Take a firm stance with Steve Lyons

Steve Lyons’ impeccable knowledge has led him to work with many elite performers including the Manchester United and England football squad. However, his true passion lies within table tennis. Here are his top table tennis footwear tips:

The design and construction of sports shoes depends on the particular movement and the physical demands of the sport for which they are worn.

Movements in table tennis are quick stops and starts as well as side to side movements, not to mention stepping in and out for the flick or drop shot. It is therefore very important to reduce the chance of injury by utilising the correct footwear and thus improve efficiency around the table.

The Uppers
The uppers of the shoe will normally be a mixture of canvas and leather for firm support as well as aiding ventilation and breathing of the foot. Table tennis produces a lot of friction on the foot. This friction increases if the foot is damp or wet and can lead to blisters and athlete’s foot. If the feet are prone to excessive sweating, then a light dusting of talcum powder applied before you play will help counter this problem. If blisters are a problem, then the wearing of two pairs of socks may help.

The Heel Counter
The heel counter should be stiff to offset the side to side movements seen in table tennis. Many heel counters start off stiff and stable, but can quickly deteriorate. The main causes of this are jamming the foot into the back of the shoe without unlacing and by placing the shoes into the washing machine to clean them, both can cause permanent damage to the heel counter. If the heel counter has no substance, then it may be wise to consider purchasing a new pair of shoes.

Shoe Size
There should be ample length and width in the shoe to help prevent “table tennis toe” which is a reflection of repeated bruising of the toe nail by chronic shoe pressure due to shoes being too short. Other irritations can occur on prominent joints such as bunions, repeated pressure causing these areas to become inflamed. It may be necessary to have shoes stretched at the local cobbler to accommodate these prominences.

The Midsole
The midsole of the shoe is wedge shaped and higher in the heel, taking the strain or pull off the Achilles tendon, a common table tennis injury. The shoe should be lower in the forefoot but thick enough to provide cushioning. The sole of the shoe should be wide enough to provide a stable base against ankle sprains.

There are often customised areas on the underside of the outsole. Toe pivot markings facilitate spinning on the big toe joint. Flex grooves under the ball of the foot aid flexion of the forefoot and prevent increased stresses and strains on the toe joints. The grip of the shoe is also a deciding factor.

The Shoe is crucial
All in all the table tennis shoe is an essential item of equipment for the table tennis player. It should provide adequate protection to reduce the incidence of injury and yet improve the efficiency of movement around the table.