| This may seem like the most bizarre piece of | | | | When we look at footwork in tennis, the first thing you |
| information you've ever heard, but let's just back things | | | | need to do is stop running so much on the court. |
| up a little bit. | | | | You should only run if you are a long way from the ball |
| Let's think about what happens when you playing a | | | | and it is the only way to get there quickly. Apart from |
| game. | | | | that most of your movements around the court should |
| You get yourself into the point with a great return off | | | | be made using side shuffles and cross over steps |
| a good wide serve by your opponent. You are moving | | | | (basically short step movements). |
| (each other) all over the court building the point nicely | | | | By having good footwork you get the flexibility of |
| when all of a sudden your opponent attacks by | | | | choice. You get to choose open or closed stance, |
| deciding to come to the net. You attempt a pass | | | | cross court or down the line, backhand or inside out |
| which they volley into the opposite corner and you | | | | forehand, deep or short, passing shot or lob to name |
| head off to play a stunning running single-handed | | | | but a few. Without it you will have fewer choices |
| backhand pass down the line that a certain Mr | | | | available and the choices you do have may well suffer |
| Federer would be proud of. | | | | from poor execution. |
| Let's think about what just happened there. | | | | You improve your agility, balance and co-ordination |
| You may have hit the ball maybe 6 or 7 times but | | | | which are all vital components for high level play. |
| what did you do for the majority of the point? | | | | The type of footwork drills you should be using include |
| MOVE! | | | | cone drills like zig zags and drills that use ladders as a |
| You moved to all of your tennis shots and you moved | | | | training aid. |
| to recover. | | | | My recommendation is that you start incorporating |
| The fact remains that the time spent hitting shots, | | | | footwork drills into every one of your lesson/practice |
| never mind the actual time the ball spends on the | | | | times. If your coach is not up to speed with all of this |
| strings is only a tiny fraction of the time spent moving | | | | then do it on your own or find another coach! |
| to and away from your shots. | | | | You know that saying - what came first the chicken |
| If this is the case, why do people spend so little time | | | | or the egg? |
| working on their tennis footwork and movement if it is | | | | Well in the case of tennis it is without doubt the |
| the one thing you spend the most time doing? | | | | movement before the shot ' so try leaving your racket |
| FACT! The ATP tour stats on unforced errors are | | | | in the bag, work on your footwork and movement and |
| that over 70% of them are down to poor footwork. | | | | discover how well you hit the ball when you finally do |
| Which means......? | | | | pull your racket out. |
| If you really want to improve your game, it's very | | | | I have put together a special report on tennis footwork |
| simple - you need to improve your movement and | | | | which goes into a bit more detail and includes 10 pages |
| therefore your footwork. | | | | of drills to be used. |
| And here is what you need to do! | | | | |