Bouncy Feet

[NuBas]

Around 0:52-0:53 and again at 1:00 mark and numerous other times, the way he gets back into position with that bounciness, 'clapping' his feet together or little hop not entirely sure what is called but I do this too not sure if I learned it or just picked it up naturally but I noticed some rec players do and others don't.

I'm not exactly sure what to call it, I don't wanna use this term but is it 'swag' or whatever but its something I've noticed and more advanced players tend have this. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say and if you do, do you do this too and did you picked it up naturally or learned it? I think it could in very small minute way help prevent injuries.

 

[Fintft]

Lol like Dorothy!

I thought you meant bouncy in a more general term, something that I'm all for it and doing a better job gradually- starting with the basic split step just before the opponent is about to make contact.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I do that when I finish a point at net sometimes. No one taught it to me. I'm not sure it serves any purpose other than to sort of put an exclamation mark at the end of a point.

 

[SinjinCooper]

When you're on the balls of your feet more, there's an inherent bounciness to your step. The whole lower leg is more taut, springy, and athletically prepared from that posture. And when you're in that athletic posture more often, you're airborne more often. Makes for less overall friction between feet and court, and more instances where inertia does things like bring the feet together midair.

It's a good thing. Indicative of a high degree of athletic potential and engagement. At least for that point. Means you're moving well. Trick is to keep it up all point long, every point of every match.

 

[Fintft]

Trick is to keep it up all point long, every point of every match.

Year after year, for forty fu****ing years!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Around 0:52-0:53 and again at 1:00 mark and numerous other times, the way he gets back into position with that bounciness, 'clapping' his feet together or little hop not entirely sure what is called but I do this too not sure if I learned it or just picked it up naturally but I noticed some rec players do and others don't.

I'm not exactly sure what to call it, I don't wanna use this term but is it 'swag' or whatever but its something I've noticed and more advanced players tend have this. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say and if you do, do you do this too and did you picked it up naturally or learned it? I think it could in very small minute way help prevent injuries.

This is pretty much a chassé (chase) step that is employed in ballet, jazz dance and with footwork in various sports.

 

[NuBas]

This is pretty much a chassé (chase) step that is employed in ballet, jazz dance and with footwork in various sports.

Ehh I don't think it expands to that realm but I can see how you drew similarities lol. I know there might not be a term for it but its just an interesting observation of tennis players. I used to not do it and when I saw others being so bouncy I never really knew how to do it but eventually as I improved it just came naturally. You can see what I'm saying here at 0:02-0:03 seconds. It might be like a recovery step or whatever.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Ehh I don't think it expands to that realm but I can see how you drew similarities lol. I know there might not be a term for it but its just an interesting observation of tennis players. I used to not do it and when I saw others being so bouncy I never really knew how to do it but eventually as I improved it just came naturally. You can see what I'm saying here at 0:02-0:03 seconds. It might be like a recovery step or whatever.

The feet coming together (or 'clapping', as you put it) and then separating to move laterally, diagonally, or forward/backward are definitely examples of chassé steps. The chasse movement often has a vertical component, a bounce, to it as well. Many badminton and tennis coaches, like myself, refer to this type of movement all the time. Lateral recovery steps (side shuffle steps employed after hitting the ball to get back to some optimal position) is a very common example of chassé steps .

There are most certainly chassé steps in the video you provided of Denis S. It is not clear but you might also be asking about something else in the video as well.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Jeez Green and other footwork coaches sometimes refer to flow movement or flow steps:

A few split step variations:

 

[dennis]

I thought we were talking about something else, a movement made when the point is over or as it's ending, a mannerism. Not a functional split step or movement pattern. It's an interesting thing to spot, an example of body language communicating the opposite could be hanging the head and slumped shoulders.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I thought we were talking about something else, a movement made when the point is over or as it's ending, a mannerism. Not a functional split step or movement pattern. It's an interesting thing to spot, an example of body language communicating the opposite could be hanging the head and slumped shoulders.

That's what I thought as well.

 

[NuBas]

I thought we were talking about something else, a movement made when the point is over or as it's ending, a mannerism. Not a functional split step or movement pattern. It's an interesting thing to spot, an example of body language communicating the opposite could be hanging the head and slumped shoulders.

Exactly like a mannerism but its not unique to one player, its most seen in more savvy tennis players. Its interesting to observe in players who do and don't do it.