| Footwork is the real exercise and the only actual work | | | | Never hit a ball on the run unless you are absolutely |
| you do in tennis. How far you go in your game | | | | forced to do so. If you learn to do your footwork |
| depends upon it and how far you develop it. Without | | | | swiftly, you are there in position ahead of time, so that |
| good footwork, you can never play good tennis. | | | | your feet are at rest during the actual hit. |
| It is, in fact, the most important factor of the successful | | | | Your work has been completed. All you have to do is |
| stroke. It is by your footwork that you are enabled to | | | | to swing your racket and meet the ball. |
| hit on balance, that you control your weight and adjust | | | | Sluggish footwork results in being late, so that you |
| yourself to a comfortable position in the execution of a | | | | have to expend added effort just to reach the ball. |
| stroke. Then back again, into your "ready" position, | | | | As a result, your body is neither at rest nor are you |
| either at the net or behind the base line, prepared for | | | | quite in position. It hampers your pivoting and timing, and |
| the next shot of your opponent, whatever or | | | | the result is that you are playing the ball under |
| wherever it may be. | | | | unfavorable instead of favorable conditions. It is true |
| Footwork is the ability to cover the court. Good | | | | that some people are naturally faster on their feet than |
| footwork, even while you are moving into position, | | | | others, but proper exercise and practice enable every |
| keeps you on balance at all times. | | | | tennis beginner to develop good footwork. |