Well, maybe it isn't too necessary for the way he plays but the general thinking behind what I said is that the quicker you can get in, the more aggressive or quick of a return you can make to put the server under more pressure. If you are stepping in from too far that is creating a lot of time and it would be very difficult to put the third ball under any pressure.
That may be getting into the weeds a bit too much... (Der_Echte Comment: So what? Sometimes weeds are good, SugaD would agree about weed(s). as it may only be relevant if the opponent has a strong and consistent third ball anyways.
Probably more of a concern is how far he is stepping back after the short push. Der_Echte Comment: This is the GOLDEN NUGGET we need to examine more closely. If his return got dropped short again he will be way out of position. But I'm guessing that is more of a constraint of the robot and the depth that it is shooting the balls.
I am with Next Level on his initial position on serve receive as being totally possible. In Korea, this distance is pretty much the distance the coaches at clubs (these coaches are ex-players ranging from TTR 2000 amateurs to former pros). They have their way and just about all the big time Korean coaches say there is no single correct answer in TT.
I see your point about being able to get there, and the Koreans try to train you to see it early and step in. There is a very good reason Korean coaches start out even beginners to train like that.
I am WITH YOU all the way on your good observation that after he does the short push, he steps back to a position that is IMO too far back. Korean coaches agree and they had me try to stay closer to the table after the first touch.
The obvious benefit you have already mentioned - you will be ready to step back in easier and be ready to do that earlier (as opposed to stepping back 1m from table).
The obvious negative about that far from table position after first short touch is that it is much more difficult to handle another short touch.
My comment (directly related to what Jeff is trying to do in the drill) is related to his BH opening. If the ball comes half long or 15 cm long, it is damn difficult from that position to make a quality, high percentage BH topspin opening. (likely gunna be a failure more than not on that ball)
I believe that if the position after the short touch is closer to the table (as ryu81 advocates), there are a LOT more options to handle the next ball with quality and decisiveness. Look at the possible returns on the 3rd ball and what one can do positioned closer to the table ready.
- short return right back at you... All it takes is one short quick step to get to the ball. One can now FLIP (and have more ANGLES AVAILABLE) or touch it back short again... or push it fast/deep... or push it away at an angle and get opponent attacking and out of position to win point with a block or counter... so many options available if positioned close to the table. nearly everyone of these options are way more difficult and lower percentage and not as good angles or quick play when positioned again 1m from the table.
- Long underspin slow ball... you are ready to heavy spin, medium loop, or fast loop attack. (why do another push, unless player slipped and is lying on the floor after bumping head seeing only stars?) And all these attacking options have more leverage, better angles, better quality on the shot, better landing prcentage, more threatening... positive in nearly every way.
- Fast push deep coming at you like a cartoon... if ready and crouched, all is needed to do is stay down, let ball bounce deep, and explode upwards striking ball on the rise forward at endline or a touch behind it if ball was real deep... result is a QUICK on the rise shot high percentage so damn quick it is trouble on its own... and you are not gunna miss it if you are crouched and wait. Sure, if positioned further back, you have more time, but you have to move more to the side for position and your possble strike angles are now reduced. Much easier to make a quick short step when closer to table as there is less ground to cover to establish center of that small strike zone on BH wing.
- short push is flipped... you take a quick step and counter or defend. You have angles and quickness working for you. if you are 1m from table, you have a lot more stepping to do, takes longer, opponent has more time, your angles are reduced... so better to be close to table after short push.
The big reason Korean coaches advocate being nearly 1m from table on serve recive is the STEP IN and timing at impact really help out that first shot a lot. Plus, it gives you ability to PUNISH long serves easier.
I explained the reasons why Korean coaches like player to be closer to table after a short push.
As for ryu81 "Getting into the weeds" and "Changing the conversation of the thread"... so what-f-ing-ever. The forum NEEDS this kind of discussion on why we do stuff plus and minus of every situation. I call it good citizenship. IMO, I would WELKOM ryu81 to make MORE comments like this.