How good can you get without split stepping?

Gregory Diamond

Professional
Aspergers by the sounds of it
It is really a great pleasure to be on that forum. Now I know that I dont split step(and I should) so I am late to many balls, I am a pusher(and I shouldnt be), my wrist is not loose( and should be), I have a shortened reach on backhand and forehand ( it is another obstacle), I dont play with open or semi-open stance(and I should), I use elbow to rotate the balls(and I shouldnt), I dont accelerate the head of the racket to great speed(and I should). We should add that my right wrist is injured and....and I win everything. If it is all true then it would mean that I do something what gives me a great advantage. Something nobody does. What is it ?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
It is really a great pleasure to be on that forum. Now I know that I dont split step(and I should) so I am late to many balls, I am a pusher(and I shouldnt be), my wrist is not loose( and should be), I have a shortened reach on backhand and forehand ( it is another obstacle), I dont play with open or semi-open stance(and I should), I use elbow to rotate the balls(and I shouldnt), I dont accelerate the head of the racket to great speed(and I should). We should add that my right wrist is injured and....and I win everything. If it is all true then it would mean that I do something what gives me a great advantage. Something nobody does. What is it ?

You know the first rule of tennis.

J
 

Yoneyama

Hall of Fame
It is really a great pleasure to be on that forum. Now I know that I dont split step(and I should) so I am late to many balls, I am a pusher(and I shouldnt be), my wrist is not loose( and should be), I have a shortened reach on backhand and forehand ( it is another obstacle), I dont play with open or semi-open stance(and I should), I use elbow to rotate the balls(and I shouldnt), I dont accelerate the head of the racket to great speed(and I should). We should add that my right wrist is injured and....and I win everything. If it is all true then it would mean that I do something what gives me a great advantage. Something nobody does. What is it ?
o_O
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
But I win almost all tournaments.

ead4f77d436d7ce5db2d6693f45c1df5.gif
 

BallBag

Professional
The really interesting part is that Greg is actively and consciouncely trying to sabotage his own game but subconsciously splitting with good timing and hitting open stance. It sure doesn't look like he's had formal training that's bleeding through, so is he just a specimen athelete? Can a split step really develop naturally?
 
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Gregory Diamond

Professional
The really interesting part is that Greg is actively and consciencely trying to satotage he's own game but subconsciously splitting with good timing and hitting open stance. It sure doesn't look like he's had formal training that's bleeding through, so is he just a specimen athelete? Can a split step really develop naturally?
Split step is unnatural so it cant develop naturally. This jumping like goat is a senseless waste of energy.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
The really interesting part is that Greg is actively and consciouncely trying to sabotage his own game but subconsciously splitting with good timing and hitting open stance. It sure doesn't look like he's had formal training that's bleeding through, so is he just a specimen athelete? Can a split step really develop naturally?

Not natural for all but many will develop it, w/o instruction, if exposed to a lot of high level tennis footwork. Depends on the individual.
 

2good4U

Professional
I've found that just bouncing gets you set well for the next shot, without the need to jump.

Try it, keep bouncing until it's time to move.
 

3loudboys

G.O.A.T.
Nothing is established apart from that goats jump and you don’t believe that proven tennis footwork is useful. I respect the fact that you are successful when competing and that you are as stubborn as a goat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BallBag

Professional
Greg, can you post a video demonstrating what you consider useless goat jumping, preferably someone from the pro tour.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
I am really happy that we all established that split step is a sensless waste of energy. I dont split step and I win almost all matches. It is your choice. If you want to win you should stop this ridiculous jumping like a goat.

Only in that steel trap you call a brain has it been established that the SS is a sense less waste of energy. Nearly all competitive advanced and high intermediate players have established the SS as invaluable.

Unfortunately, no ridiculous goat jumping by me. Have not played tennis in more than 3 years now. Automobile and gym accidents have taken their toll on my left hip. Avascular necrosis and possible bacterial infection as well. Titanium hip replacement in my future if I can ever get rid of the infection. And then back to goat jumping.

BTW, fully open stance forehands have been shown to be more damaging to hip joints than goat jumping. Usually, just one hip = the right hip for right-handed forehands.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
You can see goats jumping here.

