Category: Tennis Tips
Published Date: Aug 10, 2006
Topic: Footwork - Part 2
By: Your Coach S.R

Now you might have practiced how to be in ready position and recover back to the ready position after playing every ball with balanced center of gravity keeping your body on tows, knees bent legs apart ready to move in any direction and take the forthcoming ball.

The next step is to develop your movement to the ball and proper positioning is based on your reaction to the ball which should be different from ball to ball. This cannot be done just like that. The muscles involved requires proper toning up and conditioning. The act is to be an muscle memory movement. You have to do this automatically, with the help of your subconscious mind. For this purpose keep on practicing endlessly, as you do every shot of your game.

Your ready position is to begin with a split step when your opponent is hitting the ball. Watch how senior pros do split step and the timing enabling them to change direction and move to the ball. Your movement from split step to reaching the ball is based on your eye focus. You have to keep your eyes focused on the ball that you are playing and watch the ball from your opponent’s racquet. Your opponent should not be in your full eye sight. He should be seen only in a peripheral view. This enables you to perform two thins.

One - you start moving to the ball and work on your foot work is getting strengthened.
Two - you observe the type of shot, (topspin, slice or, drop shot whatever it is from the time the ball touches your opponents racquet.

All your tennis shots, play, footwork are all interlinked and based on the theory “memorizing the movement”. Hence you have to practice for long hours the same thing. Now you understand for better foot work depends on your ready position, recovery, watching the ball and reacting to it by moving towards it by making a split step while your opponent is hitting the ball.

The good exercises for developing this good footwork and to change direction to move is being prepared and presented in the next part of my guidance to you. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, kindly feel free to write to me.

Until Next Time, Have a Good Play!
Your Tennis Coach - S.Rajagopal