| The key to hitting a great shot in tennis is preparation. If | | | | ready position. Make sure you weight is not too far |
| a player is unprepared for a shot, the ball will not go | | | | forward or you may fall over! |
| where they expect. In fact, the result may be an out | | | | 4. Make contact with the ball. You have just run from |
| of control shot. This article addresses preparation and | | | | the service line to the net, jumped into the ready |
| the importance of a split step. For those players that | | | | position. At this time you are ready to determine which |
| are unfamiliar with the split step, I will give an in-depth | | | | side of your body the ball will be hit from. If your |
| explanation and talk about when it should be used. | | | | opponent hits to the backhand you should be ready to |
| What is a split step? | | | | turn to your backhand side because you were in your |
| It is a footwork type move that transitions a player | | | | "ready" position! (If the ball is hit to your forehand side |
| from one shot into another. A split step is a neutral | | | | you should be equally ready) |
| position ("ready position") used right before the player | | | | 5. Put it all together. Great work on completing your |
| decides to hit on the backhand or forehand side. | | | | split step, but the hardest part is yet to come. All |
| Note: It is used moments before making the decision of | | | | though we have divided the split step into several easy |
| which side of the body to hit on | | | | to follow steps, it is extremely important to remember |
| How do you hit a split step? | | | | that it is supposed to be hit in one fluid motion. There |
| It is fairly easy but takes much practice to fully | | | | are not supposed to be breaks or waiting period. Your |
| understand its benefits. For a player just starting out, it | | | | goal in the split step it to time the process so that your |
| may seem useless but advanced players depend on a | | | | make your decision a second before your opponent |
| split step many times PER GAME in tennis. It is a | | | | makes contact with the ball. |
| pre-shot ritual that will become muscle memory and | | | | When to use the split step? |
| help you every point of the way. | | | | It is used in many situations. It is important that you use |
| 1. First, get in the "ready position". (Feet shoulder-width | | | | it the correctly in the right situations. Here is a list of |
| apart, weight on the balls of your feet, and racket out | | | | several situations where the split step is used. You will |
| in front of the middle of your body. This is what your | | | | notice it is used very often in a match (the most |
| split step will look like if you were to take a picture of it | | | | important are in bold). |
| in action! Remember this position. | | | | 1. Return of Serve. Serves come at you fast. Every |
| 2. Run forward, JUMP into the ready position, and | | | | player uses a split step to prepare for the coming |
| freeze. you should be back in your ready position like in | | | | serve. |
| step one, but this time you arrived at this position from | | | | 2. Serve and Volley. With the server rushing in to take |
| running (this is more like how it will happen in a match | | | | the net, it is of most importance that the server uses a |
| or during play). | | | | split step to set up the next volley. |
| 3. Note: The jump should be a subtle and you really | | | | 3. Regular Volleys. |
| should NOT be in the air, but the word jump this is the | | | | 4. Rallies. |
| best way to describe getting from the run to the | | | | |