceSet up a relaxed shakehand grip and a balanced ready position, then move from ready to forehand and backhand shapes on the coach's call.10 min · 1–12 players · U6+
FootworkSide-step footwork basicsPlayers learn the side-step (shuffle) between forehand and backhand positions, first as shadow play and then to the coach's slow feeds.12 min · 1–6 players · U7+
FootworkRallying & consistencyTwo-point footwork: forehand and backhandAlternate a backhand from the backhand half with a forehand from the forehand half, side-stepping between them.12 min · 2–4 players · U10+