| If your tennis journey has gone anything like mine, you | | | | about footwork for the first time, do not worry about |
| have been playing tennis for a good amount of time | | | | this crossover step. |
| now and you have just reached the point when you | | | | Forward Movement |
| realize you have no idea what footwork is or how it | | | | The forward movement is most likely the least difficult |
| works. Well, it's about time someone actually told you. | | | | aspect of footwork. The basic footwork move will be |
| In tennis footwork refers to a player's movement | | | | running. There is nothing tricky to learn about moving |
| around the court. Footwork applies to four aspects in | | | | forward on the tennis court. |
| tennis and plays a huge role in the success of a | | | | Split Step |
| player's game. | | | | The split step should be made when the opponent |
| Specific aspects include: | | | | makes contact with the ball. There is an entire article |
| | | | dedicated to the split step. (click here to read the |
| 1. Side to side movement | | | | article: Split Step Fundamentals) |
| 2. Forward movement | | | | Before hitting the ball |
| 3. Split steps | | | | After the split step, you will need to start moving |
| 4. Before hitting the ball | | | | sideways or forward. When you approach the ball, |
| 5. Stance | | | | you will need to shorten your strides. This means |
| Side to side movement | | | | taking smaller steps to get to the ball. Smaller steps will |
| Moving from one side of the court to the other is fairly | | | | help you transition yourself into your stance (the next |
| simple. Your basic footwork move will be a shuffle | | | | step). |
| (facing forward moving sideways). While moving from | | | | Stance |
| one side of the court to the other make sure you do | | | | Your stance is the last phase of footwork you will |
| not cross one leg of the other. The one situation you | | | | need before you restart the cycle. Your stance will |
| will cross legs is when "recovering" from a shot that | | | | depend on the shot you are hitting, your position in the |
| has taken you far off the court. If you are learning | | | | court, and your own personal style. |