Oh yeah, now we see your point. The SS is totally pointless and obviously a waste of energy. Professional players, competitive junior and collegiate players, and top coaches are so clueless. Why bother learning from them when GD has all the wisdom to impart that we'll ever need.

:confused:
 

Gregory Diamond

Professional
Oh yeah, now we see your point. The SS is totally pointless and obviously a waste of energy. Professional players, competitive junior and collegiate players, and top coaches are so clueless. Why bother learning from them when GD has all the wisdom to impart that we'll ever need.

:confused:
Are you talking about those coaches and players who cant play two handed forehand ? They know everything about old tennis which was taught 15 years ago. They know nothing about modern technique.
 

BallBag

Professional
Oh yeah, now we see your point. The SS is totally pointless and obviously a waste of energy. Professional players, competitive junior and collegiate players, and top coaches are so clueless. Why bother learning from them when GD has all the wisdom to impart that we'll ever need.

:confused:

Like @JohnYandell said earlier in the thread, you would adjust your split step based on your age and level and GD's split step is probably about right for him. He's absolutely wrong in saying that a split step is unnecessary for everyone and he also does a pretty good split step that he re-branded as his own method for moving his feet.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Like @JohnYandell said earlier in the thread, you would adjust your split step based on your age and level and GD's split step is probably about right for him. He's absolutely wrong in saying that a split step is unnecessary for everyone and he also does a pretty good split step that he re-branded as his own method for moving his feet.

And he set up the straw man [goat?] of "jumping like a goat" to "prove" he wasn't split-stepping. As if he thought he could sneak it by everyone.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Oh yeah, now we see your point. The SS is totally pointless and obviously a waste of energy. Professional players, competitive junior and collegiate players, and top coaches are so clueless. Why bother learning from them when GD has all the wisdom to impart that we'll ever need.

:confused:

Yeah, but how many Polish ITF tournaments has Federer won lately, huh? That's right: zero! So GD must be correct in all he says.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Like @JohnYandell said earlier in the thread, you would adjust your split step based on your age and level and GD's split step is probably about right for him. He's absolutely wrong in saying that a split step is unnecessary for everyone and he also does a pretty good split step that he re-branded as his own method for moving his feet.

I have already addressed this very thing on page 2 or 3 of this thread. In fact, I have gone into detail on SS variations for heavier and older players in a number of threads in the past decade. I have taught variations of a badminton SS or badminton loading move to a few older tennis players. Example:

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/split-steps-for-older-players.372906/#post-5503976

GD is actually performing a SS or variation quite a bit more than he’s willing to admit. When that was brought up, he started talking about "jumping like a goat" as the only true SS.
 
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SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Are you talking about those coaches and players who cant play two handed forehand ? They know everything about old tennis which was taught 15 years ago. They know nothing about modern technique.

I came across a very good coach a couple of years ago who hit with an excellent 2-handed forehand (but did not teach it to very many of his students). This guy had played at a very high level for a Division I college in this area a few years back. But.... he was a goat jumper. Oh well, nobody is perfect.

I’ve also had some students who hit 2-handed FHs... but they eventually all outgrew it after a couple of months. And they learned how to goat jump as well. I guess we have brainwashed them. They may never do well in Poland but maybe they’ll have a shot at RG or Wimbledon.
 
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Gregory Diamond

Professional
I came across a very good coach a couple of years ago who hit with an excellent 2-handed forehand (but did not teach it to very many of his students). This guy had played at a very high level for a Division I college in this area a few years back. But.... he was a goat jumper. Oh well, nobody is perfect.

I’ve also had some students who hit 2-handed FHs... but they eventually all outgrew it after a couple of months. And they learned how to goat jump as well. I guess we have brainwashed them. They may never do well in Poland but maybe they’ll have a shot at RG or Wimbledon.
If each player is jumping like a goat then this error is not important. But if I dont jump and my opponents jump then I win all matches without doing anything. I dont understand why they like to lose. This stupid jumping is justified only if we cant foresee where the ball is going but in most cases it is quite easy. To jump for 2 hours to get to 2-3 additional balls is not wise.
 
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