Miwa's footwork for receive

[kindof99]

Has anyone observed that Miwa Harimoto's footwork for receive is very unique? She stays close to the table, moves one small step away from the table when her opponent serves, and then usually move back for short receive. Maybe it is a personal habit, but it is quite different from almost everyone else. What is the benefit of this?

 

[jonol]

I think it's (partly) to keep her footwork active. If you take a small step back, it's easier to feel in rhythm if your feet are active and moving.

I take a small step in place and use it to 'bounce' if I need to move when receiving serves, and also when playing short serves or pushes myself. For me it's about the staying in the rhythm of being active and looking to attack the ball, rather than standing still and waiting.

Whether this has anything to do with why Miwa does what she does, I have no clue. Her serve receives are top tier though, arguably as dangerous on receive as serving.

 

[blahness]

Has anyone observed that Miwa Harimoto's footwork for receive is very unique? She stays close to the table, moves one small step away from the table when her opponent serves, and then usually move back for short receive. Maybe it is a personal habit, but it is quite different from almost everyone else. What is the benefit of this?

Imo it is a bit of a cat and mouse game. She kinda lures the opponent to serve fast long with her initial stance but because she steps back she is actually ready for it.

Right foot back is better against long serves and FH pivot, right foot in front is better for short serve return.

She also doesnt need to commit to stepping back which also means that the server has no idea what she is really preparing for.

It makes the positioning and placement much more tricky for the server because they wouldnt know her true preparation.

 

[belllfador]

I think she can attack easily when her legs are active. Also, she has a shorter reaction time. Her posture is like a loaded spring, bouncing around the table looks natural to me.

 

[NetProphet]

Has anyone observed that Miwa Harimoto's footwork for receive is very unique? She stays close to the table, moves one small step away from the table when her opponent serves, and then usually move back for short receive. Maybe it is a personal habit, but it is quite different from almost everyone else. What is the benefit of this?

Try it at the table yourself.
Stand still, in position and ready to receive serve. Now move, back as if receiving a long serve and try again, moving fwd to recieve short.
Do this 5-10 times from a stationary position.
Now do the same but make a little hop before moving, or a little hop back to be like Miwa.
You will find that it's much easier, smoother and more fluid to make the in or out move if you are already moving; more easy to do it smoothly than of you are standing still. When standing and trying to make a big move it becomes 'jerky', or like a lurch.
In Miwa's case she just hops back 'in' to exactly where she needs to be if the serve is short. And as someone already said she is already prepared for the long serve to BH, ready for pivot if needed.
So it's basically just a movement to ensure she is never stationary.
Stationary is a death sentence at the speed of the pro game at that level.

 

[TTpastor]

I'll definitely try this at the next training pass.

 

[kindof99]

One reason is also maybe to keep a little forward momentum when moving back to the table. Most professionals bounce without moving, or just move a little step sideway (more prepared for forehand short?). CNT players like FB usually move one small step with the right foot, but Miwa seems to move both feet almost like bouncing back and forward.