How can I make these lazy feet of mine move once in awhile?

[jackzon]

I usually find myself standing and watching the ball as if my tennis shoes had grown roots up until the ball is about 25 past the net; then I lunge for it.

OK, it's not really that bad, at least not on all my shots, but I need to get a lot more action in my feet.

Any suggestions? Exercises? Things to think about while I'm playing?

Also, I'm wondering how important you all consider your foot movement. If your feet started acting like mine how much would your game suffer?

Thanks.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Jump rope. Hexagon drill, court movment drills. A lot of books have foot movement drills.

Saying HIT BOUNCE HIT to yourself when your playing.

 

[bryangoh]

Address the ball. In golf a proper address is a necessary condition for hitting the ball, otherwise, the ball won't go. In old fashioned tennis with wood racquets, if you don't address the ball right, the ball won't go either. New technology allows us to be lazy. If you force yourself to always address the ball the same way (even in an open stance) and if you are determined never to hit a ball unless it is properly addressed, you will move your feet, or you will not hit the ball.

Welcome the ball into your hitting zone and you will be addressing it right. This you can only do if you are in the right place at the right time and on the right foot. And this you can only do if your feet are awake. Try it. Works for me.

 

[djbrown]

Force yourself to do the split step every time your opponent is returning the ball. That gets your feet moving, and it's almost impossible to stop moving until you are set for your shot.

You'd be surprised how just this little quick movement with the feet gets you set up for the return.

 

[jackzon]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll try them ASAP. Any others?

 

[jackzon]

Jump rope. Hexagon drill, court movment drills. A lot of books have foot movement drills.

Saying HIT BOUNCE HIT to yourself when your playing.

What's the hexagon drill?

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Jump rope. Hexagon drill, court movment drills. A lot of books have foot movement drills.

Saying HIT BOUNCE HIT to yourself when your playing.

What's the hexagon drill?

Get or go read the boook Power Tennis. It is in there. Hard to explain otherwise.

 

[dozu]

How about this, go to a hard court on a sunny summer day wthen the court surface temperature is 150 deg, take off your shoes and socks and start playing.

I guarantee ya you be moving those feet alright.

 

[joe sch]

dozu has a very good point, keep your feet moving. I find that while the ball is in play, its best to stay on the balls of your feet and keep them moving. I always visualize Jimmy Connors feet when I find myself slowing down, he had the quickest feet that I have seen and that was why he was seldom wrong footed or in poor position for a stroke. I even find it helps me to start my feet moving right before the serving opponent starts his windup so it takes me less time to make my fh or bh service return adjustments. Edberg use to take this approach to the extreme by almost sprinting in place before receiving serves. Jumping rope, sprinting drills and some of the others mentioned by prior posts will help you be better able to keep moving your feet while playing tennis

 

[kevhen]

Do you take lessons? I see too many people taking lessons getting spoon-fed balls and standing flat-footed. It's a bad habit. Make sure you are leaning forward with your weight over your toes and keep the legs ready to fire off in what ever direction they need to go. Think "Jefferson" from the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High where the football players are stomping their feet quickly. Doing some short sprint work can help the quickness too.

 

[Cigo]

Bounce up before the opponent makes contact, your feet don't have to lift off the ground, just push off slightly, trying to feel as light as possible. To learn the timing do this too early a few times, so you "land" before the other person starts his wing.

 

[jackzon]

Address the ball. In golf a proper address is a necessary condition for hitting the ball, otherwise, the ball won't go. In old fashioned tennis with wood racquets, if you don't address the ball right, the ball won't go either. New technology allows us to be lazy. If you force yourself to always address the ball the same way (even in an open stance) and if you are determined never to hit a ball unless it is properly addressed, you will move your feet, or you will not hit the ball.

Welcome the ball into your hitting zone and you will be addressing it right. This you can only do if you are in the right place at the right time and on the right foot. And this you can only do if your feet are awake. Try it. Works for me.

Bryangoh,

I used the above this weekend, especially the idea about "Welcome the ball in your hitting zone." It was extremely helpful. Thanks.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Edberg use to take this approach to the extreme by almost sprinting in place before receiving serves.

These days, watch Francisca Schiavone sprinting in place in preparation for returns or between points. Much smaller, but her quads and hams rival Edberg's

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Edberg use to take this approach to the extreme by almost sprinting in place before receiving serves.

These days, watch Francisca Schiavone sprinting in place in preparation for returns or between points. Much smaller, but her quads and hams rival Edberg's

So how is this helpful? Watching someone "sprinting" in place? Never heard of sprinting in place. When I sprint I am moving.

A person is not going to improve their footspeed or footwork by WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE! You have to go on the court and work at it! lol

 

[Marius_Hancu]

A person is not going to improve their footspeed or footwork by WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE! You have to go on the court and work at it! lol

Elementary. Of course this was what I meant, but people need various models. Edberg's a model, another (just possible one), Schiavone. We're not talking here to the lazy lot, I hope.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

A person is not going to improve their footspeed or footwork by WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE! You have to go on the court and work at it! lol

Elementary. Of course this was what I meant, but people need various models. Edberg's a model, another (just possible one), Schiavone. We're not talking here to the lazy lot, I hope.

Of what? What would a person look for? The best place to know how to improve footwork is to simply get a coach or a book that outlines the different footwork patterns such as:

1. Split step

2. Shuffle step

3. Crossover step

4. Adjustment steps

5. Arcing

6. Critical first step drills

 

[Marius_Hancu]

What's the hexagon drill?

Footwork:
http://www.bctennis.com/health/FastFeet-Part2.aspx
http://www.athleticprecision.com/Basketball.shtml (hexagon drill)
http://www.tennisserver.com/circlegame/circlegame_99_11.html
http://www.tennisserver.com/circlegame/circlegame_00_01.html

 

[raftermania]

Try to catch Jimmy Connors at his next tour stop... He is always on the balls of his feet, ready to move anywhere at anytime.

 

[Tiger Paw]

Schiavone is one tough player.
_________
One word: Fedder.
_________
Agassie always seams to know when he hits his ball where it is coming back. He begins moving there so when it become confirmed he now only has a short distance to move. Tennis mag did an article on Miskyuna (sorry bout the spelling) focusing on how well she "defends her court" by moving to the correct position after hitting... She is rarely out of position.

So having good footwork may well begin with good strategy... ie knowing where to move to prepare for the oncoming ball.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Tennis mag did an article on Miskyuna (sorry bout the spelling) focusing on how well she "defends her court" by moving to the correct position after hitting... She is rarely out of position.

So having good footwork may well begin with good strategy... ie knowing where to move to prepare for the oncoming ball.

Myskina is indeed very good on footwork and anticipation. That's her strongest asset, IMO.

 

[RB]

Jimmy Connors no longer plays on the Senoir Tour